Fermoy ballad remastered for unique St Patrick’s Day project
Combining the past with the present, the Fermoy International Choir is preparing to share a unique piece of work in time for St Patrick’s Day.
Though somewhat confined by Covid-19 restrictions, the choir, which has produced pieces of work for Culture Night, Christmas and National Thank You Day in recent months, has re-recorded the local ballad ‘My Home In Fermoy’ which will be shared from Monday next.
The recording features 32-people, most of them already in the choir but some friends of the group, who will speak each line of the first four verses.
Using smartphones to gath
er and share audio, the production is another triumph in unusual times.
Founded in January 2019, the Fermoy International Choir celebrates the diversity and cultural richness of the North Cork town.
Lisa Dunphy, choir director, explains: “A number of local musicians recorded the backing music separately. Then we asked for people to record one line of the song each and we overlayed their spoken word to the backing music. It’s a unique version in that it will feature over a dozen nationalities alongside some familiar local voices. We have young people involved, such as the wonderful Gearoid Dineen, Odre Vasiliau
skiene and Mary McDonagh and more senior, much-loved characters such as the evergreen Tommy Baker.”
Participants include locals originally from Brazil, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, French Polynesia, South Africa, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
And the final verse of the track will be taken from a previous recording of the song by the late, great Dave Roche who passed away last November at the age of 98 and who recorded the ballad himself. Indeed, the entire project is dedicated to his memory.
PROUD MOMENT
As Tim Roche, Dave’s eldest son explains, the recording in memory of his late father is a fitting tribute:
“My father knew how much this song meant to so many people, not only those born and raised here as he was, but to others like his father and mother, who made it their home away from home. He would have been very proud to see so many people of so many nationalities expressing their pride in not only a lovely town, but in a wonderful community”.
Graham Clifford, of the Together Ireland Community Integration Project, told The Avondhu this week: “Included in a video to accompany the song will be some amazing photography from the brilliant George O’Keefe who captures so perfectly the beauty of this town and its people. We think this version of ‘ My Home In Fermoy’ will truly be very special, and of particular resonance to people from the town now living away.”
He added: “This beautiful ballad means so much to so many – especially those who have lived in Fermoy all of their lives. This version respects the history, tradition, people and heritage of the town – while including all those who now call Fermoy home - many of whom have moved from other countries down through the years. This is now their song too.
To watch and hear ‘ My Home In Fermoy’ from Monday, March 15th visit the Fermoy International Choir page on www.avondhupress.ie or on Facebook.