Irish dancers from across New England are set to show their support for the Richard family at a Boston “Irish dance out” this weekend. This fundraiser is just one of the many ways the community have rallied around the Dorchester, Boston family who lost their son Martin (8) in Monday’s bombing.
His little sister, Jane (7) , an avid Irish dancer, is recovering in hospital having lost her leg during the Boston marathon attack. Their mother Denise (42) is also recovering from critical head injuries in hospital. Bill, their father, and Henry, their 12-year-old brother, were uninjured.
Irish dancers Joe Harrison and Catherine Ternes launched a Facebook page announcing a “Dance Out for Jane.” Dancers from Boston College, Boston University of Harvard, Tufts and Providence Irish dancers are said to have confirmed their attendance. All proceeds from their event will go to the Richard family.
The page states, “It would be great if local irish dancers could get together and put on a big performance. We have enough college groups to make a big impact.”
Similarly the Buckeye State Feis, in Columbus, OH, taking place on this weekend has announced that the proceeds from their “Treble Reel Special” competition will be donated to the Richard family.
The competition will also take other collections for the family and plan a minute’s silence for Jane and her family, as well as all of those affected by the bombing.
Jane loves to dress up and Irish dance. She joined the Clifden Academy of Irish Dance, in Milton, at the age of three. Eileen Dillon Dinn, the owner of the school, told our sister publication the Irish Voice, “She is just a beautiful little girl. We taught her since she was a baby, pointing her little toe.
“We are just in a state of shock and disbelief. The Richard family is lovely. They went to the marathon as a happy family, and then this happened. We don’t know what to say.”
Devastated by the beloved Dorchester family’s devastation, over 1,000 neighbors, family members and friends came together on Tuesday night to remember Martin and show support for his family
The pastor at St. Brendan’s Church, in the heavily Irish neighborhood, Father John J. Connolly, spoke to those gathered at Garvey Park about Martin’s life.
Earlier this week, in a statement Bill Richards said, “My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries.
"We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin."
Along with Martin two other died in the attacks - Lu Lingzi, a Chinese national and graduate student at Boston University and Krystle Campbell, from Arlington Massachusetts, who was described as being “proud of her Irish roots.” Latest reports state that 72 of those wounded on Monday remain in hospital and 14 remain in critical condition.
Donations for the Richard family are being accepted by the Meetinghouse Bank or Vargas & Vargas Insurance. Drop boxes for donations are also set up around the Dorchester neighborhood at the following locations: Blasi's Cafe - 762 Adams St, Peabody Square Firehouse- 1884 Dorchester Ave, Viet AID - 42 Charles St, Beauty Bar - 393 Neponset Ave, McKenna's Cafe - 109 Savin Hill Ave, Savin Scoop's- 107 Savin Hill Ave, 224 Boston Street Restaurant - 224 Boston St, Sugar Bowl Cafe - 857 Dorchester Ave, Cash, checks, and money orders can be donated. Make checks payable to “The Richard Family Fund.
Here’s the Boston.com footage of the Dorchester vigil held for the Richard family:
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