After The Ball
- Eoin Hand Sings for Guide Dogs
Former Irish international footballer,
Eoin Hand has released a CD in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the
blind. Hand, who also managed the Republic of Ireland team in the
1980's, launched the 14 track recording in the Brazen Head pub in
November 2009. The Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin, was also where
Eoin Hand was born in 1946. His mother Monica, who died in May 2009, ran
the pub during the 1930's and 40's. Hand recorded the CD in memory of
Monica.
Eoin Hand Football Career
|
Eoin Hand played schoolboy
football for the famous
Drumcondra soccer club
Stella Maris. After a very brief spell with English club
Swindon Town he returned to play in the league of Ireland for
Dundalk, Shelbourne, and Drumcondra FC. In 1968 Hand signed for
Portsmouth FC and went on to notch up a total of 277 appearances
for the south of England outfit. During his time with Portsmouth
he won the first of 19 caps for the Republic of Ireland senior
football team.
In 1979 Eoin Hand began his
managerial career with Limerick United winning the league at the
first attempt. Hand succeeded
John Giles as
manager of the Republic of Ireland for the
1982 World Cup qualification campaign. In a tough group that
included France and |
|
| Belgium Ireland lost out on
qualification on goal difference. After two further
qualification campaigns Hand was succeeded by Jack Charlton.
|
After The Ball CD
Recorded in John B Keane's pub in
Listowel After The Ball contains 14 tracks, twelve songs
and two of Eoin�s own recollections �Lessons Along the Way� and �Reminiscences�.
|
|
The inside sleeve is a collector's
item and includes photos of Eoin in the company of George Best,
Jack Charlton, Luke Kelly and Ron Greenwood amongst others.
Tracks include Working Man
by Rita MacNeill, Rose of Clare by Richard Ball, Summer
of '62 by Dermot O'Brien, Leaving of Nancy by Eric Bogle,
and Matthew by Johnny McEvoy.
It also includes traditional
gems such as After the Ball, Going to California,
Three Score and Ten, The Nightingale, and Come
by the Hills.
After The Ball, a
hugely attractive collection of tunes performed beautifully by a
major Irish soccer figure, is in aid of charity and is available
for a recommended donation of just �15 |
Mickey MacConnell, renowned musician and
famous for writing Only our rivers run free helped to produce
this outstanding live recording.
In Aid of Charity
|
All of the proceeds from the sales
of After The Ball will go to charity. With the exception
of sales in Listowel which will raise funds for St. John's Arts
Centre, all of the funds raised will go to the Irish Guide Dogs
for the Blind. There are just over 170 guide dogs working in
Ireland and each dog costs �38,000 to breed train and maintain.
Irish Guide Dogs depends upon donations from the public for
about 85% of it's funding. Guide dogs help to improve the
quality of the lives of their owners immeasurably and demand
exceeds the supply of trained dogs. In 2008 work began on the
�4.5m redevelopment of the headquarters in Model Farm Road and
Training Centre aimed at increasing the organisation�s capacity
to provide services to an increased |
|
| number of clients. The Irish
Guide Dogs for the Blind could really do with the support of the
Irish soccer public so why not pick up a copy - or two - of Eoin
Hand's After the Ball for a suggested donation of
just �15 per copy. |
To get your copy - or two - of
After The Ball click image below:
Give Eoin a 'Hand' |
