The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Crazy world as Christy charms in intimate performance
NOW in its fifth year, the annual St Brendan’s College concert shows no sign of slowing down, with organiser Liam O’Connor praising in particular the contribution of the school students and, of course, last week’s special guest, Christy Dignam.
Over 100 students took part last Thursday evening, with the packed audience in the school chapel enjoying a night of music that was rooted in trad but also mixed with some fusion and choral pieces.
“The students there in St Brendan’s, they’re great guys and great workers. They deserve a lot of praise for their performance on the night,” said Liam, speaking to The Kerryman on Monday evening.
“Their music teacher too, Mish O’Donoghue and Principal Seán Coffey, they do a wonderful job every year in helping to get everyone ready. I went in every week to help them prepare and they were just brilliant,” he continued.
“People have said that these concerts get better year on year. I would disagree, I would say that they ‘evolve’ every year – you can’t compare one with another. They have all been very different.”
Over the last five years, guests such as Brian Kennedy and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh have graced the stage of the atmospheric chapel and Liam says it’s the venue that makes the night so special every year.
“Playing in that chapel is such a different experience, it’s very special.”
“Christy has been an artist that I’ve admired for many years and so I knew that I wanted to get him involved, on his own, for the show this year.
“We had an idea to get him down here, to get him into that wonderful chapel venue. We stripped Christy’s music from all that rock and roll stuff he does with Aslan and, wow, what a performance by him,” said Liam.
“There’s a twinkle and an energy in his eye when he performs. He sang ‘Ave Maria’, which I think was him showing respect for the chapel and he followed this up with ‘The Green Fields of France’ and, of course, he finished with ‘Crazy World’. It was amazing, the crowd went wild.”
Another special guest on the night was rugby legend Mick Galwey who also performed The Contender.
Liam says that planning will begin later this year when another special guest will be announced for the venue.