Images Of Ireland

Brian Kennedy & Mary Black

I went along to "The Waterfront" in Belfast to a concert on Sunday 4th Oct. 98. The concert was to raise money for the victims of the Omagh Bomb in August.

While most of us felt numb and just helpless after the bomb it was housewife Judith Thurley who decided to try and do something about it. In her own words "The spark grew to a flame and the flame to a fire". All of a sudden she had a major concert on her hands and in our premier venue.

Everyone involved, the artists, hotels, promotions & tickets, hire of equipment, the venue and even the Waterfront staff came in to work for free. The place was filled and 30,000 pounds was raised. So you can make a difference, if you try.

Brian Kennedy I wasn't a fan of Brians until the Waterfront concert. He closed the show and was brilliant, great voice and a real entertainer. He can really reach an audience and make them part of the show.

Mary Black

Mary Black is another artist who sang for us that night. She has a clear powerful voice. One of the songs she sang "Song for Ireland" was beautiful, the words by Phil & June Colclough, Poetry. Mary is pictured on the right with Omagh singer Dominic Kerwin. The girl on the left is a backing singer for Dominic.

(Above photos by Owen Brennan)

Across The Bridge Of Hope

This CD was released on 30th Nov. 98 to raise funds "For the benefit of those who died or were injured as a result of the Omagh bomb, their relatives and dependants and those persons who have been adversely affected by the tragedy"
(Omagh Fund Declaration)

The artists and composers have donated their royalties. White Records will donate all of their proceeds after covering the minimum cost incurred in manufacturing, production, marketing and administration. They estimate a minimum of 60% will be donated.

The poem "The Bridge" was written by Shaun McLaughlin aged 12. One of those who died.

My favourite track on the album is "Broken Things" a very poignant song written by Julie Miller and sung beautifully by Omagh girl Juliet Turner.

Paul Brady's song "The Island", a lesson to us all.

Enya's haunting version of "Silent Night" just has to be heard.

Broken Things

You can have my heart
But it isn't new
It's been used and broken
And only comes in blue
It's been down a long road
And it got dirty on the way
If I give it to you, will you make it clean
Wash the pain, away.

You can have my heart
If you don't mind broken things
You can have my heart
If you don't mind these tears
But I heard that you make all things new
So I give these pieces all to you
If you want it
You can have, my heart

So beyond repair
Nothing I could do
Tried to fix it myself
But it was, only worse
When I, got through
Then you walk right into my darkness
And you speak words so sweet
You hold me like a child
Till my frozen tears
Fall at, your feet

You can have my heart
If you don't mind broken things
You can have my heart
If you don't mind these tears
But I heard that you make all things new
So I give these pieces all to you
If you want it
You can have, my heart.

(Written by Julie Millar
Published by Word Music)

SONG FOR IRELAND

Walking all the day
Near tall towers where falcons build their nests
Silver-winged they fly
They know the call of freedom in their breasts
Saw Black Head against the sky
Where twisted rocks they run to the sea

     Living on your western shore
     Saw summer sunsets, asked for more
     I stood by your Atlantic Sea
     And sang a song for Ireland

Drinking all the day
In old pubs where fiddlers love to play
Saw one touch the bow
He played a reel which seemed so grand and gay
Stood on Dingle Beach and cast
In wild foam we found Atlantic bass

     Living on your western shore
     Saw summer sunsets, asked for more
     I stood by your Atlantic Sea
     And sang a song for Ireland

Talking all the day
With true friends who try to make you stay
Telling jokes and news
Singing songs to pass the time away
Watched the Galway salmon run
Like silver dancing, darting in the sun

     Living on your western shore
     Saw summer sunsets, asked for more
     I stood by your Atlantic Sea
     And sang a song for Ireland

Dreaming in the night
I saw a land where no one had to fight
Waking in your dawn
I saw you crying in the morning light
Sleeping where the falcons fly
They twist and turn all in your air-blue sky

     Living on your western shore
     Saw summer sunsets, asked for more
     I stood by your Atlantic Sea
     And sang a song for Ireland

(Written by Phil and June Colclough)

Front Page . Photo's . Songs . Poetry & Stories . Recipe's . Message Board . Links . Contact me & Letters

Owen Brennan
Copyright © 1998 belongs with the original authors. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 28, 2002.