Galway Legend Mary Coughlan throws Big Gig for Syria & Turkey

In just over a week's time, Galway's iconic Leisureland venue will play host to The Big Gig in support of earthquake victims in Türkiye & Syria. Galway music legend Mary Coughlan has rounded up a stellar line-up featuring Kíla, Sharon Shannon, Liam O'Maonlai & friends, Tracy Bruen, Ultan Conlon, Susan O'Neill, Frances Black, Mundy & MC Hector!

The Big Gig
Leisureland, Salthill, Galway
Sat 25th February
Doors: 7:00pm
Raffle Prizes on the Night
Buy Your Ticket Here.

Not just an incredibly talented singer and songwriter, Mary Coughlan is a force to be reckoned with when she sets her sights on something. That's exactly how The Big Gig in aid of earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria was organised in such a short period of time. Mary said; "You know when you're looking at something like that and you just feel very helpless? So I thought I'd try to do something. I rang Gugai to see if we could use the Róisín Dubh and he suggested aiming big and going for Leisureland! Everyone involved is giving their services for this concert for free. Please support it!"

Featuring Mary Coughlan herself, Kíla, Sharon Shannon, Liam O'Maonlai & friends, Tracy Bruen, Ultan Conlon, Susan O'Neill, Frances Black, Mundy & MC Hector, all proceeds from the event will go to supporting TIAFI, a charity set up by Waterford woman Anne O'Rorke. Team International Assistance for Integration or TIAFI (in Turkish: Uluslararası Yardımlaşma ve Entegrasyon Derneği) is a registered charity working in Turkey to empower the most vulnerable refugees, women and children, so that they can find the peace, security and respect they deserve. That has never been more necessary as it is right now.

After hearing Anne O'Rourke on RTE News speaking from a TIAFI Syrian refugee camp, Mary Coughlan decided she needed to do something and this is how The Big Gig came about. "I was listening to the radio a while back and I heard Anne O'Rorke speaking to somebody. Six years ago this Waterford woman started working with Syrian refugees in Turkey and they are still seeing huge numbers of people crossing the border. She's amazing. So I rang RTÉ to get her phone number and we've been talking every day since, she's been updating me on the situation as it develops, like how she's in with the Mayor today to discuss what can be done to help."

An incredible line-up of Irish musicians will take to the stage on the night and there will be loads of raffle prizes to be won too! Tickets are just €40, an absolute bargain considering the calibre of musician on display. They are available to buy from roisindubh.net and Ticketmaster.ie.

For more on the charity TIAFI check out their website https://tiafi.org/.

Feature Photo of Mary Coughlan by Frank Miller