Declan Garry’s new song about the Fleadh is proving a hit
COME August, you’ll try to remember a time when the walls of Drogheda didn’t ring with the strains of ‘Ooh Aah, Up the Flaa’!
Well, that’s the hope of local musician Declan Garry, who has written and recorded an anthem for the town ahead of this year’s visit of the Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann 2018 in August.
Officially entitled “Follow me up The FLAA Side”, Declan wrote the song to mark the fantastic achievement that is The Fleadh Cheoil coming to Drogheda, and hopes it will be embraced by the town.
‘It is also to create a buzz about the event and get people talking about it and make them aware it’s coming,’ said Declan, who is better known as The FAA Side, referring to the saying in Drogheda as to what side of the Boyne you come from!
‘ The song contains references to various local areas, famous characters from the town and of course the Fleadh. It outlines that people are coming from all over the world to celebrate this amazing music festival in Drogheda.’
Declan has been testing the tune out on audiences all over the place for the past while and it’s gone down really well.
‘ The feedback has been great, so I recorded it out in Four Winds Studios in Monasterboice with the genius that is Jamie Carolan,’ he continues. ‘LMFM loved the track and it is a regular play on the station, highlighted by Eddie Caffrey.’
He also got together with Karl Murray and made a video of the song highlighting a number of local areas from the song, which can be seen on Youtube. Even St Oliver Plunkett has a starring role and Franklin D gets a mention!
‘From requests and demand I also put the song on Spotify and iTunes as people wanted to hear it,’ he added.
‘Anything raised from streaming or downloading will be donated to Drogheda Homeless Aid.’
The video and links to the song are on The FAA Side Facebook page.