GALLERY: Billy Mac honoured for his contribution to Family Carers
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Christy Maye, owner of the Greville Arms, and a long time veteran of the music and entertainment business, with Billy.Image 2 of 12
Caroline Poole and John Dunne with Billy Mac.Image 3 of 12
Martina and Noel O’Farrell were among the guests.Image 4 of 12
Marty Monaghan, Geraldine Delamere and Chris Loughrey were among the guests who were present to celebrate with Billy.Image 5 of 12
Simon Casey and Billy Mac, both stars from the world of music.Image 6 of 12
Billy chatting to Ann Quinn and to Amy Kelly (Family Carers Ireland.Image 7 of 12
John Dunne, Family Carers Ireland CEO, presented a collage of images of the concerts taken over the years.Image 8 of 12
Billy Mac says thanks to the carersImage 9 of 12
Deputy Robert Troy congratulating Billy on his contribution to Family Carers Ireland.Image 10 of 12
Performers at the annual concert members over the years – Frankie McDonnell, John Delamere, Noel O’Farrell, Michaela Hogg, Pete Mulkerns, Geraldine Delamere, Camillus Egerton, Marty Monaghan, Simon Casey, Tommy Swarbrigg, Billy Mac and Ben Dolan.Image 11 of 12
Billy Mac on stage in 2012 (file pic). John Mc CauleyImage 12 of 12
Billy presenting the funds raised at his concert to Amy Kelly in 2023.Billy Mac’s fundraising efforts for Family Carers Ireland were recognised at a function in The Greville Arms Hotel on Tuesday last.
A well known figure in musical circles for the last 60 years and still presenting a popular weekend Rock ‘n’ Roll Show on Midlands 103 on Sunday evenings, Mullingar native Billy McCauley, or Billy Mac, as he is better known, has raised tens of thousands of euro for Family Carers Ireland through his annual concerts at the Greville.
In total, Billy organised 16 concerts, guaranteed full houses each year, thanks in no small part to the high quality of the lineups he put together.
Many of those performers attended last Tuesday’s event to pay tribute to Billy.
Among those to speak at the event were Amy Kelly, the support manager of Family Carers Ireland, Longford Westmeath branch. Amy thanked Billy for “his commitment over the years organising the Billy Mac and Friends concerts”.
“Not only did these concerts raise vital funds to provide support and services to family carers, they also raised awareness of the work done by those carers 365 days a year.” Amy also wished Billy and his wife Margaret “health and happiness for years to come”.
Billy’s fellow Mullingar singer and Midlands 103 presenter Noel O’Farrell spoke about how the Billy Mac and Friends concerts came about. He also paid tribute to his friend for the efforts that he went to each year to ensure that each concert ran smoothly.
The CEO of Family Carers Ireland John Dunne praised Billy for his support; he said the funds raised at the concerts were in the six-figure region.
John thanked Billy’s wife Margaret for her support behind the scenes and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
He also presented Billy with a piece of crystal and a collage of images from the concerts over the years.
The man himself gave a brief speech. He spoke about how much his involvement with Family Carers Ireland means to him and thanked the staff and members of the organisation for their friendship over the years.
He also thanked his many friends from the world of music, who gave their time and talent so freely to ensure that the concerts were such a success. Billy estimates that the concerts raised in the region of €160,000 for Family Carers Ireland.
He said that wouldn’t have been possible without the continued generosity of local people, he said.