Dundalk pop group The Corrs staged a fundraising concert last night in memory of their late mother.
Ms Jean Corr (57), died from a rare lung condition while awaiting a lung transplant operation at the Freeman Hospital at Newcastle Upon Tyne 14 months ago. Last night the group - singer Andrea, drummer Caroline, fiddle-player Sharon and guitarist Jim - played to a sell-out 10,000 crowd at the Newcastle Arena in a one-off charity gig.
At a news conference before the show, the band said they hoped to raise at least £100,000 for research into cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, the condition which their mother died from.
Sharon said: "We are looking forward to the concert, although it is emotional for us to be back in the city where mum died."
Andrea said: "I think we have to do this as a celebration of being able to do something and to give something back."
Profits from ticket sales will help fund an extension to the hospital's William Leech Centre, which is dedicated to research into lung disease.
The Corrs have also given permission for the British Lung Foundation to collect at concerts throughout their current UK tour.
Prof Paul Corris, professor of thoracic medicine at the Freeman Hospital, who accompanied the band at the news conference, said: "This is a marvellous gesture which recognises the need to fund research into lung disease."