Local musicians recall the biggest gig of their lives

Local artists kept the crowds entertained ahead of the headline act, writes Margaret Roddy

In his memoir President Bill Clinton recalled how the crowds in Dundalk sang ‘Danny Boy’ when he visited the town twenty years ago. The song, of course, was led by Belfast singer Brian Kennedy who headlined the entertainment for the thousands of people who crowded into the centre of Dundalk for the historic visit by the US President, his wife Hillary and their daughter Chelsea.

While the President named checked Dundalk’s most famous musical act at the time - The Corrs - siblings Jim, Sharon, Caroline and Andrea didn’t take to the stage due to touring commitments in the United States at the time.

‘Let me say, that for Hillary, Chelsea and me, it’s great to be in the hometown of the Corrs,’ he told the crowds . ‘ Now, we had the privilege of being with them and hearing them sing in Washington just Sunday night. They did you proud. I understand their success has been great for your community, except that in this tight labour market, you haven’t been able to replace them down at McManus’ Pub.’

National acts including Altan and Donal Lunny were introduced by the late RTE star Gerry Ryan, while Bagatelle front man Liam Reilly headed the list of local talent who stepped up to the task of playing on the stage in the glare of the world’s media. For many it was the biggest gig of their lives and they still have fond memories of the occasion.

Singer/songwriter Stewart Agnew recalls the excitement of the day although he had long left on the four-hour journey to Galway where he was playing support to The 4 of Us before the Clinton’s arrived in town.

‘ The invite to play came to Derek Turner who was my manager at the time,’ says Stewart, who was riding on the crest of a wave following the release of his debut album ‘ Tailor Made.’

The timing wasn’t great through, as the then 24 year old was supporting The 4 of Us on their Irish tour. ‘ They were playing two nights in the Roisin Dubh in Galway, so I had to come back home, play on the Square, and then drive back to Galway.’

‘It was quite surreal,’ he recalls. ‘I did an half hour set, played six songs, mostly my own compositions’

Stewart was accompanied by drummer James Mackin and Dubliner Leonard

Kirwan on bass.

They played early in the day while the crowds were still gathering. ‘You could really feel the buzz building in town.’

‘Great memories - can’t believe it’s twenty years ago.’

James says he remembers Stewart telling him that they had been asked to play a gig at The Square but didn’t think too much about it. ‘We’d done a couple of gigs at the Square and I thought there would be a few kids at it.’

As he walked up town and saw the huge security operation in place, he soon realised just how mistaken he’d been.

‘I remember being taken aback by the security presence which had been brought over from The States - that’s what brought home the enormity of the occasion.’

‘When I think back, it was an amazing event. It was just four years after the Good Friday Agreement and for me, that’s the one thing I remember - the contribution which President Clinton game to the Peace Process,’ recalls James. ‘ That’s why so many people turned out to see him - it had brought such a change to the area.’

‘More importantly is that twenty years later we can look back and see what the

Peace Process has brought to this area and the country as a whole.’

When fog delayed the arrival of the Presidential party, the task of filling out the programme fell on The Táin Ceili Band.

‘We were supposed to play for 20 or 30 minutes but then the word came that President Clinton was going to be late arriving because of the fog, we ended up having to play for an hour,’ recalls uileann piper Padraig Donlon.

It was do problem for the band, who in August that year were named as All-Ireland ceili band champions for the third consecutive time at the Fleadh Cheol na hEireann in Athlone.

‘It was definitely the biggest crowd we had played to as there were about 60,000 people there, all waiting to see President Clinton,’ says Padraig. ‘ There was a huge buzz about it.’

‘We were asked to play by the late Michael Curran of Louth County Council. I remember coming up in the afternoon and being really struck by the security around town.

‘We had security passes so we could go into Earl Street behind the stage. I met President Clinton backstage and shook his hand.’