I knew this place too

Legendary folk singer Liam Clancy has died aged 74. The actor, singer and musician was the last surviving member of The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, who were credited with bringing Irish traditional music to a world audience in the 1960s . . . RTE News, 4th December 2009.

There were brief and fleeting moments in my childhood when I remember my parent’s being happy. When ceasefires were declared and month long silences were lifted. It was then that I was introduced to Makem and Clancy on a small black tape recorder. That tape recorder accompanied me on a rare holiday with my parents to the west of Ireland and as it played on my mothers lap in our old Renault, Liam Clancy among others provided an enshrined soundtrack. So even as a child, in between Bay City Rollers and Leo Sayer, I was aware of Liam Clancy, I grew to love the songs and their sentiments; Red is the Rose, Waltzing Matilda, All Gods Creatures and The Dutchman with its poignant lyrics that I was too young to understand.

As an adult, I grew more appreciative of Liam Cancy, particularly for his ability to tell a story. I remember a few years back RTE showing a two part Arts Lives documentary about him. I watched it with a fascination and hung on his every word. Two years later my mother died tragically, ironically in Waterford. In grieving her, I remembered the songs from my childhood and played them often. Red is the Rose was one of her favourites – particularly the way Liam Clancy sang it.

Alas, having become a fan of the great orator of folk, I had never seen the man perform live. In April 2009, living in Galway, I heard he was playing a show at the Town Hall Theatre. I remember thinking to myself, this man means a lot to me for many iconic reasons, childhood memories and not least that he was one of the best performers on the planet in my opinion. I also remember thinking that I needed to go and see him, that I should not let the opportunity pass, that I might not get another chance and that I would be doing this for my mother as well as myself.

I asked my friends if anyone would be interested in going – not a one! So I booked myself in and went alone. I spent the night on the edge of my seat, hanging on his every word – again; singing along , laughing with him, listening to stories of himself and Tommy, stories about life then and how it has changed. It was like being with someone I knew. It was like he really cared for us, and of course he did. The way he spoke to us with such empathy, understanding, dignity, and respect. The way he spoke to beautiful Gemma on stage and the way she looked up to him like an apprentice watching the old master.

I often think about that night and what it meant to me.  Particularly as it was one of his last shows. It was the first time I ever heard songs like ‘The Broom of the Cowdenknowes’ – oh lord how he sang it! melodic, rich and beautiful, so beautiful. My first time to hear ‘I knew this place’, it made me sad and brought me back to my childhood, to the same rural setting that the song describes – watching my parents in a brief moment of happiness. I had come full circle.

Thank you Liam Clancy. One of my ‘to do before I die’ aspirations, was to get to meet you. I guess I’ll have to put that on hold for a while.

Goodnight and God bless you too.