Local singer Rebecca Harkin ‘safe and healthy’ after disembarking Diamond Princess ship at centre of coronavirus outbreak

Talented artist Rebecca Harkin pictured previously performing in Derry.

Rebecca - one of Ireland’s brightest musical stars and who has amassed a global fanbase - had been onboard the Diamond Princess ship when it was quarantined off the coast of Japan.

It is understood Rebecca and her partner were among the musicians performing on the ship.

In a message posted on her official social media fan pages from Australia, Rebecca, who was born in Derry and has lived in Donegal, said:

“Hey guys! Thank you so much for all your lovely messages and prayers these last few weeks. As many of you knew my partner and I were musicians on board the Diamond Princess Ship in Japan.

“I am now in Australia with my partner and we are both healthy and safe, thank god!

“We are getting so well looked after in Darwin along with all the other evacuees.”

Rebecca said they were both “so so thankful for the amazing team here”.

“They are so caring, friendly & understanding. They have been doing so much to make us comfortable. I cannot thank them enough.”

And she added: “For now, it’s 2 weeks of sunshine & unwinding after the crisis. Again we are so glad to be here.

“Big love to you all who checked in on us and continue to do so. Love Rebecca xx”

Rebecca Harkin, who has gained international acclaim after launching her debut album ‘Things Man Be Someway’ last year and touring the world after having supported her brother Keith Harkin on tour in the past and making a name for herself on the Irish music circuit, is now looking forward to performing her next big Stageit online concert for fans live on April 16.

To be part of it you can get tickets at: www.stageit.com/rebecca_harkin/live_from_ireland/68954?fbclid=IwAR1pFSZck7zI9kQaq7AYp7keiQKW4XeptSH4atBpn2uSplFGvp4j64HzA64Of the almost 4,000 passengers and crew onboard the cruise ship, around 600 have tested positive for COVID-19, while hundreds of healthy passengers have been allowed to leave the ship after careful medical testing and monitoring.