Daniel O'Donnell to help launch CD

A special video message from Daniel O’Donnell is to feature as part of the launch of a CD by the Tullamore Academy of Music and the Tanyard Resource Centre on Friday.

The CD - “Reach for the Stars” - features four tracks recorded by users of the Tullamore resource centre in memory of centre user Winston Bagnall.

Winston himself had met his singing hero Daniel before he died, and as the singer is admired by the singers featured on the CD too Martina Burgoyne of the Academy of Music said she was delighted to be able to track Daniel down and for him to happily record a message the launch.

“Reach for the Stars” began in January as a music project, with weekly music sessions delivered by the Academy of Music to groups at the Tanyard Resource Centre under direction from project manager Aideen Byrne.

The initiative was started in memory of Winston, himself a keen music fan. The music students really took to the lessons however, and it was developed to include a CD recorded at Puttaghaun Community Centre.

The CD being launched on Friday features an ABBA medley, “Reach for the Stars”, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Uptown Girl”. The launch will take place at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Youth Centre in Tullamore.

Thanks will be given to everyone involved in the project, including Aideen, Martina and Ciaran from the Academy of Music; community development officer Anne McHugh; Puttaghaun Community Centre; Winston’s family Charlotte, Lorna, Fiachra, Maebh and Ailbhe; Winston’s uncle and aunt Dick and Lynn Agar; Rev Canon David Hutton Bury and his parishioners in Geashill parish and finally all of Winston’s friends in the Tanyard Resource Centre, Kilbride Street, Coinneal House, Teach Mhuire and Arden Heights Day Service.