8
Jun
2010
Andy Irvine Live at the Embankment
Two noteworthy things I came across on TG4, our Irish language TV station, this weekend: An Crisis and Ar Stáitse. An Crisis is an excellent sitcom featuring Risteard Cooper of Apres Match fame which tells the story of the fictional government department “ACT” (An Chomhairle Teanga — The Language Council), seemingly based on An Gúm, being audited during the recession. Funny, clever and slightly absurdist, it’s well worth following.
On Ar Stáitse, remastered recordings of old concerts in Ireland are shown. I watched the Andy Irvine one and was absolutely blown away. This is Irish trad at its very best. Here it is in 4 parts, with my (probably slightly inaccurate) translations of the Irish that appears during the video.
- This show was first shown on RTÉ in 1976.
- Andy was born in London in 1942.
- He learned classical guitar under Julian Bream but when he was 15 years old, he heard Lonnie Donnegan and set up a skiffle band himself!
- He went regularly to O’Donoghues pub in Dublin in the 60s, where he met Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and Johnny Moynihan, amongst others.
- In 1966 Andy set up “Sweeney’s Men” with Johnny Moynihan and Joe Dolan from Galway. The name was a reference to the old pagan God, Suíbhne.
- With “Sweeney’s Men” he had big hits with “Old Maid In The Garrett” and “The Waxie’s Dargle”.
- In 1972 Christy Moore released his second album. Playing with him were Andy, Dónal Lunny and Liam Óg Ó Floinn. “Prosperous” was the name of the album and out of it grew the band “Planxty”.
- For a period in the mid 70s Andy was a member of two groups at the same time: Dé Danann and as a duo with Paul Brady.
- Eventually, in 1979, Andy released his first solo album, “Rainy Sundays… Windy Dreams”.
- Amongst the other groups which Andy was central in were “Mosaic” and “Patrick Street” which have released two albums since 1997.
- Lots more information available at www.andyirvine.com
