ASHES OF SONGWRITER THOM MOORE ARE SCATTERED ON KNOCKAREA
SLIGO PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THE LIFE OF SINGER/SONGWRITER THOM MOORE WHO PASSED AWAY ON ST PATRICK’S DAY
The ashes of singer/songwriter, Thom Moore, were scattered from the top of Knocknarea mountain last Saturday. He died on St Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
The 74 year old writer of songs including Carolina Ruadh, The Scholar, Saw You Running, The Fog In Monterey, The Navigator, and Cavan Girl died on Saint Patrick’s Day.
His final wish was his ashes would be brought to Sligo, his spiritual homeland for more than forty years.
Moore was born in 1943, on the island of Santa Catalina, off the coast of Los Angeles but he came to Ireland in 1971, settling in a cottage on the slopes of Knocknarea.
His life took many twists and turns including a period in Russia but he finally moved back home to Ireland in 1995.
A celebration of his life and music took place in one of Sligo’s most famous music pubs, McLynns of Old Market Street, on Friday night.
At noon on Saturday his family members, musicians and friends climbed to the summit of Knocknarea, five miles from Sligo town. According to legend, the mountain top is final resting place of Maeve, the Queen of Connacht.
Among those who took turns to scatter the ashes were Thom Moore’s Russian born wife, Lyubov Gennadyevna, his stepson, Stan Zamyatin Moore and Rick Epping, who along with his then partner, Sandy, and Thom and Kathy Moore, formed the group, Pumpkinhead, in the 1970’s.
Others who took part in the ashes ceremony included Clr Declan Bree, Donal McLynn,Jimmy Mulrooney, Philip Flynn, Gerry Grennan, Brendan Cadden and Seamie O’Dowd.
During the moving ceremony, a number of Thom Moore songs were performed on the mountain top by musicians who became his close friends, during the Sligo phase of his life, including Seamie O’Dowd, Aoife and Gerry Grennan, Eoin Troy and Seamie McGowan.
The guests at the event in McLynn’s pub included Tom Conlon, who along with Ray MacSharry had supported the successful campaign to have Thom Moore given an Irish passport in 2002.
His songs have been recorded by Mary Black, Nathan Carter, Maura O’Connell, The Dubliners and The High Kings.
When he first came to Sligo in the 1970’s, he give guitar lessons and his students included, Pol Brennan of Clannad, who was boarding in Summerhill College at the time.
The Scholar/Train To Sligo, recorded by Maura O’Connell, told the story of his daughter, Erin, returning to boarding school at the Ursuline College in Sligo.
After the break-up of Pumpkinhead, he formed Midnight Well with Janie Cribbs, Gerry O’Beirne and Martin O’ Connor.
In 1979, his song ‘Cavan Girl’ won the Cavan International Song Contest - it was inspired by the relationship of a Cavan couple, Michael and the late Rita Woods, who befriended him and gave Pumpkinhead regular gigs at their pub, Coolera House, close to Knocknarea mountain. Michael was among the group who gathered in the car park at the foot of the mountain on Saturday afternoon.
The sun shone brightly and the clear light gave perfect views of the County Sligo countryside and the Atlantic as Thom Moore’s last wish was honored.
A new album by his friend and co-founder of Pumpkinhead, Rick Epping, will be launched in The Hawk’s Well Theatre, in May.
In his own tribute on Facebook, Councillor Bree said: “Thom Moore’s last wish was fulfilled earlier today when his ashes were scattered on Méabh’s Cairn and on the slopes of his beloved Knocknarea.
“Thom spent his early days in Ireland living in the shadow of Knocknarea and no doubt drew inspiration from its majestic presence and the surrounding Coolera countryside.
“At 11.a.m. we gathered at the foot of ‘ The Hill of the Kings’ with Thom’s wife Lyuba, his stepson Stanislav, his friend from the early days Rick Epping, and we climbed to Meabh’s Cairn to hear Seamie O’Dowd lead the tributes to the gifted songwriter and singer who made such an immense contribution to Ireland’s musical heritage.
“As songs were sung and unique and special memories were quietly reflected upon we toasted Thom with a tipple of his favorite whiskey.
“Knocknarea and Sligo were inextricably woven into Thom’s life, his music and his songs.
“Miosgán Méabh was built around 3400 B.C. In Irish mythology it is recorded as the burial place of the legendry Warrior Queen Meabh of Connaught.
“Thom Moore has now gone to join Méabh and her warriors and like Méabh he too will have a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of Sligo.”