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Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
The historic Newry Town Hall hosted an incredible display of talent at the weekend from four incredible musicians, with the sold out audience captivated at every moment.
Frances Black, Mary Coughlan and Sharon Shannon took to the stage on Saturday night 27 September supported by local girl Niamh Noade.
It's not often that the support act gets a standing ovation, but following the opening performance by Lislea girl Niamh Noade with her harp, it would have been incredible if everyone had not risen out of their seats. The seventeen year old has such a big future ahead of her but for one who was destined from a young age to be a star, she is firmly rooted in South Armagh. Perhaps this was best seen by her choice of songs. Firstly there was My Belfast Love written by Whitecross Man Finbar Magee followed by The Hills of South Armagh written by Briege Murphy from Forkhill.
If ever there was a song made for Niamh it was Halcyon written by young singer songwriter BLÜ EYES. Niamh performed the song on stage for the first time on Saturday night and it would have been so easy to think that the song was written about a family home in rural county Armagh. Niamh is releasing it as a single in the run up to Christmas so keep an eye out for it!
Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
From Mary Coughlan took to the stage, the scene was set for the night. With her soulful husky voice and self-deprecating wit, she had the audience enthralled. Explaining how she wasn't on the incredibly successful first Woman's Heart album due to not being allowed out of rehab, she sang the beautiful song Invisible, a song that did feature on the less popular Woman's Heart 2, but unfortunately as she noted, she wasn't able to buy a house from the proceeds! Then there was To Love Somebody and a jaw dropping version of Etta James, I'd Rather go Blind.
Next up was Frances Black accompanied by the entire Town Hall singing A Wall of
Tears, a memory that will live on for many years. You could scarcely hear a pin drop during We Will Not Go Down, her poignant and appropriate song for Gaza. A really magical moment came when Frances sang When You Say Nothing At All with Niamh Noade, a memory of a lifetime for the young musician. A superb version of All The Lies That You Told Me got the audience singing along once again. Christie Hennessy would certainly have approved.
The undisputed queen of trad music Sharon Shannon was last on stage, commanding total respect and a large dash of awe with her trusty button accordion and her contagious smile. Tune after tune reverberated off the town hall walls but just when you thought it couldn't get any more beautiful Sharon played Seamus, her tribute to the late Seamus Ennis with hundreds of mobile phone lights providing the backdrop. Of course Galway Girl was there too, just one highlight amongst many many.
Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
You can never have enough quality gigs in Newry Town Hall and local man Seamie Rafferty of Narrow Water Events has been to the fore in recent years. This was certainly one of the very best. Accompanying Mary, Frances and Sharon were Alan Connor on keyboards and John McLoughlin on guitar, top class musicians in their own right.
The finale saw the three return for a fun set including Rehab from Amy Winehouse and Gimmee Gimmee Gimmee from Abba - a fitting end to a night that will be long remembered by those fortunate enough to be there.
