A Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation fundraising event is being scheduled to take place on September 27.
THE Donal Walsh ‘LiveLife’ foundation is currently in the midst of organising the third annual ‘Climb Donal’s Mountain’ with all proceeds and funds raised going to the to ‘LiveLife’ Foundation.
The climb is organised for September 27 in which over 600 people will come together to hike Mt Brandon in memory of Donal and his message.
The day will be kicking off at around 11am from the ‘An Bóthar’ side of the mountain with proper and safe hiking gear necessary for the climb.
Those attending are being invited to donate as much as they think is appropriate to the fundraising cause.
To follow the events page on Facebook for updates, please click HERE.
Donal Walsh wanted to spread his message of #LiveLife.
A LOCAL school is getting ready to host a fundraising concert in memory of one of their former pupils on this Saturday.
CBS The Green will hold the ‘In Tune For Life’ event in their school hall at 4pm with all proceeds going towards the Donal Walsh ‘LiveLife Foundation’.
A previous concert was held in November in the University of Limerick with an orchestra of young tradition musicians from North Tipperary, directed by Ned Kelly and special guests Tadhg McDonagh Pipe Band, David Geaney, The O’Rourke School of Irish Dancing, Club Rince Ni Chraith, Lissenhall NS, Carrig NS, Barnane NS, Ardcroney NS, Burgess NS, Templederry NS, Ballinaclough NS taking part.
A sum of €18,000 was raised on that occasion for the foundation.
It’s the latest in a long line of great events including the successful ‘LIVE Life Love Day 2015′ film competition that was held in Fels Point Hotel back in February. (Click here for our story on that event).
On that occasion, hundreds gathered for the screening and presentation of the ‘Live Life’ winning films and awards on a day where a great feel-good factor filled the building.
It is expected that this concert will be full of the same positive energy.
Donal Walsh wanted his message to #LiveLife to be spread in an effort to promote positivity.
TALENTED Tralee band, Q14, have penned a touching tribute to the late Donal Walsh with the release of their song and accompanying video ‘Star Sign Boy.’
The video serves to try and highlight the different things that have influenced different people in their lives and how sometimes, these things may be taken for granted.
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You can be the judge for yourself when you watch the video below.
The band, which is up made of John O’ Connor, Jay Dalligan and Bernard O’ Connor recently played at the ‘Live Life Love’ event which was held in Fels Point Hotel here in town. The event was set up to help promote the positive message that Donal was trying to spread.
TraleeToday.ie spoke to John O’Connor about the reasoning behind why he wrote the song and the message that they are hoping to spread through it.
“I wrote the song for Donal, I knew him personally. I wrote it almost as a fantasy so to speak. If I could have a conversation with him now in Heaven and what would it be like. To find out where he is at now in the afterlife, that is the basic essence of the song.”
Q14 penned the song ‘Star Sign Boy’ as a tribute to Donal Walsh.
The band recently took some time away from the day modern day trappings, holing themselves up as they worked on new material for their album. This time ‘off’ so to speak, gave them time to think and allowed them to reflect on the things that are important them.
“We knew the people who had the biggest impacts on our lives, and for me personally, Donal was one of them.”
“We thought, why not engage other people to say the person that has influenced their life the most. Donal was someone that really influenced us.”
They’re hoping that their song, in its own small way can help people to maybe appreciate things a little more in their own lives and to try and take heed of the #LiveLife message being spread by the ‘Donal Walsh Foundation’.
TY Students from Mercy Mounthawk who won first place in the ‘Live Life Love’ film competition Intermediate Category in Fels Point Hotel yesterday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
‘LIVE Life Love Day 2015’ was held in Fels Point Hotel yesterday as hundreds gathered for the screening and presentation of the ‘Live Life’ winning films and awards.
The event, which celebrated the late Donal Walsh’s message, was presented by RTE’s Aidan Power and guests included RTE’s Paschal Sheehy and Kerry footballer Barry John Keane.
TraleeToday.ie was there to find out exactly what the day was about, what it meant for people and to see how Donal Walsh’s message of ‘#LiveLife’ is being spread.
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“Live Life Love Day’ is a culmination of a national film competition that the Institute Of Technology runs with the creative media department. It’s a competition we run with the theme of ‘LiveLife’ that involves primary schools, secondary schools and third level.” said Mary Lucey of the creative media department in the IT Tralee.
“They [the entrants] have to think about how they ‘LiveLife’ and what their meaning of living life is, and then capture that in a two-minute film. They then have to upload into onto YouTube and send it into us.
“It’s a fun and uplifting event really. We’ll be screening the shortlisted films and then presenting the awards to the winners.”
This writer can vouch for the feel-good nature of the day, there were smiles and laughs all around the building as the excitement built up amongst the many schools gathered, especially for the announcement of the winners.
There was plenty of entertainment on show as the burgeoning crowd was entertained throughout the day by such talents as singers Paulie O’Brien, Roel Villones, Eire Elvis and Q14.
Donal’s father, Fionnbar Walsh, gave his thoughts on the day and how he is especially proud of the positivity that is being spread through the message.
“One of the important things about this day is that people go out and do activities that they enjoy and that show how they enjoy life, and how they’re taking on the challenges of life,” he said.
“It’s a very positive message here today, it’s being driven by the young people. They’re getting behind it and they’ve bought into it immensely and that’s a really strong foundation really,” added Fionnbar.
Local schools were amongst the big winners at the event held here as part of fundraising by the ‘Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation’.
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Pupils from schools around the county had gathered, but there could be only one winner in each of the categories.
The Spa NS from outside town came a close second place with their film ‘Yerrah YOLO so GIYA’ (Yerra ‘You Only Live Once’ so Give It Your All’) to winners St Joseph’s NS in Ballyheigue in Primary School Category.
Mercy Mounthawk ran out big winners as they scooped first and second place in the Intermediate School Category. Ben Kavanagh took second place in this category, while the Transition Year 2015 group took first place.
At third level, Aidan Broletti came in second place while our very own ‘ITT TV and Film Society’ scooped first place.
This year was the first year of the ‘Other’ category, which opened up the theme of ‘LiveLife’ to those not in education but who still wanted to show their own interpretation of the theme.
Eamonn Norris finished in second place, as he was beaten to first place by the talents of Eimear O’Grady.
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At the ‘Live Life Love’ event were, from left: Bridget Crowley, Elma Walsh, Marty Boylan, Mary Lucey, Fionnbar Walsh and Brian Hurley. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.At the ‘Live Life Love’ event were, from left: Paschal Sheehy, Mary Mulvihill and Lisa Herlihy. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.At the ‘Live Life Love’ event were, from left: Bernard O’Connor, Aidan Power, John O’Connor, Jay Dalligan and Edmund Harty. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.Students of Mercy Mounthawk at the ‘Live Life Love’ event were, from left: Atlanta Kennedy, Brian Fox, Ben Kavanagh, Kelan Pierse, Diarmuid Barry, Jerri O’Brien and Dean Meehan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.At the ‘Live Life Love’ event were, from left: Colm Gurnett, John O’Shea, Phil Ahern and Damian Ruddy. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.Eimear O’Grady, first prize in the ‘other category’ of the ‘Live Life Love film competition with, from left: Shane O’Connor, Aidan Power and Barry John Keane. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.Eamon Norris, collects 2nd prize in the ‘other category’ with, from left: Shane O’Connor, Aidan Power and Barry John Keane. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.‘Eire Elvis’ entertains the crowd at the ‘Live Life Love Concert’ on in the Fels Point Hotel. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.Students of the ITT accepting the first prize in third level category of the ‘Live Life Love’ Film Competition from left: Aidan Power, Ivan Hartley (ITT), Ciara Delaney (ITT), Barry John Keane, Micheal Doherty (ITT) and Maurice Galway. Photo by Gavin O’ConnorBen Kavanagh of Mercy Mounthawk won the 2nd prize in the intermediate category of the ‘Live Life Love’ Film Competition. With him, left to right: Aidan Power, Paschal Sheehy and Maurice Galwey Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Pupils from Bouleenshere National School, who won first prize in the primary category of the ‘Live Life Love’ Film Competition. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Bouleenshere National School pupil, Paige Drury talks to Aidan Power. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Pupils of Bouleenshere National School at the ‘Live Life Love Concert’ were, from left: Katie Godley, Niamh Dineen, Maggie Stack and Jayda Carmen. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Students of Causeway Comprehensive Secondary School at the ‘Live Life Love Concert’ were, from left, front: Eilish Harrington, Meagan Casey and Roisin Stack. Back: Brian Cahill, Sean O’Regan, Alban Stack. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the ‘Live Life Love Concert’ were, from left: Dervla Murphy, Kayleigh Donegan, Daniel Buckley, Martin Lynch and Bob Corkey. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.At the ‘Live Life Love Concert’ were, from left: Aidan Power, Barry John Keane, Paschal Sheehy and Alison Nulty. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
