VIDEO: Hospice hailed as Henshaws launch charity CD

The care provided at the South Westmeath Hospice in Athlone was warmly praised by local man Ted Quinn during an appearance on RTE's Ray D'Arcy Show last Saturday night.

Ted - whose wife of more than 50 years, Anne, passed away peacefully at the hospice last year - was appearing alongside Sharon Shannon and the Henshaw family to launch the 'Secret Sessions' CD which they recorded as a fundraiser for the local facility.

He spoke movingly about the support the hospice gave to Anne prior to her death in May 2017.

"The care and attention that she got there, I couldn't believe. I'm out of words to describe it," Ted stated on the programme.

"This is about the South Westmeath Hospice. It's an appreciation to the people who are running it. They depend a lot on fundraising... It shouldn't be that way but that's the way it is."

Ted sang the Isle of Innisfree on the programme, while the Henshaws and Sharon Shannon also played 'A Trip To Manila' and 'The Bachelor Song'

Robbie Henshaw was appearing on the show alongside his Dad Tony, sisters Ali, Emily, and Katie, uncle David, uncle-in-law Jim Byrne, family friend Niall Preston, and Sharon Shannon.

The Leinster and Ireland rugby star told host Ray D'Arcy that his 93-year-old grandfather, Billy, was the "driving force" behind the family's longstanding involvement with traditional Irish music.

"(Billy) taught me how to play by whistling into my ear. He'd whistle a tune into my ear and I'd try to play back what I heard. He taught everyone this way... it was a great way to learn because we can pick up tunes now by listening."

Robbie also paid tribute to the other music teachers who had helped along the way, mentioning Collette McNulty and Niamh Brett. "Granddad can't take all the plaudits!" he smiled.

He missed Ireland's recent victory over New Zealand as a result of an ongoing injury problem. "It was tough not to be able to contribute to it, but I was in the stands and you were just on the edge of your seat," he said.

"I was incredibly proud of the lads. It was amazing, and all on the back of such hard work put in throughout the year."

"You might get to play (New Zealand) next year in the World Cup final?" asked D'Arcy.

"No pressure at all! We've a lot of rugby to play before then," replied the Coosan native.

He said he was still "a few weeks away" from a full recovery after his injury setback.

The 'Secret Sessions' CD in aid of the South Westmeath Hospice is available now for purchase from Golden Discs and online sites, including myirishmusic.com

Ted Quinn concluded the appearance on RTE by asking people to, "go out and buy the disc, please!"