A Spirit of Christmas coming to town to raise money for charity
On Saturday 29 November, the Spirit of Christmas concert returns to Belfast for a seventh year to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for more than 110,000 people in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions. Organised by Belfast resident, Claire Boylan, who lives with a rare muscle wasting condition Miyoshi myopathy, the festive fundraiser at Good Shepherd Church in south Belfast will help to fund groundbreaking research and life-changing support for people living with conditions like hers.
An active campaigner, fundraiser and peer support volunteer, Claire Boylan has organised the Spirit of Christmas annual concert in Belfast since 2019. Following a diagnosis of Miyoshi myopathy, a rare muscle wasting condition connected to limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B, Claire has thrown herself into volunteering with Muscular Dystrophy UK, dedicating her time to helping others living with muscle wasting conditions. In recognition of this, she was named ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the charity’s President’s Awards in 2023.
This year’s Spirit of Christmas takes place at Good Shepherd Church on Ormeau Road in south Belfast from 6.30pm on Saturday 29 November. The concert will be hosted by award-winning Content Creator and TikTok Ambassador Alan Wallace and a local schoolboy, eight-year-old Bobby Moore, who lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, will be the ‘Candle of Hope’ lighter.
The evening will include performances by tenor David Branagh Curry and soprano Mairead Healy. Also welcomed back for another year are Belfast Ukelele Jam and soprano/tenor duo Stellar Voices. In addition to this, the line-up features the Belfast Musical Theatre Choir and Alive Community Choir, as well as a range of local solo performers, including singer/songwriters Lacey Aiken, Daisie Conway, Fuar and Charlotte McIlroy, and harpist Caitlin Diamond.
Julia Smith at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “We’re so grateful to Claire for her ongoing dedication and support. This is the seventh Spirit of Christmas event in Belfast and not only is it a joyful uplifting event that welcomes in the start of the festive season, but it also raises vital funds. Thanks to fundraising events like this, we can continue to fund groundbreaking research, drive change for better care and access to treatments, and support adults and children living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions. Thank you to Claire, all the performers, and everyone in the local community who attends.”
The Spirit of Christmas 2025 is sponsored by Ormeau Business Park, Boom Interactive, McConvey Cycles, Stairlift Solutions, and Sync Living.
Tickets for Spirit of Christmas cost £20 (free for children under five; senior concession £15) and are available at: https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/get-involved/events/belfast-spirit-of-christmas/
Find out more about Muscular Dystrophy UK at musculardystrophyuk.org