Dear Reader –
It’s all about the Circle of Life in today’s letter…
All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
I know there has been a lot of Theme Night news here recently, so here is something different for you today…
Fergus Flynn and John McPartland (also known as Flynner and John Mac) are two good football buddies of mine who live in Strandhill.
Flynner’s daughter is the same age as mine. They play football together and so I asked him to help me out in coaching their U-12 team this year. So every time there is a game Flynner and I get to stand on the sideline and enjoy the match together.
John Mac’s son is the same age as mine. They play football together too and while I’m still working on John Mac to get involved with the U-9 coaching team (!), last Sunday we also stood on the sideline and enjoyed the match together.
And I just love the way that this has come to pass.
Where else but Sligo?
“Dad is he a bit crazy"?”
So asked my aforementioned 7-yr old (who took the below picture) about Seamie McManus when we met him for a chat in Ocean FM studios recently. And there was only one answer I could give.
Because Seamie is his own man. A brilliant personality. Full of energy, ideas, enthusiasm. Loves his music and loves doing anything he can to support local artists.
And he has been so supportive to me over the years. Consistently playing tracks from last year’s Theme Night Album. And this week he is chatting to different Theme Night performers live in the studio each evening at 6.15 on his Ocean Drive show - and he has two tickets to the show to give away each night.
Tune in if you can - his craziness is infectious! In the best way possible.
What’s New?
A NEW UKRAINIAN FRIEND: My wife has been working with some of the newly-arrived Ukrainian visitors to Sligo. I asked her to see if any of them sang as I thought it would be great if one of them could perform with us at next week’s show. She found Luda, a professional singer who now has her first gig in Ireland. She is going to perform a Ukrainian song of freedom with us and so our choir are busy learning their Ukrainian lyrics!
THE ANNIVERSARY DANCE: A short and beautiful blog about U2, the Rolling Stones and an old married couple.
REBEL SONGS? "So if Freedom is the theme, will you be doing any rebel songs"? Here’s your answer…
Finally…
Here’s what happened when the Broadway cast of the Lion King gathered for their first post-lockdown rehearsal…
Till next time - Kieran.
