By Sean Ryan - 20 September, 2015
Musicians across the country are getting ready for ‘Trad for Trócaire’ week, which takes place from Friday 25 September to Friday 2 October.
Trad for Trócaire is a partnership between the Catholic aid agency and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann that celebrates Ireland’s deep musical heritage and our long history of goodwill towards people facing poverty.
The campaign began after the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010 when well-known trad band, The Usual Suspects, busked from Dublin to Galway collecting donations to help Trócaire carry out vital emergency work and rebuilding projects.
Soon after, Trócaire and Comhaltas joined forces spreading the generosity of Ireland’s traditional Irish music community far and wide.
This year Trócaire has reported an outpouring of concern from trad musicians for Syrian refugees and is asking people to support their local ‘Trad for Trócaire’ ‘seisiún’ to aid people living through poverty and conflict.
“This year, we have had an overwhelming response from trad musicians and members of Comhaltas, who are concerned about the suffering of refugees that they are seeing on their TV screens,” Katie Bolger, Trócaire’s Community Fundraising Officer told CatholicIreland.net.
She added, “This crisis has moved people to reach out to their communities and to see what they can do to help people in the world, who are struggling through war and poverty.”
“Some musicians are holding two sessions this year, one to support Trad for Trócaire, which funds Trócaire’s long-term overseas development projects and a second to fundraise for our work with refugees from Syria and Iraq.”
Speaking about the fundraising Kate said, “An average ‘Trad for Trócaire’ event raises €320/£264. This is enough money to provide two clean water pumps for a whole community, as well as giving two family’s access to equipment needed for creating a sustainable garden.”
“In 2014, people held hundreds of ‘Trad for Trócaire’ sessions all across the country and raised a total of €65,000/£48,500.”
2015 marks the sixth year of ‘Trad for Trócaire’. Since its inception in 2010, over 1,500 Trad events have taken place across Ireland and also in the UK and USA.
Over €560,000 has been raised by musicians and Trad fans – young and old alike.
This money is now supporting communities in many countries across the developing world who are suffering daily with extreme poverty and injustice.
To organise a session or find out when local sessions are taking place log onto www.trocaire.org/trad or call Katie Bolger, Community Fundraising Officer in Trócaire, on 01 6293333.
‘Trad for Trócaire’ runs 25th September to 2 October.
