Although all the stars came out to play at the Barretstown Gang Camp's gala fund-raising show last weekend, they were completely upstaged by the performance of the seriously ill children who had stayed at the camp. These were people who usually get the limelight all to themselves, but nobody seemed to mind. Entitled Fantasia '97, the massive variety show starred Meryl Streep, who enjoyed the party with her partner Donald Gummer, and actor Peter O'Toole, who performed an impromptu song surrounded by 21 children who demanded audience participation like panto veterans. Pauline Quirk and Linda Robson, stars of the TV series Birds Of A Feather, were there and other star turns included singers Paul Brady, Honor Heffernan, and Brian Kennedy; the Carter Twins; boxer Barry McGuiganactor Victoria Smurfit, and Clannad.
The surprise guest was Boyzone's Ronan Keating who said he was always ready to assist Barretstown in its work with seriously ill children. Sir Paul McCartney who was invited to attend the event but couldn't make it, sent his best wishes, and put his money where his mouth is with a cheque for £100,000.
Among the appreciative audience were Louise and Patrick Guinness; Telecom Eireann's Ron Bolger; Darice O'Mara, personal assistant to Paul Newman, who founded the charity; Larry and Kitty Goodman; auctioneer Philip Myerscough and Dr Finn Breatnach, one of the charity's directors, and his wife Carmel.