The story behind the ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ song.

Thu 6th November 2014

With the 100th anniversary commemorations of World War in mind, Gerry Molumby visits the Warwickshire pub where the conflict’s most famous marching song was written, giving pause for thought…..

The Tipperary Inn, Ballsall Common, Nr Kenilworth in Warickshire.

I have been reflecting on the origins of its most iconic marching song ‘Its A Long Way To Tipperary. My interest was kindled by the fact that I hail from the premier county of Tipperay and the pub in which the song was penned is in Balsall Common in the leafy agricultural county of Warwickshire originally called the Plough Inn but renamed The Tipperary Inn.

Harry Williams lived with his family in the pub his father managed. From an early age he showed a talent for writing songs. During his adolescence – confined to a wheelchair following a childhood accident in which he broke both of his legs – he spent most of his time studying music and poetry, becoming an accomplished pianist and mandolin player.

By contrast, extrovert music hall showman Jack Judge, who sold fish regularly outside the pub, struck up a friendship with Harry. Together they went on to compose many songs together in a musical collaboration which has stood the test of time.

AN UNLIKELY PARTNERSHIP

Their partnership lasted fifteen years, during which they wrote thirty two songs. One of them, which started life in 1909 as a nostalgic music hall Irish ballad It’s A Long Long Way to Connemara (where a young Irish emigrant is yearning for his girl in County Galway), was destined to become the most famous worldwide army marching song ever.

Jack was a regular music hall performer and had the lyrics and music of their sentimental Connemara song and could not resist a bet he was given in 1912 while performing in the Grand Theatre, Stalybridge, near Manchester.

A fellow performer challenged him that he could not “come in tomorrow night with a brand new song he had composed overnight”! Jack simply changed Connemara to Tipperary (his grandfather’s home county) and is said to have brought the house down as the curtain fell on the premiere performance of It’s a Long Long Way to Tipperary.

London publisher Bert Feldman promised he would publish the song, but on two conditions. He suggested that they delete one ‘long’ from the title and change the ballad into a marching song for both solo and choral singing. So as the printing presses cranked up in London in 1912, three million copies of the sheet music were printed for sale and
many million more after the War.

Both men earned £164,000 between them. Many would regard that as a fortune today, but then it was an absolute fortune. The money allowed Harry to buy the Plough Inn for his father and they duly changed its name to the Tipperary Inn. The pub stayed in the family for forty years, its walls today adorned to the memory of Harry and Jack.

COMFORT IN THE TRENCHES

During the First World War, Daily Mail correspondent George Curnock saw the Connaught Rangers Irish Regiment singing the song in full tenor voice as they marched through Boulogne on August 13, 1914. Popular Irish tenor of the time, Count John McCormack recorded it two months later. Then the regiments from other countries of the Empire took it ‘home’ with them in 1918 – all of which helped its worldwide popularity and endurance.

Other composers cashed in by writing other Tipperary-themed World War I songs, such as I’m a Long Way From Tipperary, I’m Going Back to Tipperary, and It May Be Far To Tipperary It’s a Longer Way To Tennessee.

Its popularity continued into the Second World War and is up there with other songs of its time like Keep The Home Fires Burning, consoling soldiers who just wanted to return home “to the sweetest girl I know”; it was featured in the 1951 film On Moonlight Bay and the stage show O What A Lovely War, even featuring in U.S. TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Siobhan Harrison from BBC Warwickshire recorded the radio programme World War 1 At Home from the Tipperary Inn, and local folksinger Wes Finch sang the song in its original ballad format. Listen to the documentary at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01svw1q

It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

Up to mighty London came

An Irish lad one day,

All the streets were paved with gold,

So everyone was gay!

Singing songs of Piccadilly,

Strand, and Leicester Square,

‘Til Paddy got excited and

He shouted to them there:

Chorus

It’s a long way to Tipperary,

It’s a long way to go.

It’s a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl I know!

Goodbye Piccadilly,

Farewell Leicester Square!

It’s a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart’s right there.

Paddy wrote a letter

To his Irish Molly O’,

Saying, “Should you not receive it,

Write and let me know!

If I make mistakes in “spelling”,

Molly dear”, said he,

“Remember it’s the pen, that’s bad,

Don’t lay the blame on me”.

Chorus …….

Molly wrote a neat reply

To Irish Paddy O’,

Saying, “Mike Maloney wants

To marry me, and so

Leave the Strand and Piccadilly,

Or you’ll be to blame,

For love has fairly drove me silly,

Hoping you’re the same!”

Chorus …….

*****

Gerry Molumby inside The Tipperary Inn

Gerry is no stranger to the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society here in Crawley having MC’d our Crawley Irish Festival on numerous occasions as well as bringing his Irish themed shows to the Hawth Theatre under the Triskellion brand.

Gerry Molumby – BIOGRAPHY
Irish Theatre and Concert Director /Promoter/Compere
Actor
Photographer
Irish Reporter
Irish Community Activist

Gerry Molumby has worked for Irish welfare in Britain, founded Triskellion Irish Theatre Company, directed plays and captured some, stunning photographs from all over Europe.

The Irish-born multi-talent hails from Thurles Co. Tipperary. However in 1980, Gerry relocated to Britain and brought his altruistic attitude with him. He has been involved in the welfare and cultural scene of the Irish in Britain for over 30 years. he stated.
During this time, Gerry and some co-workers took the public’s welfare into their own hands and established Cricklewood Homeless Concern day centre in London (1983 and gave the group its name!). Now called Ashford Place this multifaceted centre still provides assistance and advice to the homeless or those others inadequately accommodated. The centre offers a range of services, from the simplest advice on day-to-day living to an alcohol recovery project, to community cohesion.

Among his projects, Gerry also writes for several Irish and British publications, including The Irish American Post and is hard at working helping preserve and expand the Irish culture in Britain. In 1996, Gerry founded Triskellion Irish Theatre and Concert Productions in London. Now in a partnership with London-based friend Patrick O’Connell, the company aims to preserve and enliven Irish drama, comedy, and music in Britain. Triskellion has performed numerous classic Irish plays, such as The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge and John B. Keane’s Big Maggie (Keane). At the outset of the company, the production of a play was an involved process from beginning to end. “We cast, directed, made the sets and produced the play from page to stage,” recalled Gerry, who concentrated on directing productions as Triskellion got off the ground. More recently, he has taken on promoting plays and concerts already in production.

“Our main focus now is to act as facilitators for producing Irish plays by touring companies from Ireland and Britain, he asserted. Since the company’s conception, Gerry has led all the concert productions. The acts are perfectly fit for cabarets, Irish centres and festivals. Showcasing some of the best Irish entertainment from Britain’s Irish community, the concerts employ musicians, dancers, actors and comedians to create a dazzling show. The show is based on the model of Sunday Night at the London Palladium and called ‘Celtic Strands’. Together with Patrick they have raised thousands of pounds for charities like CAFOD – Irish Homeless – Church Restoration – British Adoption Agency and St. Luke’s Hospice etc “Basically we bring together a variety of Irish artists, mainly from the Irish in Britain and put on a great show,” according to Gerry. The concerts are not alien to celebrity acts either. Irish luminaries such as Niall Toibin, Philomena Begley, Finbar Furey, Seán Cannon from ‘The Dubliners’, the current premier folk band Na Fianna, have all swayed, sung and serenaded with Triskellion. They are currently touring their “The Rare Oul’ Times,” a two-act Irish play on the lives of Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh (by Ken Mc Elroy) featuring Seán Cannon and Ultan Cowley’s Tribute to the men who built Britain.

Since moving to Nottinghamshire in 1999 with his wife Fiona and son Cormac Gerry immediately became involved as on of the founding members of Nottingham’s St.Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival and produced the open air concert entertainment for 12 years. Gerry led the steering group with set up the Golden Shamrock Club for older people which is now self managed and running smoothly. Throughout all his time in the UK Gerry has .supported the various campaigns of the Irish in Britain ( formally The Federation of Irish Societies ) on cultural, welfare and census programmes and can be credited for many of their quantitive outcomes.

Current Irish interest campaigns for Gerry are – he is leading in Britain on votes for the Irish Abroad (Irish Constitutional Convention 2012-13).
The busy entertainer still finds time for a more personal art. “I have always been a keen photographer and recently I noted the number I had taken over the years and were ‘saved and backed up’, but felt I wanted to share,” he explained. Gerry has photographed all over Europe, though his recently released collection is mostly a product of his Native Island and new home in Nottinghamshire. The ‘snap shot’ of his collection features the opulent greens, steely-gray skies and misted rainbows that one would expect in photography of Ireland. However, the photographic crop also yields abstraction and struggle with the likes of the distorted Ha’penny Bridge reflected in the flow of the River Liffey and a weathered Irish farmer.

The majority of photos in the collection are cheery, colourful images appropriate for display. Catalogue can be viewed on the Triskellion website.

Article recently appeared in The Irish American Post.
www.triskellion.org.uk

Crawley Irish Festival 2014

Thu 9th October 2014

Thanks to all the lovely people that come to our events each year and record some videos. Here is a selection for the 2014 Festival held at the Hawth Theatre. Crawley on Sunday 21 September 2014.

First up, the opening ceremony:

Next up we have two videos of the Tornoir School of Irish Dancing.

Bearú is up next:

There is another of this band and another Irish dance video on Youtube too. You can search for them here: don’t forget to thank the posters in the comments.

Crawley Irish Festival 2014 – Photos

Thu 9th October 2014

This year’s Crawley Irish Festival took place at the town’s Hawth Theatre. The day attracted a large crowd who enjoyed a great day of music and fun. These pictures are courtesy of Gerry Molumby.

A full report by The Irish Post was published a few days after the event and includes photos by Malcolm McNally. See the full article at The Irish Post.

Crawley Irish Festival 2014 – Hawth, 21 September

EVENT DATE: Sunday 21 September 2014

Crawley Irish Festival – Sunday 21 September 2014 at the Hawth, Crawley, RH10 6YZ

The 19th Crawley Irish Festival will take place at The Hawth, Crawley on Sunday 21 September with live music, Irish dance and GAA Sports. Starts from Midday.

For the third year running, the event will have no entry cost and free entry to music and dance stages. So come along and enjoy the craic!

So keep Sunday 21 September 2014 free in your diary for Crawley’s biggest Irish Festival ever, now at a new venue! Visit us from 12 noon at The Hawth Theatre Grounds, Crawley, West Sussex – just a short while from Gatwick Airport.

Live Music: The Main Stages will showcase some of the best Irish acts from Britain and Ireland. Whilst the Trad Stage features the best traditional and folk acts from throughout the UK and Ireland.

Main Stage
MC Gerry Molumby

12.00 NOON – Emerald Element – Paul Stanworth

1.15 – TBC

2.30 – Opening Ceremony with Gerry Molumby with VIP guests TBC

3.00 – Mustang – Pat Nugent

4.30 – Jimmy Cricket (Comedy)

5.00 – Reel Strings – Eddie Hurdman

6.00 – MAIN STAGE CLOSES

TRAD Stage
MC James McDonald

12.00 NOON – Brogue Irish Folk – Larry Kenny

1.00 – Bearú – Nuala Dalton

2.30 – James Mc Donald and Special Guests

4.30 – The Devine Family – John Devine

6.00 – TRADITIONAL STAGE CLOSES

CEILI Dance

3.00 to 5.30 – Celtic Crunch

7 Hour Music Session
MC Patrick O’Connell

The Brendan Behan Pig and Whistle Band together with Ciaróg are central to this area where all the bands playing the other stages put in 15 to 20 minutes each adding to this 7 hour music session. This proved a real success last year and with Jimmy Cricket and some added extras will add a great ‘craic’ to the day.

Live Dance: Irish Dance displays have always been popular at the festivals and the Open Dance Competition attracts competitors from all over the the world at the Irish Dance Stage.

Lots of live dance demonstrations from local dance schools and Set Dancing for the rest of us. Enjoy! Crawley is the proud home of some wonderful Irish Dancing Schools. The dance stage will see many of them participating on the day.

So enjoy a great day with some great entertainment.

Live Sport: GAA Sport also has an important role to play with live action being played out on the big screen right in the heart of Crawley.

We will e televising the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship as the tournament reaches the Croke Park, All-Ireland Final.

Donegal v Kerry.

All-Round Family Fun: Families and children will be well catered for with stalls and an amusement area for all-round family fun.

Children are catered for in the festival play area, a fair, football, art, songs and storytelling by Deirdre O Byrne with particular emphasis on Irish traditions and folklore.

And there’s more:

In the Tennyson Room Ty Galvin of the Brighton Irish Society will give a talk on Corkman Tadhg Barry (his Great Grand Uncle) one of the unsung heroes of the War of Independence.
A celebrated photographer Gerry Molumby has a fantastic display of his Irish photos from all over.
Ned Dunbar is on hand to demonstrate the art of butter making.
An Siopa… don’t forget to call and stock up on your Irish Produce.

IrishTV.ie (Filming)

IrishTV.ie (who broadcast on Sky 191 and Freesat 400) are visiting with a film crew to record this year’s festival. The show will be televised the following week.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

All proceeds from the Crawley Irish Festival are invested in community projects to assist in the promotion of Celtic and Irish cultural activities in and around Crawley.

ADMISSION IS FREE

Admission is the best value family day out in the southeast because it’s absolutely Free! That’s right, it’s free. Nothing, nadder, zip!

Support

The Crawley Irish Festival is supported through funding by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs; Emigrant Support Fund, Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council.

Local Government Supporters

‘CELTIC FLAMES’ play The Hawth Theatre in Crawley on Easter Monday 21st April

EVENT DATE: Monday 21 April 2014

YES… THEY’RE BACK and playing at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley….

After a successful tour of the UK last year the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society are delighted to welcome the County Galway based multi-talented cultural group Celtic Flames back to Crawley again. If you like Irish music, song, dance and story this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Celtic Flames

The show epitomizes everything that the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society was set up for – and that is to promote our Irishness in all its forms. It ticks all these boxs – and the Society is happy to promote it through The Hawth. Their eight venue tour kicks off on 12th April taking in Bromsgrove, Crewe, Wakefield, Boston, Hunstanton Potters Bar and Hayes with their finale at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley on Easter Monday, 21st April at 7.30pm

A show not to be missed…

This spectacular show highlights the many and varied aspects of Irish culture in a colourful, action-packed two and a half hour performance – the vigour of the dance, the beauty of the songs, the humour and pathos of the writing, the power of the music – all presented in a beautifully choreographed production with an authentic and contemporary feel. It has everything for everybody – and lots more.

It’s educational and emotional; happy and sad; humorous and serious; but above all it is unforgettably entertaining and heart warming. So whether it is a nostalgic trip back to your Irish youth, an exploratory look at your ancestral ways or just a personal love of or interest in Irish culture, this show is for you.

Celtic Flames are an exciting 25 piece mixed music group, based in Galway and ranging in ages from 6 to 60, made up of world champion dancers, top class musicians, wonderful male and female singers, storytellers and comedians who play and perform a quality eclectic mix of traditional Irish music, song and dance fused with contemporary idiom.

Some members of the group were part of a very successful show called a taste of Ireland, which toured England, Australia, the United States and Canada on six occasions during the 1980’s and 1990’s. This show was very well received and helped to pave the way for shows like “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance” and the many other Irish dance shows touring the world at present. The group has been in existence since 2011 and has built up a huge following. They have toured through Tenerife, Ireland and England during 2012 and 2013 and enthralled audiences at the prestigious Monroes Live venue in Galway during the Volvo Ocean Race in July 2012.

Originally set up as a 10-piece group, they have grown to include the top young talent to emerge from the west of Ireland in recent years and their mission is to entertain!

They uses 15 different musical instruments to deliver a unique and vibrant sound, their versatile dancers perform the full dynamic range of Irish dancing including light, heavy, set, sean nós and twig dancing while a diverse variety of singers perform a seductive hybrid of modern and traditional classics and ballads.

This atmospheric production generates a brilliant and energetic night’s entertainment. At times, CELTIC FLAMES burn with a light flicker, at times with a searing spark and at times they set the place on fire! So treat yourself to a moody blend of ancient and modern, of a rich musical tradition with a contemporary feel and come to see CELTIC FLAMES perform.

It is an experience you will never forget!

Tickets: £18 (discounts: £15) and are available through http://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/theatre/productionpage.aspx?hid=4&nid=5839_2&zid=2

Global Irish Economic Forum… Friday and Saturday 4th and 5th of October.

Thu 3rd October 2013

The Global Irish Economic Forum takes place in Dublin Castle on Friday and Saturday 4^th and 5^th of October

You may wish to be aware that the opening and closing Plenary sessions and four panel discussion will be streamed live via the Forum website– www.globalirishforum.ie – and on the RTE site. Further material is also available on the Forum site.

In May 2013, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste issued invitations to members of the Global Irish Network which consists of over 300 of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals abroad, all of whom have demonstrated a strong affiliation with Ireland and have a record of high achievement in international business or in assisting in the promotion of Ireland.

The overseas participants will be joined by members of the Government, Secretaries General of Government Departments, CEOs of State Agencies, members of the Opposition and leading members of the Irish business and cultural sectors. This year the Irish business attendees are made up of senior figures from multinational companies with significant investments here, Irish companies with a substantial international profile and representatives from the indigenous SME sector.

The four areas identified for discussion during the two days are overcoming the challenges facing the domestic economy and tackling youth unemployment; financial services and public financing; technology; and education (focussing on internationalisation and alumni engagement). There will also be appropriate opportunities for discussion on the future contribution of the Global Irish Network in the agri-food, tourism and cultural sectors. Within this framwork, we have asked participants to offer innovative policy advice and practical proposals in respect of the major challenges that face the country.

Minister Eamonn Gilmore

The elements available online are:

Friday, 4 Oct

9.30am

Opening address by the Tánaiste and plenary focussed on the theme of ‘Making Ireland the best small country in which to do business, get a job, raise a family and grow old’ (to include personal reflections on the topic by Irish literary figures, recent and longstanding emigrants and young entrepreneurs).

3.30pm

Panel discussion on “Opportunities for Ireland in the UK and Europe”

Panel discussion on “Ireland and the United States- building a relationship for the 21^st Century”

Saturday, 5 Oct

11.00am

Panel discussion on “The Gathering and its Legacy”

Panel discussion on “Trade and investment in high growth markets”

2.00pm

Plenary session in which the 18 working groups will report to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste

The Convention on the Constitution is recommending allowing Irish citizens abroad the right to vote in Irish Presidential Elections.

Sun 29th September 2013

THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSTITUTION IS RECOMMENDING ALLOWING IRISH CITIZENS ABROAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

Gerry Molumby, a tireless campaigner for votes for Irish overseas seen here with Michael D Higgins on the 2011 Presidential Campaign, said in a statement afterwards "Mission Accomplished"

At a conference in Malahide, North Dublin, held over the last few days members voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing Irish citizens living outside the State – including those in Northern Ireland – to cast a ballot in presidential elections.

The opinions of representatives of Irish communities living in Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Northern Ireland and the USA were heard live via video link-up.

Gerry Molumby, a great friend to the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society and a tireless campaigner for votes for Irish overseas said in a statement afterwards “Mission Accomplished”

Gerry went on to say ” I am full of joy, to be at last ‘counted’ as still an Irishman even though I live outside the state. The Irish presidency has matured greatly in the past 20 or so years thanks to Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, they have embraced literally the diaspora and asserted our contribution on a positive image of Ireland Abroad. We have gone from seeing the light in the window of the Aras to a ‘welcome on the mat’. “

Tom Arnold, chairman of the Constitutional Convention said: “This is an incredibly important issue that is hugely relevant to thousands of Irish citizens living all over the world and this was very clear throughout the entire process.”

The Government must now decide whether to hold a referendum. A detailed report will now be compiled containing all of the evidence that was presented over the weekend and the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention will go to Government.

Tom Arnold added “We witnessed a very thorough and detailed examination of the issues associated with extending Presidential voting rights to citizens who are resident outside of the State.

“This has been a powerful weekend where we utilised new technologies to gather a broad range of views and opinions on the subject from around the world. Through our live video link-up with representatives of Irish communities in various parts of the globe, we were offered a unique and powerful insight into the views of the diaspora on citizenship and their thoughts on the extension of voting rights.

“We were astounded with the size of the response and the strength of opinion on the issue. In preparation for this weekend, we considered thousands of these responses and built them into our analysis.

“Following this outcome, we will now be lodging a formal report with Government notifying them of the recommendation of the Convention regarding Presidential voting rights for Irish citizens who are resident abroad.”

Irish citizens abroad to be given the right to vote in Presidential elections.

The Questions asked were

Should citizens resident outside the State have the right to vote in Presidential elections?

On this question members voted:

· Yes – 78%

· No – 21%

· Undecided – 1%

Should citizens resident in Northern Ireland have the right to vote in Presidential elections?

Here Convention members decided:

· Yes – 73%

· No – 20%

· Undecided – 7%

Which of these citizens living outside the island of Ireland should have the right to vote in Presidential elections? (Mark X in ONE box)

o All Irish citizens resident outside the island of Ireland

o Just citizens who have lived in Republic of Ireland.

o Just citizens who have lived in Republic of Ireland as adults and who have left for a period of time (see below)

o Undecided/No opinion

On this, members voted:

o All Irish citizens resident outside the island of Ireland – 36%

o Just citizens who have lived in Republic of Ireland – 26%

o Just citizens who have lived in Republic of Ireland as adults and who have left for a period of time (see below) – 27%

o Undecided/No opinion – 11%

If there should be a time limit on how long citizens resident outside of the island of Ireland can have a vote, what should that be? (Mark X in ONE box)

o No time limit

o Voting rights only for 5 years abroad or less

o 10 years

o 15 years

o 20 years

o 25 years

On this, members voted:

o No time limit – 38%

o Voting rights only for 5 years abroad or less – 14%

o 10 years – 17%

o 15 years – 20%

o 20 years – 6%

o 25 years – 4%

The Convention on the Constitution was established by Resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Its membership of 100 includes 33 elected representatives and 66 members of the public.

Its purpose is to consider and deliberate on eight separate matters on which it will make recommendations (as possible future amendments to the constitution) and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

BRIGHTON IRISH NIGHT AT THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 22nd September

EVENT DATE: Sunday 22 September 2013

BRIGHTON IRISH SOCIETY is entertaining delegates at the Labour Party Conference — and you can be part of it.

There are two parts to the night…

*The first part is the meeting

WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN LABOUR MAKE ON IRELAND?
starts at 8.00pm Sunday, 22 September in the New Madeira Hotel, http://www.newmadeirahotel.com/

19-23 Marine Parade,

Brighton BN1 1TL.

just ‘a stone’s throw’ from Brighton pier.

This is a chance to hear a cross-party panel of speakers address the issue of party policy in the not so long build up to the 2015 General Election.

speakers:

VERNON CROAKER MP, shadow spokesman on Northern Ireland
ALEX MASKEY MLA, Sinn Fein
DR ALASDAIR McDONNELL MP, leader SDLP
JACK DROMEY MP, shadow minister Communities & Local Government
Chair: Martin Collins, Agreed Ireland Forum

*The second part is the entertainment…

Yes its IRISH NIGHT LIVE from 9.30pm and it features the talented Brighton trio, “Right Said Ted” .

Includes a Late Bar where you can celebrate your winnings from the Dublin v Mayo All-Ireland football final earlier in the afternoon.

(Dublin are presently 4/5 favourites).

Crawley Irish Festival 2013

Sun 25th August 2013

Here is a selection for the 2013 Festival held at the Hawth Theatre. Crawley on Sunday 25 August 2013. All of the videos can also be found on Youtube. Thanks to all the visitors that recorded the movies and posted them.

We start our videos with The Brendan Behan Pig & Whistle Band getting the crowd singing.

Next up is the Ace Academy of Irish Dance:

Now. Paul Stanworth performs “Journey Back Home”:

Plus, the Devine Family:

And, the Davitt Country Band sings “Rock Around The Clock”:

And, last, but by no means least, we have an impromptu performance by Roger Leach:

There are a few more videos on Youtube too. You can search for them here: don’t forget to thank the posters in the comments.

LONDON ROSE SHOWS HER CONCERN

Fri 14th June 2013

London Rose Shows her concern for world’s hunger

Crawley’s very own London Rose of Tralee, Grace Kenny whose roots are in Tullow, Co. Carlow, took time out of her busy schedule to visit Concern Worldwide’s London office to give some encouragement to this year’s Concern London Triathalon relay team.

L-R Natalie Jones (run), Carla Thompson (swim), London Rose Grace Kenny and Mila Robinson (cycle).

The event, on 27th and 28th July at London ExCel involves a 10km run, a 40km cycle and a 1.5km swim. All proceeds raised for Concern Worldwide will go to their education and nutrition programme in Liberia where it’s estimated over a third of children under five years old are stunted due to poor nutrition.

‘Team Concern’ with Grace.

Grace is one of three British Roses from London, Manchester and Liverpool who were among 23 young women selected at the Rose of Tralee Regional Festival last month. And with the 9 already pre-selected 32 go forward to the RTE televised stages of the International Festival in the Dome with host Dáithí Ó Sé later this summer

Grace with Brian O’Connell, Special Projects manager Concern Worldwide (UK)

Several corporate teams are competing on behalf of Concern Worldwide but, with only days before the deadline for registration, there are still places available. If you fancy taking part or would like to support the worthwhile project contact maria.mcdonnell@concern.net or ring 020 7801 1873.

Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling hunger and transforming lives in the world’s poorest places. They are working for a world where no one dies for want of safe and nutritious food and use their expertise and local knowledge to help people and communities develop lasting solutions to hunger so that they can lead happier, healthier lives and lift themselves out of poverty.

Visit their website on www.concern.net and find out how you can help them to help others.