Over €6,000 Raised for MND at Catch’s Music Night

Catch and Sinead Berry

A busload of Athlone folk travelled last week to Clara for a music extravaganza, organised by musician Catch Berry, in aid of Mother Neuron disease research.

A younger brother of the late politician and musician, Austin Berry, Catch is an acclaimed singer and musician going back to the Showband days of the 1960s.  Catch was diagnosed with motor neuron disease several months ago.  He worked for many years in Athlone, first as a student with Athlone VTOS, and then for some years with Dr. Steven’s Centre in Lloyd’s Lane, and Home Comforts, on Magazine Road.  As a First Aid instructor, Catch also gave several classes and examinations in Athlone throughout the 1990s, and 2000s.  He was a lead singer in many bands over the decades, notably The Crackaways showband, and The Marinos.

TR Dallas and Catch Berry

Catch Berry and John Hogan

After dedicating much of his life to music, and being part of fundraisers and charity events over the years, Catch organised the night of music, featuring many midland musicians, at the Sports and Leisure centre in Clara, and managed to raise more than €6,000.  The night was a great success and included music from the likes of TR Dallas and country singer, John Hogan, and Catch’s fellow musician from the Marinos days – Joe Rabbitte, as well as many others.   Catch’s three sons, Ollie, Brendan and Adrian also sang separately on the night with the various music lineups, and his daughter, Sinead sang a beautiful rendition of ‘In the Arms of an Angel’.

All funds will be donated to the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association.