Concerts raise 5,000 euros

The recent pair of concerts in the Town Hall by The Moon & Sixpence raised some 5,000 euros for St Brigid's Hospice and Home Care Service on The Curragh.



It was two nights of music, fun, and great entertainment. And two nights also of great achievement. But underlying the concerts was the sadness that two people who should have been there were not.

On each night MC Michael McCarthy laid out those thoughts immediately to the sellout audiences. That the venue itself wouldn't have existed but for the vision and perseverance of the late Pat Dunlea, and that the concerts themselves were in tribute to one of the band's founder members, Des Byrne.

Both thoughts were to be reiterated several times during the evening.

Immediately the band set the mood for the night as a rocking one, with lead singer Siobhan Hurley's swinging renditions of 'Walking in The Rain', 'Bobby's Girl', and 'I'll Never Find Another You'. Keyboard player Henry Donohue's haunting 'Telstar' style accompaniment fitted in perfectly with the era of the songs.

The sets went onward through 'Mister Postman' and 'These Boots Are Made for Walking', under which last Peter Coe's tonky work on the piano set the path superbly for those same boots to travel.

'Boots' also was the number during which the audience got fully interactive with the gig. After that they never lost the connection, and it was as much an audience performance as a band one, as the best gigs are.

The lineup included original members John Reidy, Michael O'Connell and Siobhan Hurley. Mike McCarthy, also one of the founders, but who had left, did a comeback song on the second night.

Henry Donohue also qualified as an 'original', having from early on been a musical arranger for the group and soon afterwards becoming the keyboard player. Peter Coe had been recruited when Henry's work pressures necessitated his leaving. Drummer Paddy Jones, who used to live in Kilcullen, is a recent and very powerful addition to the band.

When Mike McCarthy sang 'Eighteen Yellow Roses' as his own special tribute to Des Byrne, he brought the house down.

As did renditions by Siobhan and company of 'I'm a Believer', 'Obla Di' and 'Pearl's a Singer'. That last performance of the 1977 Elkie Brooks classic was a great demonstration of Siobhan's ability as a torchy soul singer. She can truly sing 'songs for the lost and the lonely'.

The subsequent 'Summertime' got the whole theatre clapping, and then Peter Coe's piano introduction for the band's cover of Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock' made everyone in the place really remember 'when rock was young' ... even if they were too young to.

In the second half on the second night there was a special contribution by a niece of Des's wife Josephine, Suzannah de Wrixon. An actor and singer, she gave a rendition of Stephen Sondheim's 'Send in the Clowns' which was haunting in delivery and performed with great presence. The song also gave Henry Donohue another chance on the Steinway, and if anyone hadn't already realised his love of and ability on the ivories, they did so during this one.

And this is a good time to mention that the night represented yet another 'premiere' for Kilcullen, the first time that a Steinway Grand Piano was used on the stage of the town's theatre. This was due to Peter Coe's friendship with John Holland of Pianos Plus, whose company not only supplied the Steinway, but waived totally the normal 700 euros per night rental.

Siobhan's subsequent belting out of 'I feel Lucky' both jazzed up everybody again, and gave her yet another opportunity to reveal the extraordinary range of her voice.

Then came 'Desperado', and though he had been skilfully controlling the pace all evening, drummer Paddy Jones really got in the groove for this one.

The night continued with one nostalgic song after another. There were specials like the duet from John and Siobhan of 'Teach Your Children'. That's the one that doesn't leave a dry eye in the house.

Then there was 'The Rose', sung by Siobhan and accompanied by Henry on the piano, and 'Katie' during which John's guitar prowess really shone through.

A very special song was one written by Michael O'Connell, 'The Dream'. The lyrics involve George Harrisson and John Lennon singing in Heaven. 'And one by one, the voices come, to join the Heavenly choir' one line went. "And I hear Des singing high harmony," John quipped wryly.

The encore finale was a really rocking end to a night that had been a bitter-sweet mixture of tribute, nostalgia and musical reminiscance. 'Sweet Little Sixteen', 'Rock and Roll Music' and the Chuck Berry classic 'Johnny B Goode' caused a standing ovation.

An upbeat end to performances which had brought cheers, tears, and a lot of great memories.

Brian Byrne.