Mum Margaret composes CD in thanks for son's recovery

By Áilín Quinlan

POET and musician Margaret Creedon-O’Shea was so impressed by the loving care and attention her critically injured teenage son received in hospital that she has launched a CD  to raise money – with all the songs written by herself.

Just one of the melodies on the album  is not performed by the 55-year-old Ballinhassig resident – that’s sung by famed soprano Cara O’Sullivan.

Margaret, a mother-of-three who was also the featured artist/poet for the recent Culture Night in Cork’s  Bishopstown Library,  decided to compile  her CD, Ealú, as a way of giving back to the  National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, and to Cork University Hospital for the help and care her youngest son, Dominic received, after he sustained a critical head injury in  August 2013.

Now aged 20, Dominic is fully recovered and enjoying his first semester as a medical student at the University College Galway – but it was only a few years ago that horrified neighbours found  him, then just 16, lying unconscious on the road, his bicycle by his side.

The teenager who had had his bicycle helmet on, says his mother, had an accident which was not witnessed, just about half a mile from the family home.

Neighbours rang an ambulance and the teenager was brought to Cork University Hospital where he lay in a coma for three days.

‘The prognosis was poor, but he made a completely recovery,’ said his mother. Dominic left the hospital after 18 days but attended the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire for two years, attending on an outpatient basis.

An all-round ‘A’ student says his mother, who is a member of Cork poetry group O Bhéal, following his accident her son found his concentration was affected and also experienced a debilitating fatigue.

‘The staff at the National Rehabilitation Hospital worked closely with him, teaching him the skills to cope with these issues,’ she explained.

Dominic repeated 5th year and sat his Leaving Certificate last June, achieving enough points to do Medicine.

‘It was a very private struggle for Dominic and a challenge that he rose to. He is proud of his recovery and of his journey,’ she said, adding that she started to compose the songs for the CD about a year ago.

There are 10 original songs on the CD, which was launched in  Bishopstown Library on Culture night  in mid-September. 

The CD was produced with the strong support of Tadhg Kelleher, of Sulan Studios at Ballyvourney, to whose professionalism and humanity  Margaret pays warm tribute.

The album costs €10  and is available from selected stores in Cork or from Margaret via her Facebook page at mxcreedonoshea or by emailing [email protected]