Country singer Louise Morrissey has extended thanks to the many people who have rallied to the cause of her nephew Jamey, who fell seriously ill in recent months while on a holiday in Thailand. Now back home and currently in St Joseph’s Hospital in Clonmel, he remains in a serious condition.

“On behalf of my sister Noreen, the Morrissey family and the Marron family, I would again like to extend our warmest thanks to everyone who has supported Jamey during his ongoing illness.

“We have been overwhelmed by the friendship and kindness shown to us by our extended family, in-laws, close relations, friends and indeed by many people whom we don’t know personally who have been touched by Jamey’s ordeal,” says Louise.

“The funding of Jamey’s intensive care stay in hospital in Thailand and subsequent repatriation was an enormous undertaking made possible only by your support, both financially and emotionally, and thankfully this has been achieved.

“We are now in a position to close the fund as all costs as outlined above have been met.

“We would like to thank the Irish Consulate in Thailand, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, and particularly Michael Lowry TD, who all assisted with Jamey’s repatriation.”

Louise is also especially grateful to their many friends in showbiz for their great support throughout this time.

“We thank all our friends in the music industry who so kindly and generously gave their time to perform at the fundraising dances, the people who organised the fundraisers, everyone who donated raffle prizes, you were all a huge support to us. Thanks to Racket Hall, Roscrea; Togher’s, Naas; Cullen Community Centre (Cork) and OB’s Kilross for hosting fundraising nights.

“We thank the staff of the hospital in Koh Samui who cared for Jamey for eight weeks. A special word of appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of St Joseph’s Hospital, Clonmel, who continue to care for Jamey and who have gone far beyond the call of duty in their kindness to him.

“Jamey remains in a very serious condition. He is unable to move or respond to us in any way and we can only hope and pray for a positive outcome. We ask that you will keep Jamey in your prayers. God bless you all,” says Louise.

Meanwhile, Louise continues to perform at shows around the country. She is currently planning three concerts in A Country Christmas series which will be staged during December. “These have proven popular since I started them and the first will be in the Nenagh Arts Centre on Saturday 6 December. We take the show to the Bru Boru Theatre in Cashel the following night, Sunday 7, and our third show is in The Briary Gap, Macroom, on Saturday, 27 December.

“My guests on the shows are Crystal Swing, Paddy O’Brien, Norman Morrissey, Marty Daniels, and Thomas Grogan, a young lad from Cashel. The Ryan Turner Band will provide the music for all the shows,” says Louise.

A new duet song with Glór Tíre winner Michael Collins is due for release this week and a video has been filmed for airing on Sky 191. Louise hopes to get working on her new album in early spring.