A star-studded quartet of judges are ready to officiate a massive fundraising event for a brand new Laois charity this Bank Holiday Sunday.
SOSAD (Save Our Sons And Daughters) Ireland is a service that provides a free counselling and support service to people who are experiencing mental distress and those bereaved by suicide.
Back in February, a group of people came together to establish a Laois branch and the project has really taken off.
A site for an office has been secured and on Sunday, a huge variety show will take place virtually with acts from all over the county taking part.
The celebrity judges are RTÉ’S Claire Byrne, Senator David Norris, rugby pundit Brent Pope and AFL star Zach Tuohy.
15 acts are set to perform on the night and you’ll be able to watch it all from the comfort of your couch.
These include: Portlaoise Musical Society, Portlaoise GAA, Portlaoise Panthers, Portlaoise Pantomime Group, One of a Kind, Fr Paddy Byrne and Fr Liam Lawton, Laois Comhaltas, Music Generation Laois who are accompanying Lynam School of Irish Dancing, Laois School of Music, Oldtown, Teresa Brown, Portlaoise College, Michael English, Mountmellick Youthreach and Heywood Community School.
Christy Bannon, one of the members of SOSAD Laois, spoke at Monday’s meeting of Laois County Council.
He said that the centre will cost €90,000 per year to operate.
So far, various fundraisers have raised €8,000 and it is hoped that this event will bring in much more.
Counsellors who will run the service will do so free of charge and Mr Bannon told how already, the service has received many applications.
He said that three SOSAD Portlaoise counsellors are already available 24 hours a day on 083-0291706, to anyone over the age of 16. They can be contacted by email to laois@sosadireland.ie.
To watch the online Varity Show on Sunday June 6 at 8pm, you can visit the website here.
