Inishowen band to host Uganda school fundraiser in Buncrana

An Inishowen band is running a fundraiser for a Ugandan school helping the country’s most impoverished area.
Local group 9 Hazel Trees will donate all funds raised at the Lovely Girls Competition to the Hands for Hope school in Uganda’s capital city Kampala.
The school, founded by Irish musician John Cutliffer in 2008, empowers Kampala’s poorest informal urban settlement, Namuwongo slum, through education, nutrition, and training. 
Louise Doherty, 9 Hazel Trees’ pianist, said the Lovely Girls Competition will be full of entertainment while raising money for an important cause.
“It will be a great night of fun and live music. The current champion will hand over his tiara to a new winner. No entry fee, just a donation on the night,” she said.
“We did the first Lovely Girls competition in 2016. People really got into the spirit of it, we had a great crowd and the atmosphere was fantastic.”
The first event raised funds for the Donegal Cancer Bus. The second went to the Danielle McLaughlin fund, supporting legal costs for Danielle’s family.
The band was invited to the Hands for Hope last year as they embarked on a 12-day journey through Uganda that included 8 flights and 10 charity gigs.
The trip coincided with the country’s first St Patrick’s Day celebrations since the Covid pandemic. The school and visiting Irish performers and athletes have raised the profile of Irish culture in Uganda.

In pictures: Inishowen Credit Union 2024 School Quiz

Some 41 teams took part in the Inishowen Credit Union 2024 School Quiz

The band was joined by Donegal Riverdance performer Niamh Shevlin, and world champion dancer Ciara O’Loughlin.
“Niamh Shevlin was a huge inspiration to the young dancers at the schools we visited, with incredibly intricate dancing displays and hands-on teaching.”
Kampala held the first-ever African Irish Dancing feis last year, with young dancers coached by Jean Kennedy (Lord of the Dance).
Kilkenny hurling legend Aidan Fogerty and footballer Sinead Brennan accompanied the group. The pair contributed to the establishment of a GAA club in Uganda. Four schools are now involved in learning and playing GAA sports, hosting hurling blitzes, and aiming to raise enough funds for a proper pitch.The band members’ fundraising efforts didn’t stop when they got home.
“The band’s fiddle player - and renowned music teacher - Des McGonigle initiated a fundraising effort sending tin whistles out to Hands for Hope School and is now teaching a weekly online class. The children had a Christmas recital this year playing their tin whistles.
“Micky Herron, guitar player and singer played at several carol services in Inishowen over Christmas, raising money which will be going directly to Hands for Hope as well.”
Despite challenges like getting caught in flash floods during the first rain in nine months, the band had an “incredible” experience on its first trip. The group is set to return this March, continuing their commitment to supporting the Irish Society’s community efforts in Kampala.  They also visited the Brass for Africa school and participated in musical collaboration with the local teachers and young musicians. Drummer Gary Raymond donated many of his drumming accessories to this school.  
The Lovely Girls Competition will be held in Rodden’s Bar, Buncrana at 9pm on Saturday, February 10 . Prizes will be given to the best outfit and “for being wile craic”.