Mount Temple"s driver to the stars launches charity auction

Local music fans will have a chance to get their hands on a signed picture of Michael Jackson, a snare drum cover autographed by members of Snow Patrol and a rare limited edition of AC/DC"s "Whole lot of Rosie", just a few of the items of rare rock memorabilia a Mount Temple resident is auctioning off for charity. Driver Ray O"Hara hopes to raise thousands of euros to be split between South Westmeath Hospice and St Francis Hospice in Dublin from the eleven items of rock memorabilia, which will go up on display today (Wednesday) on ebay, the online auction site. Over the years working as a taxi driver/chauffeur in Dublin and with nearby Grouse Lodge Recording Studio, the rock fan and DJ has met some of the biggest names in the business including Snow Patrol, The Manic Street Preachers, The Stereophonics, REM, Blackeyed Peas and of course, the most famous of them all, Michael Jackson, who he actually drove around the country for four months. However, a more personal journey convinced the Mount Temple resident to put his much loved collection under the hammer this week on ebay, where he hopes rock fans will bid on the items and raise funds for the hospice movement. 'My Mam passed away last December in the hospice. She was from Mount Temple. I made a promise at the time that I would do something for them in the future. The care she got in the hospice was only brilliant. It"s only when you walk that road with someone you love that you realise it. The hospice deserves every penny it gets,' he told the Westmeath Independent this week. 'You forget some of the stuff you get over the years but when Snow Patrol gave me the signed drumsnare cover as a thank you, I decided I"d do the auction. I told them and they said the last one that was auctioneed made €4000.' He continued: 'Parting with them is killing me but it"s for charity. It meant a lot to me when Snow Patrol gave me the cover. I was going to ask them to sign something and then they said Ray, this is for yourself. They love it here,' Ray recalled, adding his interest in rock music means he is never short of something to chat to his passengers, however famous they are. And, as he told the Westmeath Independent it can often result in some very funny incidents. 'The first time Snow Patrol were down doing their first album. No-one knew who they were so they could where they like. One night I had classic rock on and they were crowd surfing in the back of the van on the way back after a few pints. Snow Patrol, The Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics are all in to classic rock,' Ray commented listing AC/DC and Rush as just two of his personal favourites. Their next visit was slightly different in that their debut album had catapulted them in to one of the biggest rock sellers worldwide, but Ray said it hadn"t changed them in the slightest. 'I couldn"t get over what sound guys they were there were no egos. They had just finished a supporting slot with U2, it was refreshing to see they were so down to earth,' adding that the Manic Street Preachers also great fans of the midlands and he expects they will be back in the future. There really is something for music fans of all ages in the online auction with a signed REM poster from their time spent in Westmeath in 2007, during which Ray revealed included a visit to Foxs in Maghera for a bit of what he described as 'old Ireland'. A signed Daniel O"Donnell t-shirt is also up for sale. 'I often carry his band. I think I have covered every age group with this auction. My mother actually used to be manager of a hotel in Galway and she met John Wayne while he was filming The Quiet Man so I"m trying to find John Wayne"s autograph. If I find it it will also go up on ebay,' he continued. Other items music fans can also bid on this week include a Rory Gallagher autograph,a signed Thin Lizzy album, a signed copy of "On Through the Night" in Def Leppard, a signed Gary Moore album "The Power of the Blues", a signed ticket and poster from Aussie rockers Airborne, who Ray described as the the next big thing. 'They are going to be huge,' he predicted. But what of his most famous passenger, the one and only Michael Jackson? Well, the Mount Temple man is full of praise for US superstar, who he ferried around Ireland for a couple of months back in 2006. 'He was here for four months himself and his kids, who were absolute angels. They travelled all over the area visiting places in Athlone, Tullamore and Dublin. They loved the countryside. I often brought different celebrities down to see Michael and they"d say this is like Neverland with all the hills,' he smiled. Although Ray said just about everyone in the celebrity world has been in his car either in Dublin or elsewhere, he admitted to being a little starstruck when he first picked up Mr Jackson.'The first time I carried him he held out his hand to say thank you and the moment seemed like an eternity,' he laughed saying he eventually shook his hand back and told the pop legend it was no problem at all. However, the Mount Temple driver said the key to success is giving his passengers space and privacy during their visits, be they up and coming Irish bands, unsigned groups or international stars. 'You have to respect their privacy, rather than asking 101 questions. Whenever he wanted to talk we"d chat. He felt very at home here, he loved Irish people. I"ve built great friendships will all the people, they are used to me and I"m used to them. I remember on the day of the All-Ireland Final in 2006 Michael Jackson went to see Harry Crosbie, a good friend of his and his children played with his grandchildren. As we were leaving there was waiting media because they thought Bono was there so Paddy Dunning (owner of Grouse Lodge) blocked the road so I could make my escape,' laughing that his knowledge of Dublin side streets and back roads from his taxi days in the capital came in very handy on that occasion. A DJ for over 9 years with stints in the highly regarded classic rock stations Phantom FM and Premier FM already under his belt, Ray O"Hara is hoping that what he 'loves with a passion', that is music from Dire Straits to Metallica will land him a spot in a new classic rock station coming on stream in the capital next year. From meeting the man there is certainly is noone with more enthuasism about music and bands that qualifies for the post. Ray expressed his thanks to Darren Doyle from Studio 93 in Moate for his help putting the items on ebay and the proceeds of the auction will announced in due course.