Armagh Rose to run charity night

The event will take place on Friday night at 8pm and all funds raised will go towards the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and also raise awareness of Myeloma Cancer.

Meabh explained, “Having spent time in the Royal myself as a child after a serious car accident, my family and I will be forever grateful for the medical care and support we received at the time and in the years that followed. As a five-year-old child at the time, I do not associate my time in the Royal with being afraid, anxious or nervous.

“What I remember is colouring-in. I vividly remember spending my time in the arts and crafts materials and patiently waiting for the play therapist to come round the ward to top up with new paints and paper.

“The Hannon family, from Aghagallon who have been a pillar of support to me during my Tralee experience, have done tremendous work over the past few years, raising awareness about Myeloma and raising money to contribute to Myeloma Cancer Research in memory of their mother Agnes, who sadly lost her battle against it.

“Agnes was the Queen of Scor in Aghagallon for many years. She loved the Rose of Tralee festival, so it’s fitting that she is remembered in my Rose of Tralee experience (and her wee brooch went everywhere I went).”

Meabh is also running a bus to Dublin on Saturday, April 1 and a night at the races on May 13 in the Woodville Arms Lurgan.

“I have always been extremely proud of where I come from and representing our community and our county in Tralee was the most wonderful honour,” she said. “The kindness and generosity from the people of this area has been overwhelming over the past year and I will forever be indebted.”

The money raised will go towards buying arts and crafts materials and supporting the therapists on ten wards.

To donate log onto www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/meabh-lenehan