Lifelong dream come true in Tralee
JERRY BELANGER OF ‘THE PUB RUNNERS’ BAND FROM AMERICA FULFILLED A LIFE-LONG DREAM OF HIS LAST WEEK AS HE SANG THE FAMOUS ‘ROSE OF TRALEE’ SONG NEXT TO THE ROSE STATUE IN TRALEE TOWN PARK
HAVE you heard the one about the group of over 80 Americans who travelled to Tralee to sing the town’s most famous song?
No, this is not the punchline of a joke; in fact it’s the very real story of a band called ‘The Pub Runners’ – which is made up of Jerry Belanger, Doug Berkshire and Michael Francis – that come to Ireland every couple of years, visiting different locations each time, and sing songs made famous by and inspired by those locations.
The trio are not alone in their travels, though, and always open up their trips to anyone and everyone who wants to come, and so it was that on this, their most recent trip Ireland, they had over 80 people as part of their entourage as they made their way to Kerry.
After a stop in Dingle, where the group sang ‘Red Haired Mary’, Tralee was the main destination for the group and all for a very special reason, one which centred around band member Jerry.
Jerry grew up in an American family that placed great emphasis on their Irish heritage, and they regularly learned and sang songs to keep this heritage alive.
One of the first ever songs that Jerry learned growing up was Tralee’s very own ‘Rose of Tralee’ and, ever since, he has held an ambition to sing the famous song in the town itself.
Well, last Wednesday afternoon, in the pouring rain, he realised that ambition as he belted out the song in Tralee Town Park, right next to the Rose of Tralee statue which, of course, depicts the original Rose of Tralee, Mary O’Connor, along with her beloved William Pembroke Mulchinock.
Speaking to The Kerryman about the trip, Doug Berkshire was full of praise for Tralee and its people.
“It was a wonderful time. It was wonderful that Martha Farrell invited us and welcomed us to Tralee, and everyone that we met in the town was really lovely to us,” he said, adding “it was Jerry’s lifelong ambition to sing that song here.
“It was the first song he ever sang when he was a child growing up in an American family – and so, for him to be able to sing it in Tralee, it was phenomenal.”
Even the miserable weather couldn’t dampen the group’s spirits.
“That [the rain] will add to the lifelong memories for the people that came with us,” he laughed.
After the park, it was off to McCaffrey’s bar in town and, again, Doug could praise the place highly enough.
“McCaffrey’s Bar was wonderful, just so beautiful,” he said.
“We went there after the park and sang a couple of songs and it was great.
“They had both of the fires going and everybody was so happy. The weather might not have been great, but what a perfect place that was to go when the weather’s not on your side,” he said.
It’s not home time just yet for the trio of Doug, Jerry and Michael, though, with another group of 40 different people coming to Kerry next week for a visit, so there’ll be still plenty of time for more pints, craic and songs.