A special concert took place in Kilkee at the weekend with popular Irish musician Finbar Furey wowing the crowd.
For one night only Finbarr took to the altar at Kilkee Church which has a capacity of 1500 for an exceptional performance. Indeed the church is the largest in the Diocese of Killaloe and a warm welcome was extended to the folk musician.
Presented by Kilkee Civic Trust, the event was made possible by Doolin native Oliver O’Connell, a historical storyteller, songwriter and musician who wrote Furey’s life story. The pair are close friends and once Oliver put the question to Finbarr he accepted immediately.
Oliver explains to The Clare Herald why the Kilkee Civic Trust wanted the concert to go ahead in the town. “They want to generate a bit of activity in the town and give a bit of life to it, the people in West Clare if they want to see an act they’ve go to glór”.
Those present “absolutely loved it” with a sizeable crowd attending a service with a difference from the Kilkee altar delivered by one of Ireland’s most beloved musicians. “He did two hours and twenty minutes without a break, it was a magnificent concert up on the altar with him” Oliver said.
A pair of men drove from South Armagh to Kilkee and back specifically for the concert while another audience member travelled from London to see Furey playing in Kilkee.
Finbar achieved fame as lead singer/frontman with The Furey Brothers & Davey Arthur in the 1980s. Over the course of his career he has played in several venues but he told Oliver that Friday’s concert was a special one. “He rang me yesterday and he said it’s one of the nicest venues he’s ever played in which is great”.
Fresh from his Kilkee performance, Finbar is set to be the star of an upcoming special edition of The Late Late Show as it celebrates his career ahead of his seventieth birthday next month.
