New Rory & The Island track

Former Revs man Rory Gallagher releases a new single, the Sharon Shannon-assisted ‘Boys In Green’, today.

It’s designed to raise funds for Irish footie legend Ronnie Whelan’s MGA charity, which works with Myasthenia Gravis sufferers.

“I had no idea what Myasthenia Gravis was and no idea that my eldest daughter, Elizabeth, had MG when she became ill in 2005,” Ronnie says. “It was only when it touched my family that we found out what it was, so I am really determined now to raise awareness about the disease here in Ireland and to try to alert people who may be suffering from it.

“When Elizabeth became unwell, we had no idea what was wrong with her. She was only 18, but she was tired all the time and even falling over. We were saying she was lazy; we were even sending her to the gym, which is the worst thing you can do because the disease weakens the muscles.

“The final straw came when she fell down the stairs in a nightclub 10 minutes after she had arrived there. People thought that she was drunk, but she just fell with weakness.

“It’s the same for anyone with the disease – the muscles weaken. Those with it can fall over for no reason. We had no idea whatsoever, but – looking back on it now – there were signs, but we didn’t pick up on them, unfortunately. There were times when she’d say ‘Look at my hand’ and her hand would be shaking, her fingers would be drooping. When you look back at the pictures, the muscles had weakened in her face and her smile would hang down, but it’s difficult to pick up.”

‘Boys In Green’ will also get an airing tonight when Rory & The Island play Kilcar Hall, Donegal (April 13) and tomorrow night when he swings by The Workman’s Club, Dublin.

To make a purchase, click [link]itunes.apple.com/ie/album/boys-in-green-feat.-sharon/id513039852[/link].