Press Release (30 June 2014)

PRESS RELEASE / PREAS RITES

30th June 2014 / 30ú Meitheamh 2014

For immediate release / Foilsiú láithreach

Song for Pádraig – Dream Boat / Amhrán do Phádraig – Bád na mBrionglóidí

Friends to record song to fundraise for Pádraig Schäler / Cairde le hamhrán a thaifeadadh ar son Phádraig Schäler

*LEAGAN GAEILGE THÍOS*

A group of friends have come together to record a special song in order to fundraise for their friend, talented swimmer and passionate Dublin Gaeilgeoir Pádraig Schäler. The enterprising young people took part in a challenge swim, #SnámhPhádraig, in April this year when they swam in every coastal county in Ireland in the space of two days. They hope that this latest fundraising push will exceed the €37,000 they raised in that endeavor. There will be a special fundraising ‘Night of Music for Pádraig’ at Club Conradh na Gaeilge, Harcourt Street, Dublin on Tuesday 1^st July and the recording will take place 2^nd – 3^rd July in Sonic Studios, Stoneybatter. They hope to release the song in August.

Pádraig, 24 years old, was critically injured while on a J1 visa in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the 27 June 2013. He was cycling to work when he was hit by a van and he has been in a coma ever since. He had just completed his undergraduate studies in Trinity College Dublin, where he was studying Irish and History. After 2 weeks in intensive care in the US, his parents brought him home to Ireland. Eventually Pádraig’s parents took the decision to move him to Germany, where he is now receiving the treatment he needs and is making slow but steady progress.

Pádraig’s friends have come together to record a bilingual song in honour of their friend, and in the hopes of raising money to help ease the financial burden that has been placed on his family. A special fund has been set up, ‘Caring for Pádraig’ and all proceeds from ‘Song for Pádraig’ will go towards the many and varied costs of Pádraig’s care.

Talented musician Maitiú Ó Casáide, a good friend of Pádraig’s, explained the concept behind the song: “Pádraig’s Dad, Reinhard, writes a daily blog at www.hospi-tales.com. It’s a wonderful way for Pádraig’s friends to keep up to date with his progress while he is so far away in Germany. The blog is very moving and I was struck by one post in particular. In it, Reinhard wrote about a dream he had where himself and Pádraig built a boat together. It was really beautiful and it inspired me to write a song called ‘Dream Boat’. Pádraig is a huge music fan and he is friendly with a lot of bands. The idea is to get lots of Pádraig’s friends together to record a track that is full of positive energy. The aim is to raise as much money as possible but also to support and show our love for Pádraig and his family, to let them know we are always thinking of them, especially now, a year on from the accident.”

You can learn more about Pádraig at www.caringforpadraig.org, and you can read the blog post that inspired the song at http://hospi-tales.com/2014/01/03/dream/

ENDS

Beidh cairde Phádraig Schäler ag teacht le chéile le hamhrán speisialta dátheangach a thaifeadadh ar mhaithe le hairgead a thiomsú don Ghael óg aitheanta as Baile Átha Cliath. Ghlac na daoine óga tiomanta céanna páirt i snámh dúshlánach i Mí Aibreáin nuair a thaistil siad timpeall na hÉireann thar thréimhse dhá lá, ag snámh go misniúil san fharraige fhuar i ngach contae sa tír a bhfuil cósta aige. Bhailigh siad €37,000 le linn na heachtra sin agus tá súil acu an méid sin a shárú an uair seo. Beidh ‘Oíche Mhór Cheoil do Phádraig’ ar siúl i gclub Chonradh na Gaeilge, Sráid Fhearchair, BÁC, Dé Máirt 1 Iúil agus beidh an t-amhrán á thaifeadadh ar an 2-3ú Iúil in Sonic Studios, Bóthar na gCloch. Tá súil acu an t-amhrán a eisiúnt i Mí Lúnasa.

Gortaíodh Pádraig, 24 bliana d’aois, go dona ar an 27 Meitheamh 2013 agus é ar víosa J1 in Cape Cod, SAM. Bhí sé ag rothaíocht go dtí a ionad oibre nuair a bhuail veain é agus fágadh i gcóma é ó shin. Bhí sé díreach críochnaithe leis an bhunchéim i gColáiste na Tríonóide, áit a ndearna sé staidéar ar an Stair agus ar an Ghaeilge. Tar éis do Phádraig coicís a chaitheamh in aonad dianchúraim sna Stáit Aontaithe, thóg a thuismitheoirí ar ais go hÉirinn é. Rinne siad an cinneadh Pádraig a bhogadh chun na Gearmáine ar deireadh, áit a bhfuil sé anois ag fáil an chúraim chuí agus ag déanamh dul chun cinn de réir a chéile.

Mhínigh an píobaire cáiliúil agus cara le Pádraig, Maitiú Ó Casáide, an smaoineamh a bhí taobh thiar den amhrán: “Scríobhann athair Phádraig, Reinhard, blag laethúil ag www.hospi-tales.com. Is slí iontach é do chairde Phádraig gach dul chun cinn a leanstan agus é chomh fada ar shiúl uainn sa Ghearmáin. Tá an blag thar a bheith corraitheach agus chuaigh post amháin go háirithe i bhfeidhm orm. Scríobh Reinhard faoi bhrionglóid a bhí aige, inar thóg sé féin agus Pádraig bád le chéile. Bhí sé fíorálainn agus spreag sé mé chun amhrán a scríobh darb ainm ‘Bád na mBrionglóidí’. Tá Pádraig an-tugtha don gceol agus tá sé an-chairdiúil le neart bannaí ceoil. An plean atá ann ná cairde Phádraig ar fad a bhailiú le cheile agus amhrán a thaifeadadh dó atá lán dóchais. Is é an sprioc atá againn ná an méid is mó airgid gur féidir linn a thiomsú ach fosta lenár ngrá agus ár dtacaíocht a léiriú do Phádraig is dá theaghlach, le rá leo go mbíonn muid i gcónaí ag smaoineamh orthu, anois ach go háirithe agus bliain imithe tharainn ó tharla an timpiste”.

Is féidir níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi Phádraig ag www.caringforpadraig.org. Chomh maith leis sin is féidir an blagphost a spreag an chumadóireacht seo a léamh ag http://hospi-tales.com/2014/01/03/dream/

DEIREADH

For more information please contact: / Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil deán teagmháil le:

Aindriú Mac an Rí
0861797091
kingab@tcd.ie

Claire McCabe
0851467340
cmmccabe@tcd.ie

Reinhard Schaler
087-6736414
reinhardschaler@gmail.com