{"id":678917,"date":"2026-01-07T01:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T01:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/678917\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T01:56:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T01:56:21","slug":"video-derek-ryan-returns-to-help-london-irish-vintage-day-funds-reach-1-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/678917\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Derek Ryan returns to help London Irish Vintage Day funds reach \u00a31 million"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

London Irish Vintage Day reached \u00a31 million in funds raised since it launched in 2011 with its latest annual event that took place at Tir Chonaill Gaels GAA Grounds in Greenford in September.<\/p>\n

The event continued to be blessed by the weather as it was another beautiful day that saw Derek Ryan return to headline the day\u2019s entertainment.<\/p>\n

There was also entertainment from London- Irish band Hungry Grass, Johnny McGovern, Slim Attraction and former Lord of the Dance star and Donegal Rose, Niamh Shevlin.<\/p>\n

The traditional stage saw performances from Three Fold, Lucky Plucker, Raggle Taggle and London Irish Music School. There was also poetry, a Big Band Ceili with the Brendan the Navigator Set Dances and dancing displays from Cara Gael and Scoil Rince Rochford.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Founder and organiser Brendan Vaughan told The Irish World: \u201cIt was a fabulous day and we had a fabulous crowd here as well. Fabulous.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat atmosphere. Just the same as if you were at a festival back at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m stuck for words because it just went so well with a nice, friendly family crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had some support today as well.<\/p>\n

– Advertisement –<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had unbelievable help and just can\u2019t thank the people enough for helping us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just far too many to even mention who has helped us out.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t realise how much help we do get.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt costs a fair amount to run the day. Without the help we do get, we couldn\u2019t afford to run this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brendan also paid credit to the committee that have helped brings funds raised to the milestone figure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a million raised but we have a good committee.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd without the committee, you cannot do this.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought when it started, it would build to this.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this time of year, I always think of Tony McGovern. I miss Tony so much especially at this time of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe supported the Vintage Day.<\/p>\n

\u201c2011 we started it and it\u2019s got bigger and bigger and it\u2019s so good.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hasn\u2019t really sunk in yet that we\u2019ve raised a million and some of the charities who have raised money for down through the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne that comes to mind is the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, a fabulous charity.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then we got St Luke\u2019s hospice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the first charity we ever raised.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u00a332,000 we give them in 2011.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

What is next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep it going now.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all we can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see everybody enjoyed themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody that I spoke to had a fabulous day and enjoyed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s about, not one little bit of trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe committee are excellent and I thank them very much for their help and their support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Derek Ryan was making his second appearance at London Irish Vintage Day and will be welcome back again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no question about it: We\u2019ll have him back here because he\u2019s a fabulous entertainer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derek Ryan told The Irish World: \u201cIt\u2019s great.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played here a couple of years ago and it was a massive day and great weather as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same again today.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was good for Derek to return as he used to play the pubs in London and even around Greenford.<\/p>\n

\u201cI lived here for seven years altogether and played in a lot of pubs just around the corner from here really so it\u2019s always a bit surreal to come back and play to big crowds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember playing in pubs when there was no one listening to me really.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always feel very much at home here in London as well and I always look forward to getting back here.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always nice to be back.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of great memories of playing in pubs and great nights we had.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always say you learn your craft as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll soon be told what you\u2019re doing wrong and what you\u2019re doing right and it\u2019s all part of the process really.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese things don\u2019t happen overnight. They\u2019re generally better if they don\u2019t happen overnight and you work for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s always nice to come back and play big shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played Trafalgar Square a couple of years ago for St Patrick\u2019s Day, played here a few years ago and we\u2019re back here again so it\u2019s fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

On returning to Greenford Derek said: \u201cI always meet someone that I know or knows someone that I know.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of those places and has just a really nice vibe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a family day and a great selection of vintage as well, and food and drink and dancing and music. What more do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Asked if he\u2019ll be back for a third time Derek says: \u201cWe would love to come back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course we would.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously the committee need to mix it up every now and again to keep it fresh but anytime they want us back, we\u2019re open to coming back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic day to be part of and it raises lots of money as well for different charities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey hit the million mark and it\u2019s great to be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s beneficiary charities are St Luke\u2019s Hospice, Stamp Out Suicide, HCPT and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

Kate Gammell, community fundraiser with St Luke\u2019s, said: \u201cIt\u2019s brilliant to be here today.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel privileged as a local charity to be chosen once again by the vintage team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really grateful to be here and it\u2019s great to be seen by the local community. We rely on the community heavily for donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s not all about the money as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about awareness for us so just being here talking to people, letting them know what a hospice is so then if people ever need a hospice, they won\u2019t be afraid or they\u2019ll have a bit more knowledge of what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

However many people are familiar with the great work St Luke\u2019s does.<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly most people that talk to us have been connected to a hospice somehow so it\u2019s nice to have those conversations with people and hear their stories as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Colm Farrell told The Irish World: \u201cI\u2019m here on behalf of Stamp Out Suicide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a charity based in Warrington but we cover the whole country and we provide free counselling to anybody that\u2019s living with suicidal thoughts. Our contact number is 07766808222.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t really feel comfortable picking up the phone and ringing but they can also text us.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be here today is absolutely brilliant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my second year here.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuckily for us, we\u2019re one of the four beneficiaries this year and I\u2019d like to thank the London Irish Vintage Club for supporting our charity this year and obviously for everybody that comes here to support us as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Although there is greater awareness around mental health, a stigma remains.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing about it is suicide is actually the most preventable of all deaths so I would say to anybody, \u2018If you\u2019re concerned for somebody, don\u2019t be afraid to ask them if they\u2019re having suicidal thoughts\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a simple question, Have you thought about suicide?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if that person is suicidal, they will actually tell you the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch shows that nine out of ten people, if they\u2019re asked the question will tell you they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you might be concerned, \u2018Well, what do I do next?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWell just sit down with them, listen to them and chat to them and try and get them to go and seek professional help.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s where we come in.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, they could contact their GP but just make sure they go and get help from somewhere because once you start that process of getting help, it becomes a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" Ireland has a high rate of suicide. Asked if it is cultural, Colm says: \u201cIt\u2019s actually very much a man thing more so than a cultural thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMen have this thing that, \u2018I can\u2019t be seen to show weakness\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s not weakness.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid because there\u2019s nothing to be ashamed of.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd trust me, once you start the process of counselling, things will get better. I can guarantee you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stamp Out Suicide was established in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re ten years this year and thankfully we\u2019ve been able to help a lot of people, and that\u2019s the most important thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as we can, we\u2019ll keep doing it. Nothing will stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

James Teague, Group leader for HCPT Group 144, said: \u201cWe\u2019re so grateful to the London Irish Vintage Club for having us here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bring disabled and disadvantaged young people on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and it\u2019s really a life changing event for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of them are coming from deprived backgrounds or they\u2019ve got some sort of disability which means they couldn\u2019t do that sort of trip.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fundraise the money.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the costs are paid for them and the helpers throughout the year train themselves to make sure we can look after them and offer them this life changing week.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to be part of a charity, and so fantastic to be here being supported so well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand the organisation is going to hit a million this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing part of that story, the club does amazing work. The people involved are incredible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really honoured to be part of that experience, and really looking forward to an amazing day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hannah Babe, Volunteer and Community Ambasssador for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, said: \u201cWe are just absolutely delighted to be here today to represent the charity and spread some awareness for them.\u201d
The air ambulance is a life saver is remote areas of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially in rural areas where accidents can happen, particularly farming accidents, road traffic collisions, falls from height, work accidents, any accidents that can happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re in rural areas, it could be just a little bit more difficult for normal ambulance to get to it so therefore, the air ambulance is a much easier method of transportation for those patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if she is always hearing about people saved by the service Hannah said: \u201cI\u2019m actually one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a patient of the air ambulance in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was involved in road traffic collision in a rural area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cJust about a mile from my house or so, I was involved in a road traffic collision with a lorry and the air ambulance was tasked out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe air ambulance was absolutely phenomenal that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey worked alongside the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, the police department and the fire brigade.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether they all worked to get me out of my car which was a wreck at that time and then the air ambulance were able to provide me with pre-hospital care at the side of the road, anything that I needed at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything that I needed, they were able to provide me at the side of the road and then their quick transportation to the hospital, from my house to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, which is where the helicopter pad is- It is about an hour\u2019s drive, I was there within just under 20 minutes\u2019 flight time which is amazing and only for that quick transportation and their quick response, they are more than likely the reason that I am still alive here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

This experience made Hannah want to give back..<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are the reason I\u2019m here today.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just decided, \u2018You know what? What better way to help give back than to actually help them raise the funds they need to possibly save another patient who could be in the same boat that I was in?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Donegal Rose and Irish dancer Niamh Shevlin said: \u201cI\u2019m delighted to be here.<\/p>\n

\u201cDonegal have such a big representation here in London.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see all the Donegal tops roaming around and everybody going past is giving me a wave because they see the Donegal rose.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be representing that too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Niamh displayed her dancing on both stages including directly before Derek Ryan\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do as much dancing as I used to anymore now, I\u2019m a primary school teacher so it\u2019s nice to get the dancing shoes out for something like this again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually was lucky enough to get the lead role in Lord of the Dance so that would be something I would be very proud of myself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me the confidence to do something like this on my own.
\u201cIf you said to me when I was a teenager, \u2018Would you get up and dance on the stage on your own?\u2019 I wouldn\u2019t have done anything without my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

On being Donegal Rose Niamh said: \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing to get to do things like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that you probably never would get the opportunity to do otherwise so it\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s lots of opportunities that come after that actual week in Tralee so I\u2019m absolutely delighted to do it and to be able to do all these things for two years is even better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"London Rose Shauna Sammon, who represented London in Tralee, was also in attendance.<\/p>\n

London Rose Shauna Sammon told The Irish World: \u201cIt\u2019s lovely to be there today.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to be back with the London Irish community after the busyness of Tralee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a great but busy few weeks, but back to reality now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It was Shauna\u2019s first engagement since Tralee.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously coming from Westport, I got a lot of support from people there but when you come back to London, it\u2019s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if the Tralee experience was all she hoped for Shauna said: \u201cIt was yeah.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god it was busy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was full on but it was everything I\u2019d hoped for and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met so many wonderful girls and people along the way, had so much support along the way so it was brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n

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