Sunday, November 02, 2008

Great Moon & Sixpence NY gigs

Local band The Moon and Sixpence are no strangers to fund-raising, having done much of it during their 12 year existence, throughout Kildare and beyond. My dad, Des Byrne, was a founder member of the band and had always dreamed of playing a gig in New York. Unfortunately Des passed away three years ago, but Friday 17th and Saturday 18th of October this year saw his dream come true as The Moon and Sixpence played a pair of gigs in the Irish Arts Centre in New York.

The performances came about through another local connection. Des was previously proprietor of the Hideout pub in Kilcullen, which was for many years the home of Dan Donnelly's arm. As reported previously in the Bridge, Dan Donnelly's arm has been part of an exhibition of Irish boxing called 'Fighting Irishmen'. This exhibition was organised by Jim Houlihan, curator of of the Irish Arts Centre, in conjunction with Josephine Byrne, and has been on display in a number of venues in New York and Boston. Upon hearing about Des's dream, Jim very kindly offered to organise for the band to play at the IAC.

The band played to about 100 people each night, raising $25,000 for the IAC in the process. The performances were attended by a number of prominent members of the Irish-American community in New York, including the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations Paul Kavanagh (who generously hosted the band at a reception at his home on the Sunday following the gigs). The reception was rapturous on both nights, with dancing in the aisles and much singing along. Josephine Byrne also attended, as well as a number of local 'groupies', including Nessa Dunlea and Vourneen McGeogh. Those attending the gigs were also treated to an exhibition of photography by world famous Athy-born photographer John Minihan, featuring photographs of senior citizens who had emigrated from Ireland to the US.

A great time was had by all of the travelling group. I would like to thank Jim and all at the Irish Arts Centre, as well as the band, for helping to make Des's dream come true.

Daragh Byrne.