Mundy, Paddy Casey and SON star at Party for Ava

For the uninitiated, Ava Barry is a seven-year-old Irish girl who suffers from an extreme form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome. In recent times Ava’s mother, Vera Twomey, has become nationally famous as a medicinal cannabis advocate, as she campaigned to get Ava access to medicinal cannabis products in Ireland.

Vera, Ava and the rest of the family (Ava has two young siblings) were recently forced to up sticks and move to Holland, where the medication required to treat Ava is fully legal.
Since arriving in Holland, Ava has begun her CBD and THC medication which has been prescribed by a GP. Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland last week, Vera said that since Ava started the treatment, she has been almost completely seizure free.
Unfortunately, the kids all have to return to school in September and, until the drugs Ava needs are made legally available in Ireland, they’re essentially medical refugees in the Netherlands. Last night’s party has been thrown to raise funds to help the family survive over there.
Your Hot Press correspondent was supposed to interview Vera Twomey live onstage tonight, but she’s unable to make the journey from Holland. Plan B was a Skype interview, but this is scuppered by technical difficulties. Oh well...
The organisers have decided to keep the night free of politics, which is fine, but there isn’t an MC to let people know what is happening and when. The first few acts aren’t introduced (not even by themselves), and there’s absolutely no mention of why we’re all here.
It isn’t until the super-talented Susan O’Neill (SON) takes the stage that Ava’s name and the subject of medicinal cannabis is even mentioned. Using just an acoustic guitar and loop pedals (“I was doing this long before Ed Sheeran!”), SON plays a terrific three song set, the highlight of which is the insanely catchy ‘Only Animals’. Mark my words, SON is going to go all the way.
Fiachra Shanks is up next, with a soulful acoustic set that mellows the room before some comedians led by Ben Morgan (son of the late Dermot Morgan) entertain for a rib-tickling thirty minutes.
SON and Shanks might have pulled the crowd in from the outdoor smoking section, but it’s Kila’s Rónán Ó Snodaigh who, armed with just a bodhran and a serious attitude, really gets them moving. Mick Flannery follows with a set that confirms his status as one of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters.
Headliner Paddy Casey does a great job, with ‘Sweet Suburban Sky’ the highlight of his set. He’s joined onstage by the Dublin Gospel Choir for his encore before the organisers are persuaded and the mics are handed to Richard Boyd Barrett and Gino Kelly of People Before Profit.
It seems the government is currently attempting to put the kibosh on Kelly’s Medical Cannabis Bill, and both men speak passionately and eloquently about the urgent need for the people to make their voices heard on this most important of issues. “Remember the water charges,” said Boyd-Barrett. “The people have more power than the people in power.” Amen to that.
The organisers had promised some very special surprise guests. One of these was Damien Dempsey, who unfortunately was forced to pull out just hours before the show. Thankfully, the second special guest can attend. Playing a solo acoustic set, with the audience as backing singers, Mundy brings the party to a close in his own inimitable style.
I don’t know how much money was raised tonight, but it certainly wasn’t as much as was hoped for. Still, every little helps. Kudos to the organisers for throwing this party, and to all the performers that made it such an enjoyable evening. But Ava and her family need more help than this. You can donate on Vera Twomey’s Facebook page. Give if you can.