A traumatic personal experience saw a Castlebar man close to contemplating suicide just two years ago. However, luck or fate intervened and one afternoon he put 50 cent into the meter on Chapel St and found himself in the Family Centre. A place he now credits with bringing him back from the brink.
Noel Hoban is one of the best loved characters at Castlebar Railway Station where he is employed as station manager. Also known for his organisational skills he was heavily involved in last year’s Titanic Commemorations and the 150th Anniversary of Castlebar Train Station in December. But besides all this, Noel has also been noted for his vocal skills and often entertains crowds at local hostelries.
It was from this, and through the kindness and encouragement of Westport country musician, Frank McCaffrey that Noel has now put his musical talents to good use and produced a CD, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Suicide Liaison Project at Castlebar’s Family Centre. Of the gesture he said: “I am just an ordinary guy doing a noble gesture for a centre that has helped me through a very traumatic experience and a traumatic time.”
For the CD, Noel has recorded four songs in Mr McCaffrey’s studio in Westport. One of these, titled ‘The Game’ was written by Noel who set himself a challenge and had the words on paper in 15 minutes. Frank has noted, listening to the words in his studio, that it is the best track on the CD. The other songs are ‘Forgiving You Is Easy’; ‘I knew This Day Would Come’ and ‘I Am So Afraid Of Losing You Again’, all of which are sang by Noel with music and backing lyrics provided by Frank.
“The point I am trying to get across in recording this is that the Family Centre in Castlebar is specially designed for lots of other facilities but one of these is the Liaison Project, run under Maureen Ní Domhnaill, which gives counselling to people who are contemplating suicide and those who have been bereaved through suicide.”
Noel noted just last year, 523 people nationally committed suicide. “This works out at ten a week, eight of whom are men and two are women. That is because men don’t talk. The majority of these cases were over broken hearts and the second most important cause was loss of employment. I feel in society, men who go for counselling are regarded as ‘being weak’ and looked down on by their so-called contemporaries because they have the courage to do something. If more people had the courage to go to the centre, they would be alive today. I am trying to encourage people to go into that building. I never knew what went on in there until I needed it.”
He continued: “I feel people have the wrong idea about why others commit suicide, they feel they are selfish. My views on that are different because sometimes a person can be so kind and give so much to their loved ones around them and when they find they are surplus to requirements they decide they are going to do something for themselves. Unfortunately it is the wrong turn because it may give peace of mind, but every person that does it is a major loss to our community.”
Noel says he does not profess to be the next Charlie Pride or Mick Flavin but he has written poetry and short stories and Frank McCaffrey, who has been a tremendous help, has been 35 years in the business. “The encouragement from Frank has been a major positive in doing this. It is very different to go into a pub and sing three or four songs after a few pints and do well with a live band but to stand in a studio in front of a stark naked microphone is a very different thing. Trying to sing the same song nine times is ‘head bursting’. But at the end of the day, you get it right and hopefully it will be appreciated by everyone who buys it for the centre, which badly needs funding.”
Noel has now organised a ‘Gala Night of Music’ in the Fáilte Suite of the Welcome Inn Hotel, on Friday, April 5, commencing at 9pm, which will also see the launch of the CD. “There will be a performance by a number of local groups and compere is Mike Richards of CRC Radio. Frank McCaffrey will play the music, which he has generously donated free for the night, as most other musicians have. We will have a lot of surprise musical guests with a raffle and the CD will be launched. I will perform the four songs from the CD and we also expect that the CD will be on sale in different outlets in the town after the night. It sells for just €5.” Any local musicians who wish to perform on the night can contact Noel on 087 9062903.