Songs for Berkeley

A HUGE line up of acts is taking to the stage in Dublin this week to raise money to support the families of the victims caught up in the Berkeley balcony tragedy.

Singer Mundy is headlining the Berkeley fundraiser in the Academy on Thursday, July 23 with doors opening at 7.30pm.

Last week marked one month since the news broke of the tragic incident in Berkeley, California which claimed the lives of five Southside students and one Irish American, and left seven others fighting for their lives.

Olivia Burke, Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster and Lorcán Miller (all 21), and Ashley Donohoe (22) died in the tragedy.

Of the injured students only one, Seán Fahey, has been able to return home to Ireland. He was discharged from hospital in California a week after the tragedy.

Two of the other six students continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation as they await medical approval so that they can return to Ireland on a commercial flight.

Conor Flynn was discharged from hospital a couple of weeks ago but has not been allowed to fly due to a punctured lung.

Niall Murray and Jack Halpin are both continuing to receive specialised treatment at a hospital in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, Clodagh Cogley and Hannah Waters are receiving treatment at a rehabilitation facility at Santa Clara.

Aoife Beary awoke from an induced coma last week and is now communicating.

There have been a number of events held in Berkeley to mark the one month anniversary of the tragedy while back in Dublin an impressive line up of acts has got behind the concert organised by fellow students and friends of the victims.

One of those involved in organising the fundraiser, Thomas Kenny (21), from Sandyford, studies in DTI and is a personal friend of Clodagh Cogley.

“It was quiet shocking when the news came through,

? he recalled.

“We were aware that our friends were out there but so were thousands of other students so when it emerged that we knew most of those affected it was really devastating.

?

Thomas told how the student community in Dublin has rallied behind the victims and their families with a series of fundraisers to offer financial support.

“Every door opens for us when we ask for help and we can’t thank Ticketmaster, MCD and the Academy enough as they have shown an astounding level of support.

?

Headlining the event is Mundy and Nicky Byrne will MC on the night. A myriad number of Irish bands are all taking to the stage to show their support. Tickets (

?¬25) are on ticketmaster.ie