Win Nick’s Free Tix

at

Dónal Lunny (top right) and Andy Irvine

For folk’s sake…

Dónal Lunny and Andy Irvine are two giants of the Irish trad and folk scene, and for decades have acted as peerless international ambassadors for our native music from Tallahassee to Timbuktu.

Together they have played in countless bands including Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, LAPD, Usher’s Island and Mozaik.

On Thursday, August 15 they’re bringing it all back home when they play the Whelan’s Trad and Folk Festival in Dublin, in association with Smithwicks Ale.

To be in with a chance of winning my 2 FREE tickets to the show simply tell me below a favourite song from either man and and why.

My Irish wolfhound Setanta will choose the winner.

Lines MUST close at 1pm EXTENDED until 2.15pm.

Nick says: May the luck be on you.

Sponsored Link

24 thoughts on “Win Nick’s Free Tix

      1. Charger Salmons

        I’d love them Nora.
        Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny along with Declan Sinnott are three of my favourite Irish musicians – so much better than that miserablist Christy Moore.
        Sadly I shall be many miles away in sunnier climes.
        Should be a great night.

    1. B9Com From No

      outstanding selection!
      Don’t see any point in entering myself now!

      But sure here… why not

  1. Sam

    I love West Coast of Clare because I went to the Jeanie Johnston with me fella and got locked listening to it while he rubbed me back and we had a moment

  2. Aidan Critchley

    My favourite song of theirs’ is Planxty’s Blacksmith. Andy’s vocals are spot on & the song gives Dónal & Andy a chance to really show off their skills on the mandolin & bouzouki.

  3. Paulus

    There’s a gorgeous set featuring Andy on the Patrick Street album; All in Good Time.
    The set’s collective title is Lintheads and has a mill-workers thread through it.

    Andy first sings The Pride of the Springfield Road, a courting song of northern origin about a couple who work in the mill.
    Then a short tune of Andy’s called Lawrence Common; and finishing up with Andy singing an American folk song about life in the cotton mill; Goodbye Monday blues.

    It’s a real showcase of Andy’s many talents, including superb harmonica playing on Goodbye Monday Blues.

  4. B9Com From No

    Scottser set the bar very high but here goes

    I pick My Hearts Tonight in ireland for a few reasons:

    – original song, based on actual events eg they did camp in barns etc like true troubadours
    – evocative lyrics became instant classic for musos
    – not only are lyrics evocative but inclusive and encompassing- the verse in particular about the lock-in captures the best of Ireland in a few short lines in every sense IMHO

    This version is also particularly good as not only does it show a great band sound , musicianship and humility with other members parking their egos at the door ( for once), the transition to the coda of a typical “session tune” is outstanding in the best traditions of the band’s touchstones and the tune itself is played to perfection and with the same reverence as more clever and celebrated work. You can hear the audience gets it too

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxCxL-h7Ro

  5. Shay Kelly

    Andy Irvine’s “O’Donoghue’s”, as McDaid’s held literary court at one end of the Green, an equally exciting court was taking off at the other, the Dublin Folk revival. This song is a joy and an education. A hidden gem.

    https://youtu.be/hLP92-enW6Q

  6. fairyqueen

    My favourite is Lake of Shadows by Moving Hearts. This tune just melts my heart but also reminds me of 2FM in the 80’s. The Other Side of Midnight was the show presented (I think) by Mark Cagney and it finished at 2am when the station closed down and the programme always finished with this piece of music. Happy Days….
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE-Kr7aZa1Q

    1. martco

      ah you can have my tix @fairyqueen because I couldn’t have put it better myself :)

      just to add that Dónal Lunny is one of my all time favourite music people, world class. was lucky enough to have caught Moving Hearts a few weeks ago at the NCH, brought my eldest fella along (someone more Gorillaz than trad who was genuinely stunned & uplifted by what we were treated to that night) I think what I like about him the most is that master craftsman thing he has about him…no big deals, casual as you like announcing & leading them into another “few ‘oul songs” nonchalantly lashed into. a rare beast, the real deal, just fab!

  7. Charger Salmons

    Not a song by either but both played on the Planxty version of the first tune I ever learned on mandolin, The Rambling Siuler on After The Break, the album I play more than any other from my extensive collection of Irish music .
    It helped that there are only three of the easiest chords to learn – F C and G.
    Bruce Arnold and I often sing along to it.
    Heh,heh,heh.

  8. Slightly Bemused

    Darn you, Nick! Give us an easy one, why don’t you?

    Two legends, and too many songs to choose from, both their own, and their interpretations.

    As a Kildare man, I had the pleasure of ‘meeting’ these greats as they played the pubs of Newbridge and Prosperous, me sitting in the back with my lemonade as the lads, along with Christy and his more talented brother Luka held forth. They introduced me to the uileann pipes when a then young lad called Davy let rip!

    And later voices brought to our ears by the tutelage of the masters: Sinead Lohan being only one.

    Pick a song, or two, or three? not possible! Better ask what happens when bouzoukis play.

    If I had to, though, it would be Moving Hearts and their version of Before The Deluge.

    Ah, the days! Thank you for them :)

  9. Cú Chulainn

    Ahraggha, I’d rather have a kiss of me yella gyspies lips than all of your Free fecking tickets .. ohhh…

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie