Young Donegal woman Megan Ruddy has organised a special concert next month in memory of her mother Mary Ruddy, who passed away last year.

A top line-up will be taking to the stage at New Hall Falcarragh on 20th February to celebrate the life of Falcarragh’s Mary Ruddy and to raise funds for Relay for Life Donegal.

Mary (née McGee) was a much-loved wife and mum who worked as a holistic therapist helping others in the locality. She passed away in May 2018 after a battle with cancer.

Megan and Mary Ruddy

“Mammy was a true inspiration not only to me but to so many others,” said Mary’s daughter Megan, who has organised the event.

The concert will support ‘Megan’s Warriors team’ in Relay for Life, a charity group which brought her great comfort during difficult times last year.

Megan (aged 19) told Donegal Daily: “I put my first team into Relay for Life last year in memory of my aunt Winnie McCauley, who died in 2016.

“Mammy was going through cancer at the time I registered. I remember coming back from the first meeting and she said ‘I’ll be there in my purple t-shirt’.

“Two weeks after I joined, mum passed away. I ended up doing the Relay for mammy and my auntie.

“Relay for Life are like one big family. They were there for us when Mammy died,” Megan added.

February’s concert will pay tribute to Mary’s passion for music, with the line-up including: David James, Andrew McMurdie, Ritchie Remo, Keelan Arbuckle, Conor O’Donnell, Anne Biddie, Paul McCahill, Sinead Black, Chelsea Evans and Off the Kuff.

Mary had a great love for dancing and always supported her daughter Megan, who is a local jive dancing teacher.

Tickets for the ‘Concert in Memory of Mary Ruddy’ will go on sale this Monday 14th January in local stores including: Special Days Falcarragh, Centra Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh and Letterkenny, Mc Clafferty’s Eurospar in Gortahork and Creeslough Supermarket.

Tickets are €20 for adults and €10 for children under 16. They can also be purchased through Facebook by contacting Megan on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/299912027396588/

Anyone who wants to support the fundraiser online can visit: GoFundMe.com – In Memory Of Mary Ruddy