Graig gig in memory of two local men was a sellout success
The families of Danny O'Brien and Robert Murphy
THERE WAS a massive turnout in the Abbey Hall, Graignamanagh recently for a fundraising concert in aid of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, with more than €13,000 raised so far. The concert was held in memory of two local young men, Robert Murphy and Danny O’Brien, who died separately abroad within months of each other.
Danny of St Mullins Road, Graignamanagh died in Norway in August 2023, while Robert of Newtown, Graignamanagh died in Sydney, Australia in November 2023. The remains of both men were repatriated thanks to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT).
In a bid to acknowledge the great work of the trust, which had helped both the O’Brien and Murphy families at the worst time in their lives, they decided to hold a fundraising concert.
Music on the night was by Martin Ryan and friends and featured a diverse line-up of talented artists from Wexford and Kilkenny, each bringing their own unique sounds and styles to the stage. MC for the event was chef and Graignamanagh native Edward Hayden.
Both Robert and Danny were deep and soulful thinkers and a poem each had written was read out on the night. Edward Hayden recited , written by Danny while he rowed across the Atlantic in a world record-breaking feat along the Trade II route, while Robert’s cousin Mary Reinhardt recited , which Robert wrote when he was 12 years’ old.
There was a massive raffle on the night with 30 prizes up for grabs, including two tickets for the upcoming UEFA Nations League play-off between Ireland and Bulgaria in the Aviva Stadium.
KBRT was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation.
