Blind musician to play up the positive

A BLIND musician plans to bring the music of hope to one of Limerick’s most notorious crime blackspots.

Paddy Mason, 56, who lives alone in St Mary’s Park — the scene of ongoing gun crimes — heads a group that has organised a Regeneration Day next Saturday.

Paddy said: “During the day, we will have a whole series of events to show the law abiding side and spirit of St Mary’s Park. A vibrant active community will have a great day.

“We get an awful lot of negativity in coverage of things that happen. But there are so many great people in this community, doing great things without looking for or getting notice. We are people who can be true and united and we want to show this to the outside as well. This will be a demonstration of another kind.”

While armed detectives now patrol St Mary’s Park around the clock, Paddy said uniformed, unarmed, community gardaí will also take part in Saturday’s regeneration day.

Barnardos, St Mary’s Action Centre, and the Community Development Project (CDP) have all rowed in behind the initiative.

A special children’s play area will be erected and indoor events will take place in a marquee.

Paddy said: “We will have something for all ages. I will play my piano accordion for the old time waltzing session.”

For the past five years, Paddy has worked on a community scheme at the local parish centre.

He said: “I am the chairman of the centre’s committee. When I started it was in the red, but now we have got it into the black.”

Paddy has been totally blind since the age of five and learned to play the piano accordion when he attended St Joseph’s School for the blind in Drumcondra.

“I played every night in Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty for 20 years,” said Paddy who does not use a guide dog to get around when he leaves his home on Island Road.

“Sure I know the city like the back of my hand. And I just use the stick,” he said.

Local councillor John Gilligan, who is involved in the organising committee for next Saturday’s event, said an event like this was very timely. “Fair play to Paddy Mason and everybody involved. This kind of event will reflect the lives of the people of King’s Island and St Mary’s Park amid all this very negative publicity,” he added.