BY CIARAN WOODS

STRABANE is set to become a mecca for live music fans as a packed weekend of live band action takes place in the town, and all for a good cause.

From Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 September, a series of concerts and sessions will be held in Dicey Riley's to raise funds for the Billy Caldwell fund, the young Omagh boy fighting against Intractable Epilepsy for whom a fundraising drive is in full swing to raise £250,000 to take him to America for life-saving treatment.

In March 2006, Billy and his parents returned home to Omagh after spending four months in the Royal Hospital in Belfast. They came home with the harrowing words resonating in their minds that Billy had only six months to live due to a severe strain of epilepsy. That was 17 months ago and Billy is still fighting to survive with a smile on his face as he endures this daily struggle.

One of the key organisers of the event, Gary McDermott, a well-known local musician as bass guitarist with Campfire Disco, said he hopes local people will turn out to support the fundraiser for young Billy.

He said, "Strabane has a rich tradition of producing quality local bands and musicians, and we felt that it was an opportunity to bring those together with some of the best live bands from Derry and Belfast, and all in the name of such a good cause.

"Thursday night is the main band night. We'll have seven bands performing, including two each from Belfast and Derry and one from Omagh. Tickets for that are £3, or £4 if you pay at the door. Friday night then is for all ages, and it's all local acts apart from one Belfast band.

"It'll be good for younger people because there will be no alcohol and it's starting earlier. Saturday we're having a disco, and Sunday will be the closing night, an acoustic night with eight different people playing, and a prize draw.

"We've quite a few big acts coming down. Fixation from Strabane will be playing on Friday night, and on Sunday we'll have Avari Unplugged. The Delawares from Belfast will also be one of those playing on the Thursday."

The former Holy Cross student admits that much hard work has gone into the organisation of the event, but insists that it is a very worthwhile cause and one which he hopes the local people will support, while at the same time enjoying a collection of musical talent on show locally that they otherwise would not have the chance to see.

He said, "It's taking quite a bit of organising, but we feel we've put together a very strong line-up for each of the four nights, and it's being added to all the time.

"As well as the music, there will also be a prize draw and raffle, with tickets available all over the weekend and the draw taking place on the Sunday night.

"A lot of the local businesses in Strabane have donated prizes for it, and we're very grateful to them for that.

"All in all, the support we've received so far has been fantastic and we're confident the whole event will be a great success."

Tickets for the events are now available from Dicey Riley's, Market Street, Strabane.

Billy was diagnosed with Intractable Epilepsy in December 2005, while only four months old.

As medication cannot control his seizures, Billy was having up to 30 seizures a day.

The epileptic seizures he suffers gradually got worse and his loving parents Charlotte and Andy live every day having to accept the next could easily be Billy's last.

Although specialist treatment is not available in Britain or Ireland, there is hope, however, as Billy has an appointment in September to meet the world's elite in dealing with children's epilepsy at the Great Western University Hospital Chicago.

After reviewing Billy's medical history doctors have informed Billy's family that they are 98% sure that they can cure him of his severe intractable epilepsy condition.

When Billy's family leaves these shores, it will it will be with trepidation but with an underlying sense of hope. They will have no idea when they will return. They may also have to be accompanied on this 12-hour journey by a nurse in case Billy goes into a full-blown seizure en route to Chicago.

If you would like to sponsor a prize for the raffle at Diceys then contact Gary on 028 71 882100.