Songs # 51 - 55 - Songwriter Showcase with Christy Moore

This Songwriters Showcase is a new collaboration with the legendary Christy Moore. Providing an outlet for composers and writers is an essential goal of Tradconnect and it is hoped that this showcase will highlight some great new writers and performers. We are honored to have Christy listening to this material and giving his support.

Other recording artists that follow this campaign may pick up on some of this new material and possibly record it. Submitted songs must be in the folk and ballad tradition. Songs should be presented a cappella or with as little as possible in the way of background accompaniment. The use of a single instrument such as guitar or piano would be preferable to full band backing.

Christy Moore for his part, is excited by the prospect of discovering some great new material and will be listening to all the submissions. He has also kindly offered an award of €500 for a song and writer that stands out. While we have a desire to uncover songs that deal with "modern day emigration" we will accept all songs in the folk and ballad tradition as set out in the link below.

To submit a song read this article where we set out some basic guidelines.

The closing date for entries is 31st December 2014

Previous Submissions

Song #51 - Andy Galligan / Bible Joe

Andy Galligan is a songwriter, originally from Cavan but living in Dublin for most of his life. His most productive period was in the 1960's and 1970's when he wrote music and lyrics on his own account and also wrote lyrics for his friend, Joe Burkett (who also wrote two of Ireland’s song entries in the Eurovision). Andy successfully represented Ireland as a composer and joint composer at many international song festivals, both at home and abroad – in Gibraltar, Chile, Split, Athens, Castlebar and Cavan. His songs, and Galligan/Burkett collaborations, were recorded at the time by Patricia Cahill, Des Smyth, Tina and Joe Cuddy, in particular. His song, “Sugar Daddy”, originally sung by Tina, won the Gibraltar International Song Festival. Another song, “One and One are Two”, sung by Patricia Cahill reached No. 2 in the Irish Charts.

“Bible Joe” is about an Irish emigrant who has wandered off the tracks a bit and is selling bibles in Camden town – “the weed’s inside, the kids all know, mother”. The narrator of the song is trying to encourage his mother to bail him out and “take him home to Dublin town”. The song is sung by Daoiri Farrell, the well-known trad/folk singer from Dublin, who accompanies himself on bouzouki.

Song #52 - Aodán Coyne / Sailing Through History

Here is my song submission for the songwriter showcase 2014. It's called Sailing Through History. It deals with the topic of domestic violence, which is a bit of a taboo subject and one not often sang about. It's taken from the perspective of a wife having to live through regular abuse over a century ago. When finally she summons up the courage to defend herself, it's she who ends up on trial. I was inspired to write it after hearing the backwards views of some who in today's society still think that the victims should never speak out. Hopefully that type of mindset will soon just be sailing through history. I realize this is off the suggested topic of songs that deal with "modern day emigration". But I hope it can still be submitted as a songs in the folk and ballad tradition.

Song #53 - Peter Sinclair / Too Young

I have been a builder for the most of my adult life and with the onset of Parkinson's I had to retire in 2008. I started writing a year later and have since written several songs, two books and a musical play. Most of my songs are about Ireland's troubled past. I wrote this song and my nephew is singing it.

Song #54 - Wendy Jack / For All Who Come After Me

Wendy Jack is an Irish-Acoustic-Folk-Pop-Singer-Songwriter from Tyrone. Having worked behind the scenes staging concerts and events to promote human rights, 2011 saw the release of her self titled debut EP. Her first single ‘Sunsets‘ reached Number One in the unsigned charts and went on to become a semi-finalist in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. Wendy's songs have been played on BBC Radio Ulster, RTE Radio, and various local & Internet based radio stations. During live shows Wendy conjures up images of ancient fertility festivals, the traumas of war, adventures in South Donegal, and for a while she might even bring you into the mystical magical world of The Fairies with her adaptation of a well known poem. More info on www.wendyjackmusic.com

The inspiration behind this song:

When I read about the showcase competition on Tradconnect I sat down and started writing a list of some of the reasons why people would want to leave Ireland today. I'd like to think that we can 'emigrate our brains' instead of physically leaving. We can educate ourselves and think outside of what the government or corporate media are trying to tell us. We can also look for inspiration in other parts of the world to help create an Ireland which we are all proud to call home. So my song 'For all who come after me' is a song of hope and determination for achieve change.

Song #55 - Ger Ryan / Lisbon Treaty ( Ireland Says No )

Ger Ryan is a songwriter that has played guitar and written for Dublin bands the Lemmings, Room 44 and That’s What She Said. This is the first time he’s recorded his own vocals on a track. In 2011, his band That’s What She Said brought out a single called “Turn to Me” with all proceeds going to mental health charity AWARE. The video was played on TV3 and Spin FM, but by far the best feeling was to get feedback from Christy Moore, who said it was “beautiful”. In 2012, Ger's song “Las an Solas” reached the final in the Pan Celtic Song Contest.

Lisbon Treaty (Ireland says no) has been around my head for a few years, but I’ve never performed it or recorded until Tradconnect threw down the challenge of writing a modern day ballad. There are a lot of injustices in the world today, but when a country is told their vote is wrong by their politicians, it makes you think. Obviously the first wrong vote was when we voted them in to power.