Charlie Bird delights Stardust survivor with…

Charlie Bird delights Stardust survivor with 'beautiful' speech at surprise birthday party

A Stardust survivor has thanked RTE broadcasting legend Charlie Bird for visiting her for a "beautiful" surprise birthday party this weekend.

Antoinette Keegan, a survivor and campaigner who lost two of her sisters Mary and Martina in the Stardust fire in Artane on Valentine's Day in 1981, was delighted to see long-time pal Charlie Bird at her 60th birthday on Friday night. The former RTE journalist turned up at the party alongside his wife Claire and beloved dog, Tiger.

Speaking to Dublin Live, Antoinette said that she got the "surprise of my life" to see Charlie at her birthday party on Friday night. She said: "I got the surprise of my life when Charlie Bird, his wife Claire and dog Tiger turned up for my 60th birthday last night and what a birthday greeting he spoke was absolutely beautiful.

Antoinette said: "I have to say I was surprised with the surprise birthday party that my son CJ, my niece Karla and my sisters Lorraine and Suzanne organised and more surprised by all who turned up. I had a fantastic night, thanks to all who came.

"I also want to thank Lorraine Smyth from Wexford who also helped with the surprise party. Charlie, Claire and Tiger travelled from Wicklow to do the birthday wish for me, absolutely amazing and beautiful," said Antoinette.

During the birthday party, Charlie gave a heart-warming speech in his good friend Antoinette's honour, praising her "kindness, courage and bravery" and for the fight she is putting up on behalf of the families who lost loved ones in the Stardust fire. Speaking via a special voice bank, Charlie said: "You and all the relatives are an amazing group of people and for me all of the people in this country should be proud of what you are doing.

Antoinette Keegan with Charlie Bird, his wife Claire and dog Tiger (Antoinette Keegan)

"You all have fought the good fight and don't give up until you get justice for those 48 young people. Antoinette, you are some warrior, you lost your two sisters in the fire Mary and Martina and you suffered your own horrific injuries. Afterwards you lost your da and then just over two years ago your ma Christine, who led the fight for so long for justice also passed away," he said.

The RTE legend said he was "in awe" of what Antoinette and the other families are doing to get justice for their relatives who died in the Stardust fire, urging them to never give up. Charlie described how he and his wife Claire have a "great love" for Antoinette.

He said: "You will always be close to my heart as long as I am alive, and that goes for the relatives. Now I am often asked in my situation what my death wish would be, and I try to give the same answer every time; justice for the 48 who never came home on that fateful night and I also want the peace process in the north to continue to work and move forward.

"All I want to do before I pass is to extend the hand of friendship to everyone so Antoinette, give us a hug and a big happy birthday," concluded Charlie. Next week, Charlie, who is bravely battling Motor Neurone Disease, is set to celebrate his own 73rd birthday on September 9.

On 2 April, Charlie climbed Croagh Patrick in Mayo with the help of his family and friends, inspiring thousands of people do almost two hundred separate Climb with Charlie fundraisers across Ireland, the US, South Africa, Australia and Spain.

Last month at a special ceremony in Merrion Square in Dublin, Charlie presented two cheques totalling €3,376,000 to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House, and he thanked the Irish public for their kindness in supporting him and the charities.

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