To mark the third anniversary of Manuela Riedo’s tragic death in Galway in October 2007, a number of events will be taking place next week.
On Friday October 8, there will be a balloon release on Ladies Beach in Salthill at 7pm. This will be followed by the ‘A Night For Manuela’ concert at 8pm at The Salthill Hotel and all proceeds from the night will go to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.
Manuela’s parents, Hans Peter and Arlette, are travelling from Switzerland to join the people of Galway in remembering and celebrating their daughter’s life and the work of the Manuela Foundation.
The concert will feature performances from leading Irish jazz singer Mary Coughlan, accordion genius Mairtín O’Connor, Trad on the Prom, The Mulkerrin Brothers, and singers Frank Naughton, Sean Costello, Lucia Evans, and Justin Kelly. The evening will be hosted by Mary McGill of i102-104FM.
“The best way to remember and honour Manuela’s memory is by working to prevent this from happening to anybody else,” said Shane Lennon, one of the event organisers. “We have to protect our most vulnerable. The education and awareness programmes provided by the GRCC are key to us making a difference.”
Aoibheann McCann, executive director of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, explains the assistance that will be achieved by this evening.
“Our main objective, aside from supporting survivors, is spreading awareness throughout the community,” she says. “In 2009 we were unable to provide education workshops in the schools.
“This year with the help of the money raised at last year's concert we were able to go out to the schools again and offer our prevention and awareness workshops. This summer we were also able to provide a support group for teenagers who have been affected by sexual violence with the funds from ‘A Night For Manuela’.”
Tickets are just €20 and are on sale online at www.galwayrcc.org or from Zhivago Records, The Salthill Hotel, Galway Shopping Centre (Customer Service Desk ), O’Connell’s Bar in Eyre Square, and The Forster Court Hotel.
