COUNTRY music stars including Daniel O'Donnell and Nathan Carter have raised an estimated €30,000 for victims of last month’s north-west floods.
The singers were just two of the stars who took part in the benefit gig for flood victims in Letterkenny in Co Donegal on Sunday. They were joined by Dominic Kirwan, Declan Nearney and veteran star, Big Tom among others.
All money raised from the €30-a-head gig will go to the Irish Red Cross who help victims of the floods which devastated large areas of Inishowen. It is estimated that as many as 500 homes in Co Donegal were damaged.
Daniel O’Donnell said he hoped the money raised by the concert would make a big difference to those in need of help.
“It’s incredible what you can do in a few days,” he said.
The clean-up operation is also continuing north of the border were families were left homeless in Eglinton and Drumahoe while the floods also washed away roads and bridges in the Claudy area.
The SDLP in Derry has called for a special meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council to address concerns raised by the business and voluntary communities.
SDLP group leader on the council, Martin Reilly said many people lost everything in the floods.
Mr Reilly said: “The community spirit evident on the night itself and the days after the flooding is something that Derry can be proud of. Local government officers working in partnership with those in statutory agencies have been working day and night to assist people to recover and rebuild.”
The councillor said the business community faced a huge problem because an emergency help fund for householders could not be extended to business owners.
He said a special council meeting was needed so that all councillors could call for the necessary changes with one voice.
