Kila’s Rónán Ó'Snodaigh, Paddy Casey, Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill (SON) are amongst the Irish artists playing a fundraising event for six-year-old Ava Barry, a sufferer of a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, to be held in the Tivoli Theatre, Dublin, on July 18th.
Dublin Gospel Choir and folk singer Shay Cotter and a range of comedians are also set to perform at the event. The organisers have also promised some “heavyweight special guests” on the night.
Vera Twomey, Ava's mother, is a well known medicinal cannabis advocate who campaigned unsuccessfully to get her daughter access to medicinal cannabis products in Ireland.
Vera and her family recently moved to Holland in order to access the treatment. Since arriving in Holland, Ava has begun her CBD and THC medication which has been prescribed by a GP. Vera said that since Ava has started her medication, she has been almost completely seizure free.
Ava was previously suffering with up to 20 tonic clonic seizures per day. These types of seizures are also known as convulsive seizures in which the person loses consciousness, falls, stiffens (the tonic portion of the seizure), and jerks (the clonic portion of the seizure).
Depending on Ava’s condition, Vera will be interviewed onstage by Hot Press senior editor Olaf Tyaransen on the night.
Tickets for the event are available for €12 through the 'Party for Ava' Facebook page.