Please help an initiative that saves lives…

As we all know, heart disease is one of the biggest killers in Ireland and indeed all over the world. We have all, at some stage or other, been affected by the loss of someone close to us from heart failure.

Some of these deaths could have been prevented by the availability of a defibrillator. And so, out here in the locality of Creggs, Kilbegnet, and Donamon, the Creggs Defibrillator Group are holding a fundraiser to replace the existing ones, which are now out of date and ineffective.

A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric pulse or shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. If a heart has suddenly stopped beating, it can restart it again. Each device costs €1,000, and as there are six of them around our area, the committee obviously needs help to get new ones. The importance of the defibrillators cannot be overstated and there is no doubt they save lives. To borrow a phrase from the National Lottery, “it could be you”. You can contribute online by going to ido- nate.ie/crowdfunder/Sheila Beirne, or by supporting sponsorship cards that are in local shops and pubs. Also, every Wednesday evening at 7 pm, a wellbeing evening takes place at Creggs Rugby Club to highlight the facts about heart disease and make people aware of the local fundraising efforts. All I can say is do your best to give what you can. In doing so, you might just save the life of a friend, a neighbour, or even a family member – how good would that make you feel?

The medical personnel were just so nice and considerate, and everyone was so helpful that before we knew it we were on our way home. Hopefully, we won’t be back for a while again. Funnily enough, as I revisited Merlin, I remembered that the consultant told me at the time that my new hips would have a maximum lifespan of ten years! As I said, they have now been in place for 16 and 17 years respectively, and are still going strong (I’m just back from a 4km walk), so hopefully there’s another bit left in them yet. A betting man would probably reckon they might yet see me out!

And finally…

A little while ago I met Jimmy Kearney, the well-known ‘oil man’ and musician. He has been one half of the very popular musical group ‘The Lancers’ for a good while now. When I met Jimmy, he was very enthusiastic about a new song he had written called, ‘The good old times of ‘69’, which he hoped to record fairly soon.

Well, he must have got it out there in the end, because a week or two ago it was number 9 on Strabane Radio Airplay, ahead of both the well-known Derek Ryan and Scottish superstar, Brandon McPhee!

I’m sure the song will get extensive airtime on our local radio stations (memo to Joe Finnegan and Paul Claffey) and Jimmy will have a big hit on his hands – it couldn’t happen to a nicer fellow!

Wouldn’t it be great to see him on Top of the Pops!