This article is from page 57 of the 2009-07-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
KILKEE Civic Trust has announced the return visit, on Friday, July 31, of singer and songwriter Brian Kennedy, one of the ultimate live performers to have emerged in the last two decades.
He is known as the artist who is blessed with a multitude of talents; singer, songwriter, guitarist, and born communicator, seen and heard on countless TV and radio shows from both sides of the mike. He’s been Ire- land’s ambassador on more than one global music stage; recognised au- thor of a couple of best-selling novels and numerous short stories.
Behind the facade however, there is a different story. It’s been a long, tough haul from the Falls Road, Belfast, his birthplace in 1966, with early years spent at the height of the troubles and the screech of sirens, rather than music, ringing in his ears. Nevertheless, with an uncanny inner strength, he turned horror to advan- tage by harmonising with the sirens, unaware he was nurturing a natural God-given vocal talent that would later earn him the title, ‘a voice to charm the angels’.
Kilkee Civic Trust was set up in November 2001 to nourish the built, spoken and environmental heritage of Kilkee. Among its many activi- ties, the civic trust has taken on the promotion of several musical events over the last number of years, hosting the likes of musician and composer Micheal O Suilleabhain, mezzo so- prano Edel O’Brien as well as the Irish Chamber Orchestra, as part of its summer concert schedule.
This will be Brian’s second visit
to Kilkee, his last visit was in 2005, where he received a rapturous wel- come from a packed St Senan’s GTR NACL NUM KOON MacnlleImeeyre cert on Friday.
Members of the Munster Rugby Supporters Choir will perform the
Opening part of the concert, and will join Brian for a couple of numbers at the end of the night.