The Cause

The Irish Community Air Ambulance is Ireland’s first and only charity-funded Air Ambulance. Last year, the service was tasked with 512 emergency incidents nationally. It works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service and responds to serious incidents and medical emergencies from its base in Rathcool in Co Cork. It is a life-saving service for many in rural Ireland.

The Venue

Michael Herlihy has been hosting live traditional music concerts in his music shop in Dingle for years, attracting tourists from all over the world. The shop is an intimate and homely place which is renowned for the genuine Irish welcome it offers.

The Story

Michael was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick in July of 2021, after experiencing severe chest pains. “I started to get really bad chest pains and my friend called an ambulance,” he recounted. “Next thing I knew I was in the sports field in Dingle and the helicopter had landed. The pilot and the paramedics were outstanding,” he added. Twenty minutes later he arrived at the Limerick hospital, avoiding a two-hour road journey. CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance Micheál Sheridan stated that each mission costs €3,500 and that the charity-based service rely solely on donations and fundraisers. “Every minute counts in these situations which is why it’s so important to get to a specialist hospital quickly,” he concluded.

The Performers

Michael Herlihy’s nephew Paddy O’Neill is part of the Limerick-based trad band The Fadas who came up with the idea for the fundraising event, which took place on March 5, 2022 at 8pm.

The Fadas:

• Timmy McKenna
• Noreen Nash
• Ita O Donnell
• Nives Carroll
• Fr Danny Devitt
• Maria Hughes
• Paddy O Neill

The band were joined on the night by:

• World Champion Irish dancers Órlaith and Caoimhe O’Neill
• Irish fiddle player Máire Breathnach
• Singer Laurence Courtney
• Fiddle player Niamh Varian-Barry
• Michael Herlihy himself on the button accordion.