That was some funeral in the Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh Tipperary, part concert, part entertainment, part party and every second relaxed, loving and warm in the memory of Shane MacGowan. It’s encouraged me to find out more about the man and his works, he was called ‘great’ over and over again, a poet ranking along side Yeats and Kavanagh. Most people have heard The Fairy Tale of New York but not everyone knows he wrote it, well at least had a hand in the writing of it. Despite writing over 30 songs, for many, the greatest is the most popular song that he and the Anglo-Irish folk/punk rockers the Pogues ever produced – a memorable duet between Shane and the late Kirsty MacColl . The minute you hear the first bar on the piano no matter where you are, if you are a fan, you’ll stop and listen and smile. The Fairytale of New York heralds Christmas just as much as Hark the Heralds or Silent Night.
To command such an outpouring of love and a complete Friday afternoon on Sky and RTE is exceptional but then MacGowan was exceptional. The politicians, the film stars were all strutting their stuff but it was the people who stole the show, the local Priest Pat Gilbert, the mens choir in their shirts and jumpers no airs and graces just great enthusiastic singing. The wife and the sister and the old man who sat with his white head in his hands, Shane’s father. What were his feelings I wonder. And then there were the musicians, Shane’s colleagues in The Pogues, and all the rest but when Glen Hazard and Lisa O’Neill stood for those few bars on the piano played by Nick Cave we knew something special was coming and Fairytale burst upon the huge church and they were dancing, waving their arms, singing along, even Father Pat didn’t turn a hair with the original lyrics – faggot was there just as it should be.
Bono send a message, a beautiful speaking voice. He read a portion of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, a more modern version which ended with the three things to do to lead us to the Lord. “Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly and Love extravagantly. The best of the three is Love.”
At that point I was crying, not for Shane but for the love and camaraderie in St. Mary’s. Oh, to be part of that family of musicians and music, oh, to be able to sing or play a guitar. Once upon a time I asked for a guitar for Christmas and when I woke up very early I saw the neck of a guitar sticking out of the pillowcase at the end of the bed. It was still dark so I snuggled down and kept the joy for the first light of dawn. When the first light of dawn arrived my excitement was at its height but – when I pulled the ‘guitar’ out of the pillowcase it turned out to be a hocky stick. So my chance of being the line up in Nenagh last Friday was nil.
Post Code Priority
Charles lll may think he has the most prestigious address in London but I’ve news for him, try calling at 2 Royal Avenue Belfast for a real treat. Here is an address which offers a unique experience. You’ll be welcomed with open arms, you can meet friends, you can paint, you can dance – this address is basically a home from home, warm. colourful, elegant and full of fun.
2 Royal Avenue has had a number of incarnations. Built in the 1860s the Gothic Revival style building was designed by the Irish architect W J Barre, it was the gracious headquarters of the Provincial Bank of Ireland before it became a downtown Tesco store. Thankfully, features like the circular dome and arched entrance have been retained by the new owners Belfast City Council.
To get the low down on today’s 2 RA I met with Eimear Burton, venue and events manager, a delightful woman from Magherafelt who has travelled the world organising international events like the world bee keepers conference the largest convention of it’s kind, and looking after elite persons like Nelson Mandela and Stephen Hawking. As we sat at a long table reserved for young visitors to paint and draw, a little girl and her dad joined us, she was very businesslike as she chose her picture and her coloured pencils, front of house host Susan McCallan arrived with a welcome cup of tea, she’s been working with Eimear for over 20 years, at both the Titanic and the Ulster Hall and watching her greet parents and children, architecture students and senior members of our community, it’s obvious this is a job she loves.
Working in this hub of activity fits Eimear and her staff of 20 like a fine leather glove. She’s proud of what’s on offer and there’s a huge range of opportunities be they a library with books for all tastes and ages, a children’s ‘cosy’ space to explore, a homework station, free Wi-Fi, study areas and meeting tables and most important a grand piano for the use of talented musicians. Oh yes, important point, this is also a dog friendly place, and the elves are working away in Santa’s grotto.
The Christmas tree is up and decorated, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sing gently before carols fill the air. It’s exciting for a grownup but a wonderland for children, There’s a Twilight Market every Thursday in December between 5 p.m. and nine o’clock where you can sell and buy craftwork – no charge for a table, if you fancy yourself as an artist, there’s a wall just waiting for you to display your work.
Behind this project is the events organiser team Sarah-Jane Montgomery and Lois Kennedy and their company MayWe – ‘Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them, May we raise them,’
All three are strong women who are making a difference and enthusing others to join them. The staff at No.2, all paid for what they do, go through rigorous training including the JAM card programme. ‘Just A Minute’ is a concept developed by social enterprise NOW Group, that supports people experiencing special needs, With one in five people in Northern Ireland living with a disability or communication issue, showing the JAM card makes life a lot easier.
After Christmas a back door will be opened so the building becomes a thoroughfare with easy access for students in the new university area and for the hundreds of cruse ship passengers to explore Belfast through the portals of 2 Royal Avenue. No matter where they are from, they’ll be welcomed by staff many of whom are multi lingual, Eimear is fluent in French and Spanish and there are Arabic speakers. The Yallaa cafe provides Arabic cuisine prepared by chef Rym Akhonzada as well as the more traditional however, if you want to bring your own food that’s ok, there’s a McDonald’s near by! It seems anything goes.
Eimear’s invitation is to come in and let this iconic building give you a hug, there was a tea dance last week a regular afternoon treat, something that is loved by men and women alike, this is were friendships are forged and if you thought your romantic dancing days were over, they aren’t. You don’t have to book anything at this address, just arrive and let Eimear take care of you, Pease go and see for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Opening hours 10.am. until 6 pm. Monday to Sunday and the Yallaa Cafe is open 10am to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon until 5 p.m on Sunday. Further details https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/2royalavenue Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2RoyalAve and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2royalave/
AN EVENING OF COLOUR AND FUN
Snow White
I’m not an ardent pantomime fan but I must say Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Grand Opera House in Belfast was a spectacle thanks to an enthusiastic well practiced cast and especially to the set and costumes. Part One sets the scene, Seven Dwarfs arrive in a yellow car and we met Queen Dragonella (Jolene O’Hara) resplendent in scarlet and black preening herself as being the must beautiful woman in the kingdom – except for Snow White. So the younger woman must be banished and lost in the forbidden forest. There Snow White finds herself with her friend Muddles (Paul Walker) outside a delightful cottage and inside discover seven little beds, chairs, plates, it was the home of the Seven Dwarfs who were delightful and lovable not only supporting Snow White but capturing the love of the audience too. When May of the Mirror (May McFettridge) arrives sitting on a silver oval mirror frame, silver crinoline and flaming red hair, gracefully descending from high above the stage there is wild applause, it wouldn’t be a Grand Opera House pantomime without her.
For me there were two highlights, the queen’s guard, Flawless, the finalists on Britain’s Got Talent, their street dancing routines and break dancing was outstanding, their opening routine was stunning. Secondly the flight of Muddles on his pink Vespa scooter as he rises off the stage and round the first few rows of the auditorium, swaying side to side over the heads of the audience and then dangling upside-down. How did they do it? I don’t know it was just magic or perhaps clever lighting.
Muddles is a favourite with the audience with his one liners, when asked, ‘where would we be if we told her the truth all the time?’ was answered ‘Stormont’, a gale of laughter and an approving clap. He told us he visited a friend in hospital to find an operation had removed the left hand side of his body but, he said, ‘he’s all right now’. A likeable character who worked with well Paddy Jenkins, the queen’s henchman, and May herself. The three had a couple of tongue twisters which almost came off.
Act Two took the story along to the red apple and prince Conall of Coleraine (Conor Headley) taking a bite and apparently dropping dead. A child in front of me gave a gasp and started crying, the audience reacted with a sigh of concern. Thankfully Conalll survived, he and his love Snow White were reunited, the queen was defeated and all was well and suddenly it was over. There was no big number at the end, no bridal scene, everyone took a bow in their colourful costumes, the dwarfs in big golden top hats and the curtain came down. I think we wanted a finale and the opportunity to stand and sing along to a medley of songs – Hay Ho, Whistle While We Work and the rest just so we could go home with a song in our hearts.
More information from www.goh.co.uk where you can book for next year if not for this year.
