Conductor of the Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade, Captain Tom Kelly, smiles as legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, signals his approval of the musical entertainment they provided at the handover of a cheque for €3.4 million to Pieta and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, the proceeds of the marathon 'Climb with Charlie' fundraising initiative which was inspired by the former RTE correspondent's devastating motor neurone diagnosis late last year. Pic courtesy of Irish Defence Forces.

Charlie gives rousing 'thumbs up' to Athlone Army Band at cheque presentation!

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The Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade had one of their most memorable engagements to date yesterday morning (Tuesday) when they were on hand to assist legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, in the handover of a cheque for a whopping €3.3 million to two deserving charities in the wake of his inspirational 'Climb with Charlie' fundraising initiative in April.

The talented members of the Army Band 2 Brigade received a massive seal of approval from an emotional Charlie when he took the baton from conductor, Captain Tom Kelly, and proceeded to direct the musicians, much to the amusement of the huge crowd assembled in Dublin's Merrion Square for the cheque handover.

The Climb With Charlie was an initiative set up by Charlie Bird following his terminal diagnosis of motor neurone disease in November 2021 to help and show support for everyone who has to climb their own physical and mental mountains in their daily lives.

His initial plan was to climb Croagh Patrick on April 2 last with some close friends and family, but the campaign immediately caught the Irish public’s imagination. Along with several thousand people taking part in the Croagh Patrick climb, tens of thousands of people also took part in almost two hundred separate Climb with Charlie fundraisers across Ireland, the US, South Africa, Australia and Spain.

Hundreds of people attended designated climbs at locations right across the Midlands as the Climb with Charlie campaign began to gather pace and captured the imagination of young and old alike.

As well as a rousing musical performance by the Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade at yesterday's cheque handover to Lillian McGovern, Chief Executive of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Stephanie Manahan, Chief Executive of Pieta, the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Sean Clancy, was also in attendance as was broadcaster Joe Duffy, and many other representatives from various ranks of the Defence Forces.

Comdt Gemma Fagan, Press Officer from the Defence Forces posted a video from the memorable event on Twitter and said the Army Band 2 Brigade were helping the crowds to "feel groovy" in Merrion Square. Here is the tweet:

Below is a selection of pics from the event, courtesy of the Irish Defence Forces:

Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, pictured with Charlie Bird and his beloved dog, Tiger, and PR consultant, Paul Allen.
Members of the Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade applaud as legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, holds aloft a cheque for a whopping €3.3 million, the proceeds of his Climb with Charlie charity initiative.
The Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade entertain the crowds at the handover of a cheque for €3.3 million by legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, to Pieta and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association in Merrion Square, Dublin yesterday morning (Tuesday).
Step aside Captain Kelly - legendary broadcaster, Charlie Bird, has some fun with the baton of the Conductor of the Athlone Army Band 2 Brigade, Captain Tom Kelly, in Dublin's Merrion Square.
Geraldine Grennan
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