Joe’s new album raising funds for local heritage
WHEN Joe Harrington won the 2018 Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition back in August it was the final bit of inspiration he needed to get his album over the line - a project he had been working on for several months
The Lyreacrompane native’s new album is called ‘ The Songs of Joe Harrington’ which brings together songs that Joe compiled over the past 20-years.
Among the 19 tracks is ‘ The Road John Murphy Made’, which won the Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition, and is set in the 1750’s connecting the butter trade to the slave trade. The album is the latest to be produced in Kerry and its songs have been recorded by various singers. Joe is very proud of his work.
“Over the years I had thought about getting out an album of songs that I had written. But on winning the competition I thought, well, ‘it’s now or never,’” he said.
Each of Joe’s songs is an expression of his pride in the locality and the people and places that have helped shape it. Songs like ‘No Place Like North Kerry’, ‘Knocknagoshel on the Hill’, ‘My Old Stacks Mountains Home’ and ‘Lyre Lass’, come from Joe’s deep love of north Kerry.
“There’s even a couple of Duagh football songs in there as well. One of which is performed by Weeshie Fogerty and the late Fr. Pat Moore. RTE’s Micheál O’Muircheartaigh and Donnacha O’Dulaing also help out on a couple of the tracks. The album features ‘ The Irish Rambling House Song’, written by Kay O’Leary. It’s about the show that Kay and I have taken to England for the past eighteen years to entertain the exiles. I would like to thank Kay for all her help and advice when making this album.”
Joe is also appreciative of the support and help he received when making the album, and to the people who have recorded his songs over the years.
The proceeds from the album will go towards funding the renovation of the old Glen Schoolhouse in Lyreacrompane as a Heritage House for the Stacks Mountains area. This community project aims to preserve and highlight the heritage, culture and environment of the Stacks Mountains.
“Our fundraising efforts have gone well to date and we have set ourselves a further target of €10,000. Sales of the album will be part of meeting this goal. So we are hoping that people will rally round and buy the album,” Joe said.
The album is now in the shops. For more information on the album, or on the Heritage House project in Lyreacrompane, contact Joe on Tel: 087 285 3570.