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Pyros play two charity gigs
26.03.09
by Damien Dowds, Inishowen Independent
THE LEGENDARY Pyros are back this weekend when they
play two concerts in aid of Scoil Iosagáin’s music
therapy programme in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel.
The Pyros – Kevin Doherty, John Cutliffe, Ciaran
Tourish, Paul Rodden, Michael Gallinagh and Laurence
Doherty – will be joined by Altan accordionist
Dermot Byrne and renowned fiddler Tommy Peoples on
Friday night. Meanwhile, they’ll be joined on stage
by the Henry Girls on Saturday night. The music
therapy programme – the only one of its kind in the
Republic – was established in 2006 and funded by the
Department of Education, but State funding was
withdrawn after just one year and now the school, in
conjunction with parents, has organised these
fund-raising concerts to ensure the service,
delivered by music therapist Louise Kelly, can be
retained. |
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A qualified music
therapist, Coleraine-based Kelly provides therapy
for around 60 children on a weekly basis. “It’s not
just for children with learning difficulties,
mainstream children with challenging behaviours
benefit too,” Kelly says explaining that children
are referred to music therapy sessions when they are
affected by one or more of the following diagnoses:
autism, learning disability, physical disability,
communication disorders, emotional or behavioural
problems, or social developmental problems. |
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“Everyone has an
emotional reaction to music,” she says. “Music
therapy cannot cure these children’s illness or
disabilities, but it can help them cope with their
difficulties and cultivate existing abilities and
strengths. It works with the part of the child that
is well rather than the part that is ill or
disabled.”
Angela Tourish, one of the concert organisers, knows
first hand about the benefits music therapy. Her
daughter Orla, who has autism, has benefited hugely
from the therapy. “She has had consistent music
therapy for three years now, and has made huge
advances in terms of her social skills,” Angela
said. “She had no communication and had little eye
contact before taking the music course, but now she
can use her voice and make and hold eye contact.”
Both women emphasise the value of regular contact
with the children which has allowed Louise to
establish a more meaningful relationship with them
than can be achieved through short, intensive blocks
of speech or occupational therapy. “Depending on the
child, sessions might last five minutes or 30, but
they know me and are comfortable with me – I’ve
built up a relationship with them,” Louise says.
“It’s a privilege to work with these children. It’s
not about me performing for the kids, it’s about
them expressing themselves through the music and
responding to it.”
The Friday and Saturday night concerts provide the
public with a tangible way of supporting this vital
music therapy service. The Pyros will visit Scoil
Íosagáin next week to meet with Louise Kelly and see
the therapy being put into practice. An accomplished
fiddler and singer, Louise herself is looking
forward to performing with the band on one of the
nights.
Tickets for the concert are priced at just €15 and
are available from the Inishowen Gateway Hotel,
Mac’s Bookshop, or by contacting 086 3068662 or 087
2240579. |
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