Wonderful night with Phil Coulter
ON the evening Sunday August 7, the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Dungegan, Ballinskelligs, was packed to capacity as the people of the parish and surrounding areas came together to celebrate it’s 200th anniversary.
A most memorable evening of music and song was enjoyed by all as the main guest of honour and entertainer was Phil Coulter, who is revered as one of Ireland’s premier music figures of the 20th century. Musician, arranger, composer, conductor, producer, publisher and artiste. Song writing is his love and songwriters are his heroes.
Born and raised in Derry City, his father, a catholic policeman in the RUC, played the fiddle, his mother played the piano and from them, he learned the pure joy of music.He studied music at Queen’s University, where he started his own band.
Phil Coulter (born February 19, 1942) was awarded the Gold Badge from the British Academy of songwriters, Composers and Authors in October 2009 and
He is one of the biggest record sellers in his native land. As a songwriter, he was involved in writing multple Eurovision song contest winners; including Puppet on a String, by Sandie Shaw, Congratulations by Cliff Richards, and All Kinds of Everything, by Rosemarie Browne (Dana).
As a writer and producer, he sold millions of records including smash hits by Elvis Presley, Kenny, Slik, The Bay City Rollers, Planxty, The Dubliners, Luke Kelly, The Furey Brothers, Sinead O’Connor and Boyzone.
As a performer, Phil Coulter has had, and continues to have an amazing career with some unbelievable highs, including Coast to coast tours of the USA, three personal invitations from the President of the United States to perform at the White House, recording and touring with James Galway, multiple hit albums with a great range of tunes and melodies.
The church of St Michael the Archangel has been in the village of Dungegan since the 1800s. It was completely rebuilt in the 1920s on the same site under the guidance of Fr. O’Brien PP and Fr. Allman as Curate.
Fr O’Brien passed away before the rebuilding was completed, being replaced as PP by Fr Behan. The Dungegan church was again renovated and modernised in the 1960s and 1970s. The porches were added and the perimeter walls and gates were removed.
The marble altar originally came in a crate from Italy. The tabernacle was moved to the back altar, the lectern was modernised and the main altar was reduced in size.The altar rails were removed and the Stations of the Cross were changed.
Local men worked by drawing stones, and gravel by horse and cart to the building of the church.It stands more or less the same structurally since then.
Recently, under the guidance of Fr David Gunn, PP of Prior, the church has received a makeover with the roof being re-slated, new tarmac on the church yard, a public toilet and a complete internal and external re-paint.
A beautiful name plaque is also situated at the entrance.