Peter’s gift of music goes long way

AN Enniscorthy musician has fulfilled a lifetime ambition by releasing his first ever album. However, rather than bask in the acclaim and pocket the profits for himself, Peter Hughes’s primary concern is raising funds for charity.

Entitled ‘Keep on the Sunny Side’, all proceeds from the album will go to the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy.

‘I know a lot of people who have been affected by cancer and I know the Hope Centre do great work,’ Peter explained. ‘ There’s a great shortfall between the amount of money the government give to them and the amount of fundraising they have to do, and I thought this would be an opportunity to give something back.’

Launched at one of the monthly trad sessions Peter hosts with friends Nick Fortune and Nick Dempsey in Rochford’s Pub in Camross, the CD consists of five songs close to the singer’s heart: the title track (originally sung by The Carter Family), ‘ The Shed with no Hay’, the Bob Dylan song ‘Blowin in the Wind’, ‘A Little Peace’ which was the German entry in the 1982 Eurovision, and an instrumental piece.

Available to purchase directly for €10 from Peter himself or at the Hope Cancer Support Shop in Enniscorthy, the album was produced by Leslie Dunne, Ivan Levingstone and Shem Tomkins at the John Street studios. And, according to Peter, it has been selling well so far. ‘ The sales have been very good, I’ve been blown away by the interest and the general good feeling about it and the well wishers,’ he said.

Having performed with a number of bands over the years, Peter now plays at charity events and nursing homes throughout the county. However, his main love, and the thing he finds himself coming back to time and time again, are the good old-fashioned trad sessions. ‘ Trad sessions and storytelling houses are my main interest now, I attend them regularly, go to three or four a week. The session in Rochford’s Pub runs on the second Friday of every month.’

If you wish to purchase a copy of ‘Keep on the Sunny Side’ you can do so by contacting Peter directly on 086 8266 037.

Suzanne Winters, Jack Curran and Phil Power.

Catherine O’Rourke, Jim Doyle and Davy Roche playing a set of irish melodies.

Michael Doyle, who launched the CD, and Peter Hughes.

Issac Scallan performing ‘Rose of Avondale’.

Paddy Donovan had his dancing doll keeping time with the music.

Mick Fortune singing ‘The Lark in The Clear Air’.