Council Chair Presents Donation to Local Charity Ahead of Opera House Debut

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Naomi Bailie organised a reception for Declan McMullan and his family at Belfast City Hall on Monday 5 October. The reception was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Arder Carson ahead of Sunset Boulevard debut.

Declan McMullan suffered a Cardiac Arrest aged 19 which resulted in brain damage and severe physical disability. His family have been the driving force behind the Declan McMullan Fund which aims to assist Declan with his continued recovery and rehabilitation and to help meet the many challenges that lie ahead.

Declan’s brother Mark is starring in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic Sunset Boulevard, produced by St Patrick’s Choral Society and hosted by the Declan McMullan Fund in aid of Cardiac Risk in the Young, Mind Your Mate & Yourself and Brain Injury Matters to raise funds and awareness.

At the reception, Cllr Bailie presented the Crossgar family with a donation from the Council’s Mayoral fund and commented, “I am delighted to have been asked here today by the Lord Mayor to pay tribute to Declan and of course to his devoted family who have worked tirelessly for the Fund. They are an inspiration and their journey continues to humble me.”

Cllr Bailie concluded by wishing Mark all the best with Sunset Boulevard and said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the family over the past few months to ensure maximum exposure of the show. I can’t wait to see it now. I’m also looking forward to welcoming the Choral Society and the McMullan family to the Downshire Civic Centre in December for a special reception.”

The show will run from today (7.10.15) until Sunday 11 October at the Grand Opera House, Belfast. Tickets can be bought at www.goh.co.uk