Life changed for Sammy Fleming and his family when the 20-year-old from Kinvara, Co Galway, fell off his bicycle in August 1997. He sustained severe head injuries and was put on life-support. He was anointed and lay in hospital in a coma for several weeks.
He regained consciousness and spent several months in University College Hospital, Galway, before being admitted to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. He was discharged in June 1998 and came home.
Since then Sammy has been in a wheelchair and is completely dependent on his mother, Pam. He has regained his love of music and his sense of humour, but brain damage has restricted his speech, vision and movement. He needs regular physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, but care beyond essential services costs money. As it was a simple bicycle accident, there was no insurance claim.
A group of friends from the Kinvara area has come together to raise funds to help defray his medical costs, and the first of a series of events was held last September. This coming weekend, February 11th to 13th, the group is hosting "Into the New", a "millennium celebration of Irish traditional music, song and dance". Musicians, poets and singers have agreed to participate at several venues in Kinvara. All proceeds will go to Sammy Fleming's fund, and further details are available from Eilish O'Connor at 087 699 2882.
Last night, Druid Theatre director Ms Garry Hynes opened this year's NUI Galway Arts Week, and a full programme of events runs in the university throughout this week. Dramsoc is presenting Hamlet, The Playboy of the Western World and Philadelphia Here I Come. The NUI Galway String Quartet, the NUI Galway Orchestra and the Galway Choral Society are also performing.
The university's writer in residence, Mr Vincent Woods, is due to participate in a series of readings and lectures, along with Mr Re O Laighleis, the poet and author who has just completed a residency in Mayo, and Mr Jeff O'Connell, arts editor of the Galway Advertiser.
Mr Cillian Fennell of TG4 will give a workshop on television and radio production, while Ros na Run's Diarmuid de Faoite will run a workshop on acting techniques. Mr Pat McCabe will be interviewed on stage before a screening of the film of his book, The Butcher Boy, and painter Brian Bourke and his brother, Fergus, have staged an exhibition.
One of the final events of the week is a literary night, presented by the Literary and Debating Society. Admission to many events is free or limited to a £2 cover charge. The full programme is available from Aras na Mac Leinn Student Centre at 091 750 450.