Published: Friday, 2nd July, 2010 10:32am

Thank you for the music... on behalf of Africa

Daragh and Alan at the Sakala Brothers Music School.

The Instruments for Africa appeal is happy to announce that we have collected over 100 musical instruments so far for Zambian people who have never had the privilege of having access to a musical instrument. Over the Christmas period of 2009 we undertook a number of fundraising events with the intention of raising enough cash to fund the costs of transporting a shipping container from Cavan to Lusaka, Zambia. Between sponsorship and our fundraising nights we raised €2,500, unfortunately €2,000 short of our target.

We overcame this setback by making contact with The Paul McGirr Trust from Tyrone (a charity setup after GAA footballer Paul McGirr) as we heard that they occasionally send shipping containers to Zambia. They kindly agreed to give us some space inside their container for the instruments for a small fee. This was fantastic news but left us with a problem in that their container was not leaving Ireland until June 2010 and we were set to return to Zambia for St. Patricks day with our band, Whiskey You're the Divil, for two weeks in March, meaning we would be unable to distribute the instruments in Zambia.

We decided that when we returned to Zambia we would organise a distribution network for the instruments through some local Irish people living in Zambia to oversee the instrument's arrival and distribution.

On our arrival in Zambia we set about visiting the people and organisations we had earmarked for receiving the instruments. After visiting them we decided to donate instruments to the following:

The parish of Mullahoran native, Fr. Jim Brady;

The Sakala Brothers music school;

Matthew Tembo a (public school music teacher);

Home of Joy orphanage;

Teach orphanage.

Fr. Jim Brady's parish was the location where we conceived the idea of an instrument appeal and the locals are very excited about receiving them. The church will retain ownership of the instruments here and people of all denominations can use them like a daily library, at least 11 churches will receive an instrument.

On meeting the Sakala Brothers (a well known Zambian musical duo) at their recently formed music school, they spoke to us about their dismay as regards the future of traditional Zambian music and how their school was born out of a desire to keep the music alive whilst also giving the poorest people in the community the chance to learn to play a musical instrument with free tuition. The school will benefit from the collected instruments immensely as those used in the school were in short supply and usually makeshift.

So impressed were we by their passion and drive to preserve their music and to encourage Zambians to play instruments that to help their dream along we donated €1,300 to their school to pay for six months rent and teaching fees. We also donated €800 to an orphanage and a community centre. The remainder of the funds will be spent on instrument maintenance, strings, and the purchase of local hand made Zambian banjos.

We would like to say a huge 'thank you' to absolutely everyone who gave an instrument or came along to the fundraising nights! Also we would in particular like to thank the following people for all their time, effort and understanding in helping the appeal on its way: Michael McGoldrick, Bernie Metzger, Fr. Jim Brady, Fr. Jim O Kane, Jim McGirr, Bridget Duffy, Gerry White, Mark McCann, XL Stop & Shop Whitegate, Danielle Doran, John Hand, ZZ Top, Karina Charles, Pat McManus, Johnny O' Keefe, Sinead Hogan, Kevin McCann, Sister Lovers, The Brown Sound, Larry Beau, Lisa O Neil & Stina Sandstrom, Eric Noone & the Future Gypsies, Fertile Reptile, Finian McNamara, Austin Mc Gurren, Aine Corby, Tom Lennon, Mary Hanley, Donal Keogan, Cavan Lions Club, Jimmy Fox, Ciaran O'Neill, John O Grady, Niamh Bradley, Kelly O Reilly, Finn Keenan, Jamie Burn, Michael O Brien, The Crowe Family, Brendan Ruddy, all of our family members and anyone who was brave enough to venture out on the 'treacherous' night of December 28 to Cavan Town Hall.

• If you have an old instrument that nobody's going to play, contact the appeal at 086-3091266 and who promise they will bring it to very appreciative hands.