Local singer releases Christmas song hoping to €100,000 for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation
Oliver Berry, who wrote and released a single 'An Irish Christmas' has set his sights on raising €100,000 from donations for the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.
A BALLYLINAN singer/songwriter has set his sights on raising €100,000 for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation from a Christmas single he has just released.
Oliver Berry released ‘An Irish Christmas’ on 1 December, and on the www.idonate.ie/anirishchristmas online fundraising site since then, he has raised in excess of €3,000.
Oliver is accompanied on the song by his sister Linda Berry who plays whistle as well as backing vocals along with Carrie Haskins. Seamus O’Halloran plays guitar while Noel Donovan plays banjo.
Oliver said that while it might seem his €100,000 target is a bit ambitious he feels that if companies come on board with sponsorship that figure could well be achieved.
He has been partners in his own business - KSTS Safety Services - for the past nine years and the first Irish based training company to achieve the ISO18878 Standard.
His business has also sponsored the local St Anne’s Soccer Club, Athy Rugby Club and Ballylinan GAA Club.
At 43-years of age Oliver was a well known DJ back in the day. He turned his attention to ballad, traditional Irish and folk music has been playing at sessions occasionally in local pubs and venues for the past eight or nine years.
Asked why he wanted to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation he said: “I know a few families a round where I live that have been assisted by Jack and Jill. It’s also a charity for children and Christmas time is all about children.”
“I was amazed by how much has been raised since the song was released. I know €100,000 is a huge sum but I’ve been in contact with a few companies and I hope they will provide sponsorship to help raise that figure. But no matter. Whatever it makes, it makes.”
Oliver with his backing crew are hoping to perform in Flemings Bar in Ballylinan and at the Christmas Market in Athy.
The single ‘An Irish Christmas’ is available to download on all platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Facebook etc.
Oliver said that while the song is free of charge to download all he asks is that people donate whatever they can on the www.idonate.ie/anirishchristmas page and that 100% of the profits raised will go to Jack And Jill Children's Foundation.
