A Wicklow family is preparing a star-studded charity music night as part of an urgent fundraising campaign to raise €600,000 for life-saving heart surgery in the United States for 30-year-old primary school teacher Eímear Byrne.
Eímear, who teaches at Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow, has lived with serious heart complications since childhood. She is now preparing for a third open-heart surgery, after doctors discovered three additional aneurysms. Due to the complexity of her condition, the procedure must be carried out in a specialist hospital in the US, where it is considered her best chance of survival.
So far, the campaign has raised €111,000, but the family still face a significant shortfall as they work towards the estimated €600,000 total cost. Despite that gap, they say the level of public support has been overwhelming.
An upcoming music night at the Arklow Bay Hotel on Friday, May 8, is expected to be one of the key fundraising events. The line-up will include James Reid, Déjá VU and Seán Fox, with a raffle also taking place on the night featuring donated prizes from local businesses.
The event was inspired by Eímear’s mother, Ailish Byrne, who helped organise the night as momentum behind the campaign continues to grow. The event management company Gr8 Events waived its fees after being approached by the family, while performers quickly agreed to take part.
Eímear said the response from the local community has been deeply moving, particularly as the campaign has gained national attention in recent weeks.
She said: “The support I have received over the last few weeks has been unbelievable. The support from the community is overwhelming.”
She added: “I really feel like the people of Arklow are all behind me and it’s time now for the people of Ireland to continue to support me – we need it to become a nationwide campaign.”
Reflecting on the scale of attention the story has received, she also admitted the experience has been emotional and unfamiliar for someone used to a private life.
She said: “I’m in shock at how quickly we have raised €100,000 so far. I’m very grateful to everyone.”
And she added: “It is a very weird feeling for me to open Facebook or Instagram and see my face or story everywhere. I have gone from being such a private person to pushing myself to put my story out for the country to see.”
The music night will also feature a major raffle, with prizes already donated by local businesses, including an Apple iPad and an electric scooter, alongside additional spot prizes.
Tickets for the event, which begins at 7.30pm on Friday, May 8, are available via gr8events.ie, while donations to the campaign can be made through the family’s fundraising page.
As the fundraising effort continues, the Byrne family are hoping the combination of community events and national support will help bridge the remaining gap and bring Eímear closer to the urgent surgery she needs.
