Strandhill drownings CD launch
THE tragic Strandhill drownings are to be commemorated this month with the launch of a CD written by singer songwriter Jimmy McArdle.
The cackling of the seagulls on the CD says it all. The lapping of the waves on the shoreline takes all of us back in time. Time for reflection. Reflection on the greatest tragedy ever to hit the South Sligo countryside. It was our very own JFK moment.
Everybody remembers exactly where they were when they first heard the sad news that three of our finest young Sligo teenagers – Bobby Taylor, Tommy Coyle and Michael Higgins were drowned while on a one day visit to Strandhill.
It was May 17th 1998. Shock waves of grief spread rapidly through the countryside. People huddled together in small groups for days afterwards.
You could see them in shops and on the street and know immediately what they were talking about.
It was the saddest of sad events but of course as always in these situations the greater loss fell to the families of each of the drowning victims.
It is not unusual for such sad events to be commemorated by a stone memorial and this has been done on the double for these footballing heroes, in Keash and Gurteen, however the local community are now about to launch a song on CD to perpetuate their memory.
Songs of freedom, songs of love, songs of emigration and songs of hope have been written in abundance down through the centuries in Ireland and this is just another accolade to preserve the memory of the three young Sligo, Eastern Harps and Gurteen Celtic sports stars.
The song entitled ‘ So haunted by Strandhill’ is an emotional and enduring tribute to the three young men who lost their lives that fateful day.
It has been written by Jimmy McArdle a singer/ songwriter who is originally from Belfast but now lives in Springfield, Mass, U. S. A.
Jimmy has many friends and relatives in the Gurteen area being a brother of Mary McKeon and has written this beautiful piece of music as a gift to primarily the families of the drowning victims, but also to their respective sports clubs and to the community as a whole in Sligo and beyond.
It is a song for anyone and a song for everyone with no strings attached.
It is an anthem to their memory and a truly fitting acknowledgement of what they achieved in their young sporting lives.
The CD launch is due to take place in Drury’s lounge bar in Monasteraden on Saturday night next, August 13th when Jimmy McArdle is expected to travel over from his U. S. home to front up the launch with back up music being provided by the Maureen O Dowd Group.
Copies of the CD will be available on the night and at several local venues throughout the county thereafter at a cost of € 10 with the final proceeds, at the request of the three bereaved families, being donated to the R. N. L. I. rescue service. Organisers say to please come early as a large crowd is expected on the night.
The families and friends of the young men who lost their lives say the CD launch and special song is a fitting tribute to the sports stars who will stay forever young.