GERRY KENNEDY is known to many as a teacher in The Bish, but he is also a singer-songwriter who is about to release a new album and play a charity concert for The Lions Club.
Gerry will launch his new album, Different Days, with a concert in The Ardilaun on Tuesday February 7 and the bill will also include The Conquerors, Silkwood, Eugene Kelly, and Carmel Dempsey.
Gerry is organising the concert as a ‘Thank you’ to the many people who helped him through a difficult time a number of years ago.
“In 1997 I was widowed and left to raise three young boys, the youngest being only 15-months old,” says Gerry. “As you can imagine, that duty became my sole focus for many years. In recent years, partly because I teach English, I was drawn back towards songwriting, something I hadn't done in years.
“I found it to be great therapy and very rewarding. I got into home recording and by degrees built a home studio, where I could record my own songs. When my wife died, people were very good to me and I have always wanted to, in some small way, give something back to the people of Galway. When I decided to release an album of my songs, I began to think that it might be a good opportunity to raise funds for a local charity.”
As a result, Gerry is combining the album launch with the concert which will act as a fundraiser for the Galway Lions Club.
Gerry’s ambition is to raise €10,000 for the charity. All money from ticket sales will go directly to the Lions Club, as will 50 per cent of all CD sales on the night.
Tickets are €10 and can be purchased from Gerry at The Bish, from reception at The Ardilaun, and Ticket Master in Zhivago.
