A SOUTHSIDE councillor has penned a new charity single inspired by the new Rosie Hackett Bridge spanning the Liffey.
The song, entitled
‘The Ballad of Rosie Hackett’, was written by Cllr Dermot Lacey, (Lab) composed by Martin Tourish with vocals by Geraldine Finn for ALONE, the charity that cares for older people in need.
The CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan, said:
“All money raised from the sale of The Ballad of Rosie Hackett will directly fund vital services for older people.
“We are truly thankful for the time, efforts and talent of Dermot, Martin and Geraldine, their support is really appreciated. We hope that people will make an effort to take two minutes from their day and download the song from iTunes in support of ALONE
?.
In May of this year, the new bridge over the Liffey, The Rosie Hackett Bridge, was officially opened.
Cllr Dermot Lacey was the head of the naming committee that involved the public and people from many walks of Dublin life.
The five names that made the final shortlist for the naming of the bridge were the Bram Stoker, Rosie Hackett, Kay Mills, Frank Duff and the founder of ALONE, Willie Bermingham.
Motivated by Rosie, the woman who founded the Irish Women Workers Union, Cllr Lacey, as head of the naming committee, put pen to paper and wrote a ballad.
Having written the song, Cllr Lacey drafted in Geraldine Finn, a singer from Co Galway to sing the vocals and Martin Tourish, a Dublin-based accordionist, composer and producer to compose the track.
Cllr Lacey felt that it would be a fitting tribute for all proceeds from sales of The Ballad of Rosie Hackett to go to ALONE, the charity founded by shortlisted Willie Bermingham.
With the finished track, he approached ALONE and signed over full copyright of the song to the charity.
“I hope that over the years these two great Dubliners, Rosie Hackett and Willie Bermingham, will be forever associated and that ALONE can raise some vital funds to help fund services for older people from the sale of this song,
? Cllr Lacey said.
The Ballad of Rosie Hackett is available for download on iTunes for 99 cents.
ALONE can be contacted on (01) 6791032 by those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community or visit www.alone. ie