Eamonn McGirr

Eamonn McGirr (died June 14 2004) was an Irish-born entertainer in New York's Capital District area.

An Irish immigrant 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.

State side, McGirr was known for his relentless fundraising for local charities such as the ( [http://www.centercares.org/] )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, in Albany, New York, outside Albany, 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.

External links

* [http://www.proudtobeirish.wetpaint.com Eamonn McGirr website]
* [http://www.wnyt.com/x3972.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183 News article about pub fire]