A little craic to brighten the ward

AMID the gloom of the health service, a legend of Irish traditional music is bringing craic to wards at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Paddy “Pecker” Dunne has livened things up in Ward 4C in recent weeks with his banjo.

Pecker, 74, who travelled the highways and byways to music festivals nationwide for decades is being treated for a throat illness.

Sr Carmel O’Sullivan said: “Part of his healing process is playing music and he has brought a lot of pleasure to other patients in the hospital. It’s great to see the joy he is giving others and as nurses we love hearing the music throughout the ward. He’s a true gentleman. He has a very loving family with a lot of support and that certainly helps.”

Pecker Dunne was born into a Wexford Traveller family and now lives in Co Clare with his four children, the youngest of whom is 17.

His daughter Sarah Dunne is a renowned fiddle player and received a scholarship to the University of Limerick’s Blas Summer School; Pecker Dunne played with some of the top traditional groups in the country including The Dubliners.

And he also had a part in the film Trojan Eddie which starred Richard Harris and Stephen Rea.

From his hospital bed, Pecker said: “We’d a great session the other day. It was fantastic. I hope to be back on the road in the near future.”