Eamonn McGirr
Encyclopedia
Eamonn McGirr was a Northern Ireland
-born entertainer in New York
's Capital District
area.
An immigrant to the U.S., he was born in Derry
, Northern Ireland. He first came to prominence in 1966 with a group of fellow Belfast school teachers: Gerry Burns, Finbar Carolan, and John Sullivan, known collectively as The Go Lucky Four, soared to the top of the Irish music charts with Up Went Nelson
, maintaining the #1 spot for eight consecutive weeks.
In the U.S., McGirr was known for his relentless fundraising for local charities such as the Center For The Disabled' in Albany
.
In all, McGirr helped raise over $1,000,000 for the Center For The Disabled and families of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks
at the World Trade Center
in New York City
.
Most notably, McGirr set a Guinness World Record for endurance singing in 1996 in an effort to raise awareness and money for cerebral palsy
, which his daughter Mareena suffers from.
McGirr owned a pub, Eamonn's, just outside of Albany, New York
, which was a favorite spot for local Irish-Americans, especially for its weekly open Irish music sessions. It was severely damaged in a fire on June 20, 2005.
McGirr was paralyzed after a serious fall in his pub in November 1996. He died in 2004, survived by his daughter and his wife Mary.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-born entertainer in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
area.
An immigrant to the U.S., he was born in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland. He first came to prominence in 1966 with a group of fellow Belfast school teachers: Gerry Burns, Finbar Carolan, and John Sullivan, known collectively as The Go Lucky Four, soared to the top of the Irish music charts with Up Went Nelson
Up Went Nelson
"Up Went Nelson" is a song by The Go Lucky Four that was number one on the Irish music charts in 1966 for eight consecutive weeks....
, maintaining the #1 spot for eight consecutive weeks.
In the U.S., McGirr was known for his relentless fundraising for local charities such as the Center For The Disabled' in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
In all, McGirr helped raise over $1,000,000 for the Center For The Disabled and families of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
at the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Most notably, McGirr set a Guinness World Record for endurance singing in 1996 in an effort to raise awareness and money for cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, which his daughter Mareena suffers from.
McGirr owned a pub, Eamonn's, just outside of Albany, New York
Colonie (town), New York
Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most populous suburb of Albany, New York, and is the third largest town in area in Albany County, occupying about 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population...
, which was a favorite spot for local Irish-Americans, especially for its weekly open Irish music sessions. It was severely damaged in a fire on June 20, 2005.
McGirr was paralyzed after a serious fall in his pub in November 1996. He died in 2004, survived by his daughter and his wife Mary.