Singer Kavanagh vows to keep performing in spite of Parkinson’s

SINGER Richie Kavanagh has vowed to continue on in the entertainment business just weeks after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

The 61-year-old spoke out about coming to terms with the debilitating disease and his plans for the future, weeks after specialists diagnosed the illness.

Richie says the disease has made him more determined to make the most of his life and that he’ll continue to perform as long as his voice holds up.

Now on medication, he feels he already has more energy and is planning to release a new album in September.

The performer was diagnosed with the degenerative disease just four weeks ago on January 6 after noticing failing movement in his hand which he had put down to his long battle with psoriasis.

As the problem worsened he was advised by his doctor to go and see a neurologist in Kilkenny. As soon as he walked through the door the specialist said he knew he had the condition.

Now on medication, he is due to go back for a check-up at the end of March but he has already, as he describes it, “a bit of a slap in the feet” and is planning on releasing a new album in time for the National Ploughing Championships in Athy.

Richie says he has received some great support from singer songwriter, Shay Healy, who has had Parkinson’s for the past seven years and will feature, alongside Richie, on a special edition of Nationwide tonight at 7pm on RTÉ 1.

Richie did a documentary with Shay for RTÉ three years ago and looking back now he thinks he may have had Parkinson’s for the past two or three years.

“When he looks back Shay thinks I might have had the early stages of it then,” he said. “My father had MS and I was afraid that it could be something like that but I feel happy now that I have a name for it. It’s terrible not knowing what’s wrong, not being able to pinpoint it,” he said.

“Shay’s bit of advice to me was that when I meet someone I should tell them I’ve Parkinson’s otherwise they’d think I was on the poteen wobbling about.”

He added: “When I come off stage I’ve loads of energy. I don’t want to give it up. It’s the main thing that keeps me going and people will understand now why I might be a bit wobbly.”

“Before Christmas I did a two hour show in Oylegate, Wexford, and I didn’t have the power in my voice but the great thing is that when I didn’t have the power to sing, people sang away. Everyone knows the song,” Richie added.

This week 15 years ago, Aon Focal Eile was number one in the charts. Since then Richie has sang and performed in almost every town in the country featuring open air concerts, Rag Weeks, festivals and charity events.

“As long as my voice hold up I’ll be happy enough,” he said.