Crystal Swing star Dervla Burke O'Connor has said she wouldn't rule out a reunion with the family band.
More than 12 years ago Crystal Swing burst onto the scene with their hit song He Drinks Tequila and even landed them a spot on The Ellen Degeneres Show.
The star, who used to sing with her brother Derek and mother Mary played keyboard, said she misses the music scene but was forced to givbe it all up to become a full time carer to her son, Paul, who has severe autism. But Dervla admitted she wouldn't rule out a Crystal Swing reunion in the future.
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She told us: "Well look, never say never. Right now my child Paul and obviously Hanah, my daughter, they come first. They're my number one priority. I miss the music, I really do and I miss that independence and buzz and life that I did have. I do. But unfortunately because of the way that this country is, I have been forced to give up my career to care for my son. I love him and I love caring for him. But I have been given no other choice because the help isn't there for us."
She praised the support of her famous mother, saying: "I'd be lost without her. She's there whenever I need her. But I know at times she looks at me and she feels sad and worried about me too and her grandchild. She loves him just as much as me. I know she tries to put on a brave face at times and be strong for me when I'm feeling down but I know she wants Paul to get the help as much as I do."
Dervla was speaking at the launch of the AsIAm 'Same Chance' campaign, which will run throughout April as part of World Autism month. The campaign includes a new report on attitudes towards autistic people in Ireland and aims to ensure autistic people are afforded the same chance in life from school, friendship, employment and access to public services.
Her own five-year-old son Paul has severe autism and Dervla is tirelessly campaigning for appropriate services be made available to parents of children with disabilities. And she said her campaign for change has even evoked her to think about a career in politics.
She said: "Up to this point I would've never considered running in politics. But I feel so passionate about this now that it's certainly something that I wouldn't rule out. I just feel that I'm a normal parent but I am living through it.
"I'm not disrespecting the professionals, but sometimes I feel like I'm educating them, we're constantly being given incorrect information to us parents so I am doing the research myself and that should not be the case."
The launch event featured two panel discussions around the challenges still being faced by autistic people in Ireland today in the areas of education and professional life, with Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan TD contributing a keynote speech.
Speaking at the launch, Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, said: “Unfortunately, too often, autistic people face barriers which others in society do not. AsIAm is working to remove these barriers, through our wide range of support, information and advocacy programmes, but we urgently need the public to donate this month in order to sustain and expand this work.
“We are calling on the Government, policy makers, employers, educators and healthcare professionals to do give autistic people the same chance, to work with us to provide a roadmap of progress for the next two years. These report findings reveal the clear challenges still being regularly faced by autistic people across Ireland while also highlighting the work to be done to educate the public and improve the lives of autistic people.
“There is a real opportunity for all of us to identify areas key areas that require immediate attention to shape and contribute to a National Autism strategy and help bring autistic people on to the same platform as all in society.”
Donations can be made directly by visiting www.asiam.ie
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