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Mid-West University Concert Hall Marks Landmark Anniversary.

Tipperary Orchestral Music Lovers Take Note!

The Mid-West Region’s premier live entertainment and cultural venue, University Concert Hall (UCH) celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, with performances from two of Ireland’s most prestigious orchestras.

Internationally renowned pianist John O’Conor will be returning to UCH on Friday, September 29th to perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as part of the venue’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

UCH became the first purpose-built concert hall in Ireland when it was officially opened on the University of Limerick campus in September 1993 by Taoiseach Albert Reynolds T.D. and U.S. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith.

The 1,038-seat auditorium has since attracted performances from some of the biggest names in entertainment including Johnny Cash and June Carter, James Taylor, Billy Connolly, Leslie Garrett, Van Morrison, The King’s Singers, Jimmy Carr, Sir James Galway, Christy Moore and the late Sinead O’Connor.

The 30th anniversary celebrations commence on Saturday, 21st September, when the Irish Chamber Orchestra with Conductor Christian Curnyn, Mezzo Soprano Sharon Carty and Soprano Anna Devin perform “Stabat Mater”, featuring the music of Van Wassenaer, Respighi and Puccini.

On Friday, 29th September, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will host ‘Beethoven Night’. Conducted by Joshua Gersen, the Orchestra will be joined by internationally renowned pianist John O’Conor, who was one of the first musicians to perform at UCH in 1993.

Judith Woodworth, Chairperson of the UCH Board, “We have celebrated many great moments over the past 30 years from recording our one millionth visitor in 2006 to becoming the lead venue for a year long programme of events marking Limerick’s year as Ireland’s first City of Culture in 2014.
We are immensely proud of our role in adding breadth and depth to the cultural life of the Mid-West, and our ongoing work to reflect and promote the longstanding artistic ethos of the University of Limerick by offering a wide range of cultural events and experiences. This month is a key milestone in our history, and we hope people from across the wider region and beyond will join us in marking this special occasion.”

UCH Director Sinead Hope said, “Attracting some of the world’s leading singer songwriters, standup comedians, pantomimes and classical performers to the Mid-West has had a hugely positive impact on the Region’s arts and entertainment sector, as well as the local economy.”

She continued, “We constantly strive to produce the highest quality programme of events while also providing a professional platform to community organisations and artists, such as the Limerick Musical Society, Limerick Choral Union and local schools, to promote and showcase their artistic endeavours. Our Rising Stars Concert series, launched in 2016, also aims to bring young, Irish classical artists to new audiences in a concert programme of their own choosing for one special night.”
As well as being an entertainment venue, UCH also plays a significant part in attracting conference business and hosting live tv and radio broadcasts, including The Late Late Show, Lyric FM, Gradam Ceoil TG4 and Eurosong”, added Ms. Hope. “We look forward to exploring new ways of encouraging support for and engagement with the arts in the years ahead.”

Visit www.uch.ie for booking details.

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‘Dying Rebel’ Song Has Tipperary Connection.

The Dying Rebel.

Vocals: Irish singer, songwriter, historian, Derek Warfield, a former member of the musical group The Wolfe Tones.

Lyrics: Original author unknown.

The following rebel song tells the story of an Irish freedom fighter listening to the last words of his comrade, who lies dying on a Dublin street. When the wounded man’s father arrives at the scene seeking his son’s whereabouts, he is informed, “there’s no use in searching, your son to heaven has gone.”

The ballad is set during Easter 1916, and according to one version the dying man came from Co. Tipperary with the song rendition containing the following lines:-

“The first I saw was a wounded soldier,
Lying, dying, as he feebly cried,
‘God bless our home in sweet Tipperary.
God bless the cause for I am dying’

My only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold,
He died for Ireland, and Ireland only,
The Harp and Shamrock, Green, White and Gold”.

Some years later, a four-verse version of this ballad was published, written in a Dublin journal; then known as “The Bell”, latter which ceased publication in 1954. Same publication was an outspoken liberal voice at a time of great political and intellectual stagnation.
The article containing this four-verse version was written by Donagh MacDonagh, latter son of Tipperary-born political activist, poet, playwright, educationalist and revolutionary leader Thomas MacDonagh, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, who was executed on Wednesday May 3rd, 1916.

The Dying Rebel

The night was dark and the fight was over,
The moon shone down O’Connell Street,
I stood alone, where brave men perished,
Those men have gone, their God to meet.

[Chorus]
My only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold,
He fought for Ireland, and Ireland only,
The harp and shamrock, green white and gold.


The first I met was a grey haired father,
Searching for his only son,
I said old man, there’s no use searching,
For up to heaven, your son has gone.

[Repeat Chorus]

The old man cried out broken hearted,
Bending low I heard him say,
I knew my son was too kind hearted,
I knew my son would never yield.

[Repeat Chorus]

The last I met was a dying rebel,
Bending low I heard him say,
God bless my home, in dear Cork City,
And bless the cause for which I die.

[Repeat Chorus]

END.

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A Song For A Sunday – The Old Man

The Old Man

Lyrics: Irish musician, songwriter and record producer from Derry, Northern Ireland, Phil Coulter.

Vocals: Irish folk band ‘The Fureys’, originally formed in 1974, from Ballyfermot, Dublin, and Irish folk singer, originally from Co. Donegal, Davy Arthur.

The Old Man

The tears have all been shed now,
We’ve said our last goodbyes.
His soul’s been blest,
He’s laid to rest,
And it’s now I feel alone.
He was more then just a father,
A teacher, my best friend,
He can still be heard,
In the tunes we’ve shared,
When we played them on our own.
Oh I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.
As a boy, he’d take me walking,
Through mountains, field, and stream,
And he’d show me things,
Not know to kids,
And secrets between him and me.
Like the colors of the pheasant,
As he rises in the dawn,
And how to fish, and make a wish,
Beside a holy tree.
Oh, I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.
I thought he’d live forever,
Sure he seemed so big and strong,
But the minutes fly,
And the years roll by,
For a father and a son,
And suddenly when it happened,
There was so much left unsaid,
No second chance to tell him thanks,
For everything he’d done.
Oh, I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am,
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.


End

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Visiting Hours.

Visiting Hours.

This song possibly sums up the sincere wishes of many in our Tipperary community, following a devastating week which witnessed unprecedented tragedies on our county roads.

Vocals: English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Lyrics: Written by Amy Wadge, Ant Clemons, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Kim Lang Smith, Michael Pollack and Scott Carter.

Visiting Hours.

I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
I could just show up and bring the news.
She’s gettin’ old and I wish that you’d met her.
The things that she’ll learn from me, I got them all from you.
I just stay a while and we’ll put all the world to rights?
The little ones will grow and I’ll still drink your favorite wine,
They’re going to close, but I’ll see you another day.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.
I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
I could just swing by and ask your advice.
What would you do in my situation? I haven’t a clue how I’d even raise them.
What would you do? ‘you would always do what’s right.
We just talk a while until my worries disappear?
I’d tell you that I’m scared of turnin’ out a failure.
You’d say, “Remember that the answer’s in the love that we create”.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.
I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
And I would ask them if I could take you home,
But I know what they’d say, that it’s for the best.
So I will live life the way you taught me, and make it on my own,
But I will close the door, but I will open up my heart,
Everyone I love will know exactly who you are,
‘Cause this is not goodbye, it is just ’til we meet again.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.

END

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Travelin’ Soldier

Travelin’ Soldier.

Lyrics: American, Austin, Texas based country music singer and songwriter Bruce Robison.

Vocals: American country music band from Dallas, Texas, “The Chicks” (Previously known as the “Dixie Chicks”).

Travelin’ Soldier.

Two days past eighteen,
He was waiting for the bus in his army green.
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there’,
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair.
He’s a little shy so she give him a smile.
And he said would you mind sittin’ down for a while,
And talking to me, I’m feeling a little low.
She said I’m off in an hour and I know where we can go.
So they went down and they sat on the pier.
He said I bet you got a boyfriend, but I don’t care,
I got no one to send a letter to.
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy,
Too young for him they told her.
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end,
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
So the letters came from an army camp,
From California then Vietnam,
And he told her of his heart.
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of,
He said when it’s getting kinda rough over here,
I think of that day sittin’ down at the pier,
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile.
Don’t worry but I won’t be able to write for a while.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end,
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
One Friday night at a football game,
The Lord’s Prayer said and the anthem sang.
A man said “folks would you bow your head,
For the list of local Vietnam dead”
.
Crying all alone under the stands,
Was the piccolo player in the marching band,
And one name read and nobody really cared,
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end.
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end.
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again,
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.

END.

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