The Town I Loved So Well

Written by Phil Coulter about courage and human spirit in the face of adversity, during ‘The Troubles’ in Derry, Ireland. That same spirit of courage and humanity is visible today, as people put their lives, their jobs and their incomes on the line for others, as COVID19 takes its grip!

Thank you, Derry.

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Grace

This beautiful rendition of Grace reflects the depth of her sorrow at losing her beloved Joesph Plunkett, to execution in Kilmainham Gaol. He stood for truth. He stood for love and paid with his life and her heart. He fought with Pearse, Connolly, Clarke, Ceant, Mac Diarmada, MacDonagh and many more, for Ireland, during the Easter 1916 Rising, in Dublin. This is a haunting rendition beautifully sung by Donna Taggart. Grace Gifford married her love, Joesph Plunkett on May 3rd, 1916, in Kilmainham Gaol, the day before his execution at dawn, by the British occupying forces of the time. He was 28 years old. Grace was written by Sean and Frank O’Meara in 1985.

Thank you, Joseph and Grace.

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Do Up Your Necktie and Dance

Written and composed by Dezy Walls for his hit show ‘This Is Not The Life I Ordered’. In the show, Simon the Accountant (me!) is having a mid-life crisis and loses the will to live. It’s a humorous and joyous way of looking at a crisis! Something to do in these ‘Lockdown’ crazy times!

Thank you, Dezy.

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The Green Fields of France

Eric Bogle wrote and composed the Green Fields of France to lament the horror of man’s inhumanity to man. He spoke to Willie McBride who died in the first world war at the age of 19. Bogle postures that we will never learn as war happens again and again and again! However, I would like to think that COVID19 although terrible, is a war that will bring out the best in us and together with technology we can not only beat this thing, we can create a better world for ourselves and those who will inherit it from us!

Thank you, Eric.

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Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen was written by James Thornton in 1898 and made famous by The Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur in the 1970s. It’s a love song. It sings of everlasting love and is what we need now, me thinks, to soothe the horror of this COVOD19!

Thank you, James.

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Kevin and Peter do it in Mexico at Riley and Katie’s!

Thank you, Kevin. (I think! :-))

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