Episode 7 Opry an Iúir

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man. #

THEY SING IN IRISH

# That was once upon a time

# Now we never seem to rock and roll any more. #

# I've a nice little cot and a small bit of land

# In a place by the side of the sea

# And I care about no-one because I believe

# There's nobody cares about me

# My peace is destroyed and I'm fairly annoyed

# By a lassie who works in the town

# She sighs every day as she passes the way

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# She sighs every day as she passes the way

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# The other day the old landlord came by for his rent

# I told him no money I had

# Besides, t'wasn't fair for to ask me to pay

# The times were so awfully bad

# He felt discontent at not getting his rent

# And he shook his big head with a frown

# Says he, "I'll take half," but says I with a laugh

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

Who's going to sing? Come on.

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# Says he, "I'll take half," but says I with a laugh

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# Now the boys look so bashful when they go out courting

# They seem to be so very shy

# As to kiss a young maid

# Sure they seem half afraid

# But they would if they could on the sly

# But me, I do things in a different way

# I don't give a nod or a frown

# When I go to court, I says, "Here goes for sport!"

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# When I go to court I says, "Here goes for sport!"

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down

# When I go to court I says, "Here goes for sport!"

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine? #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It is wonderful to be up here in Newry for Opry an Iuir.

And of course I came up today all the way from County Roscommon

so I'm going to sing you one of my great Roscommon songs.

# Oh, the lambs were playing in the fields

# The tulips were in flower

# When I left the home I love so well

# I ne'er forget the hour

# Before me was the Atlantic waves to a home in Tennessee

# And I left behind me the girl I loved

# She's the rose of Castlerea

# She may not have been a beauty queen

# She might never be a rose

# But to me she is the fairest flower that in the garden grows

# Although I'm in America across the Atlantic Sea

# Sure I'll always love my Roscommon girl

# She's the rose of Castlerea

# It's many the night that I lie in bed

# My thoughts so fondly go

# To the lovely days when I walk my love

# On the road out by Knockroe

# Her smiling face, her shining hair

# Was a joy for all to see

# Was a cruel old day that I went away from you and Castlerea

# She may not have been a beauty queen

# She might never be a rose

# But to me she is the fairest flower that in the garden grows

# Although I'm in America across the Atlantic Sea

# Sure, I'll always love my Roscommon girl

# She's the rose of Castlerea

Hey!

# I opened up the Roscommon Herald

# I'd just received today

# For to read about my native town

# And my friends so far away

# But the tears began to blind me

# As I glanced across page three

# At a picture of her wedding day

# Of the rose of Castlerea

# Farewell to you, Roscommon, from Kilvoy

# To the Shannon shore

# Farewell to Boyle and Frenchpark

# I'll never see you more

# The cotton fields near Memphis must remain a home for me

# But I'll always love my Roscommon girl

# She's the rose of Castlerea

# She may not have been a beauty queen

# She might never be a rose

# But to me she is the fairest flower that in the garden grows

# Although I'm in America

# Across the Atlantic Sea

# Sure, I'll always love my Roscommon girl

# She's the rose of Castlerea

# Sure, I'll always love my Roscommon girl

# She's the rose of Castlerea. #

HE VOCALISES

Brendan Shine, ladies and gentlemen.

How about that?

Fantastic. How about that?

No matter where I go I always feel that I'm an Athlone man

and a South Roscommon man.

I've travelled everywhere but I've always lived here.

And this has always been home to me.

That was a complete ceili.

After being so long in the business like I am it's great to be

recognised in your own land.

# Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine?

# Do you want your old lobby washed down?

When we were very young, Dad was in the charts all the time.

You sat around the radio every Sunday morning after mass.

Do you remember that? You'd be having your sausages

and brown bread. You'd be listening to Larry Gogan to see,

"Is Dad was going to be number one again?"

No Irish artist has ever had 25 hits before.

And it's our great pleasure on Radio 2 to present you with

a silver disk to mark the occasion.

-Congratulations to you.

-Thanks very much.

Many more of them.

# Just like a candle blown out in the wind. #

It was very exciting as children.

We got to live in a very adult world.

# Oh, Lord, it's so hard to be humble... #

# Cos you're better looking each day

To know me.

# To know me is to love me. #

It was part of our life, I suppose.

We sat on the side and watched him performing and the cameras

and we knew we had to be on our best behaviour

when the camera light went on.

CHEERING

45 hit singles in 50 years. There's not many singers that can say that.

When you pick your songs, do you use certain writers or how do you

-find the songs?

-I was very, very lucky down through the years.

I met some wonderful song writers.

Of course, I'm a farmer and I always have me ear to the ground

and I'm always thinking of what people like

and I did songs like Where the Three Counties Meet about my home place,

Longford-Westmeath and Roscommon.

-I sang songs about spuds and carrots.

-You did.

-I did.

-So I'm never too far from the ground.

-Fantastic.

I suppose when you look at 50 years there are so many highlights.

Hard to pick but could you tell us

a few that have meant something to you?

Well, of course probably my first ever number one in 1971,

O'Brien Has No Place To Go.

1979 was another great mark in my life

when the Pope came to Ireland

and I had Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down

and when he was leaving Shannon Airport the brass band played

when he was going out to the plane they played

Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down.

He looked around and that's the reason he never came back, I'd say.

And recently a young man called Dermot O'Leary who presents

The X Factor came out with his book

and said Catch Me If You Can was one of his great inspirations

and that, to me, was probably one of the greatest accolades of all.

A young man in his position would think that something I did

-along the line was worthwhile.

-Absolutely.

When you're not playing the music or doing shows,

-what do you like to do away from the stage?

-I'm a farmer.

I've always been a farmer and making the joke about the carrots,

I used to grow carrots. I farm.

We have an Angus farm in South Roscommon.

We produce Angus beef. And the best beef that you can eat is Angus beef.

Especially if it comes from South Roscommon.

There's nothing like a plug for your own.

APPLAUSE

-As we say up at home, every dog barks at its own door.

-That's right.

# Now, Dennis O'Brien had three daughters fine

# The fairest young girls on the block

# And between you and me every night after tea

# To O'Brien's the boys they would flock

# When young Mickey Clancy steps in to see Nancy

# Tim McCarthy steps in to see Rose

# And when young Mickey Kelley steps in to see Nell

# With a plea to her father she'd go

# Don't go into the front room, Dad

# Nancy's in there with her caller

# Daddy dear, won't you stay out here

# Rose has her friend in the parlour

# Don't go into the kitchen, Dad

# I'll be out there with my beau

# And since all of these girls have got steady young men

# O'Brien has no place to go

# Last Saturday night O'Brien got tight

# And he said to himself, now we'll see

# And if three young galoots

# Dressed up in new suits

# Make a wandering fool out of me

# Out went McCann on O'Brien's brogue and

# Mickey Kelley and Clancy felt sore

# They went over the stoop like an acrobat's troupe

# So O'Brien will hear this no more

Everybody, now!

# Don't go into the front room, Dad

# Nancy's in there with her caller

# Daddy dear, won't you stay out here

# Rose has her friend in the parlour

# Don't go into the kitchen, Dad

# I'll be out there with my beau

# Now, since all of his girls have got steady young men

# O'Brien has no place to go

# And since all of his girls have got steady young men

# O'Brien has no place to go. #

Hi, Brendan. Mike Denver here. Want to wish you all the best.

Congratulations on your 50 years in the business.

Many great more years. Best of luck to you.

I hope you have a great time and celebrate with the family

and enjoy every aspect of it. Well done.

Hi, Brendan, it's Jim Devine.

Just want to say a big congratulations on 50 years

in the business and here's to 50 more.

# I'm a Potcheen

# From Tullawodgean

# I've got money

# And acres of land

# And I'm looking for a honey

# With a bit of money

# I'd catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

# I like the ceili

# And the stack of barley

# I like the waltzes

# Them jigs and the reels

# I like swinging

# When big Tom is singing

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

# And I'm off to Lisdoonvarna

# At the end of the year

# I'm off for a bit of craic

# The woman and the beer

# And I'm awful shifty

# For a man of 50

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

Here we go!

# I've got a brother

# He's in the Gardai

# I got an uncle

# He's up there in the Dail

# He's quite a charmer

# He's a mighty farmer

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

# Now to conclude

# And finish my story

# If there's a young one

# Out looking for a man

# Take the bus from Barna

# Down to Lisdoonvarna

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

Where we going? Come on.

# And I'm off to Lisdoonvarna

# At the end of the year

# I'm off for a bit of craic

# The woman and the beer

# I'm awful shifty

# For a man of 50

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man

# I'm awful shifty

# For a man of 50

# Catch me if you can

# My name is Dan

# Sure I'm your man. #

That's it. Yoo-hoo!

APPLAUSE

SHE SINGS IN IRISH

THEY SING IN IRISH

Brendan Shine, I can't believe you're coming to my house.

This way. Stage left.

It's called Peigin is Peadar.

-Peigin is Peadar.

-So it's perfect as a duet.

-Because it's a conversation between...

-Two people.

-two people.

THEY VOCALISE

-What do you think?

-This will be a bit low for me now.

-Yeah.

We'll sort it out. We've got the middle of the range between us.

Lift it up.

Let's welcome Treasa Ni Cheannabhain. Here she comes.

HE SINGS IN IRISH

THEY SING IN IRISH

SHE SINGS IN IRISH

APPLAUSE

HE SINGS IN IRISH

APPLAUSE

# It was out in a moonlit garden

# Not far from the ballroom grand

# A young lad and his sweetheart

# Went strolling hand in hand

# Tomorrow the war would call him

# He vowed he would be true

# Then from her dress she gave to him

# A bunch of violets blue

# They were only a bunch of violets

# A bunch of violets blue

# Fresh and fair and fragrant

# Like diamonds on the dew

# Fresh and fair and dainty

# As he pressed them to his heart

# He smiled and said where'er he'd roam

# From them he ne'er would part

# A soldier boy lay dying

# Upon the cold, cold ground

# A bunch of withered violets

# Upon his breast was found

# Turning to his comrades

# In a feeble voice he sighed

# "Take them back and tell her that I wore them till I died"

# They took the withered violets back

# It being on her wedding day

# An old man's gold had won her

# From her soldier far away

# An old man's gold had won her

# From her soldier young and tall

# And this is what she said to him

# That evening at the ball

Everybody.

# They were only a bunch of violets

# A bunch of violets blue

# Fresh and fair and fragrant

# Like diamonds on the dew

# Fresh and fair and dainty

# As he pressed them to his heart

# He smiled and said where'er he'd roam

# From them he ne'er would part. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Lovely.

Now I'm going to sing a song with my two daughters Emily and Phillipa.

We recorded this song on a CD, I don't know,

about 15 years ago or something like that.

And it's a lovely song called Far, Far Away.

Here we go.

# When night-time is falling

# And dreams they are calling

# Me back to my youth

# The land of my roots

# Where I started scheming

# Some day to be leaving

# But now I am dreaming

# Far, far away

# Far, far away

# My plans, they did take me

# Far, far away

# My land, how could I forsake thee?

# Will I ne'er see thee more?

# You sweet Eireann shore

# Will I ne'er in the comfort of you sleep?

# When morning is breaking and my heart is aching

# With longing to be back across the sea

# Where my thoughts did wander

# But never did wonder

# Just what I might squander

# Being far, far away

# Far, far away

# My plans they did take me

# Far, far away

# My land, how did I forsake thee?

# Will I ne'er see thee more?

# You sweet Eireann shore

# Will I ne'er in the comfort of you sleep?

# Will I ne'er in the comfort of you sleep? #

THEY VOCALISE

Emily and Phillipa Shine.

-Hip-hip! CROWD:

-Hooray!

-Hip-hip!

-Hooray.

-Hip-hip.

-Hooray.

There was loads of dancing

and fun in all those great clubs

around London and all over the world.

So I'm going to do a song from my 50th anniversary.

I picked this song. It's one called There's the Door.

# I wandered in round midnight

# Like I've done so many times

# She was sitting at the table

# There were no tears in her eyes

# It seemed so much unlike her

# To be so much at ease

# She took a sip of coffee

# And softly said to me

# There's the mantle where we keep our wedding pictures

# There's the bedroom where we made both love and war

# And there's the ring that keeps on slipping off your finger

# There's no reason we should go on any more

# And there's the door

# Well, I'm back here on this bar stool

# My whole world's gone to hell

# Behind the bottles there's a mirror

# Where a fool can see himself

# If I was the man I should be

# And not the one I am

# I would go back there this minute

# And beg for one more chance

# There's the jukebox where I've wasted all those quarters

# There's a lady trying to get me out on the floor

# And there's a chance the one I love could still forgive me

# That's a step that I have never took before

# And there's the door

# And there's the door. #

APPLAUSE

Hiya, Brendan, Charlie Landsborough.

The last time we met was in Malaga Airport in Spain.

Always good to see you, mate. And 50 years in the business.

Only the best things last, mate, and you're one of the best things.

Congratulations, Brendan, you're a gem. God bless you, mate.

Hi, Brendan. Congratulations on your 50 years in the music business.

You've had a fantastic career and I wish you many,

many more years to come. And see you soon.

-Aidan?

-Lynette?

# Where did you meet her?

# I met her in the Galtymore

# In the Galtymore in Cricklewood

# I asked her for a dance and she said she would

# The band called an oldie called In The Mood

# I met her in the Galtymore. #

-How are you doing?

-Nice to meet you again.

You brought the good weather with you anyway.

I brought the good weather with me. The reason why you appeal to me

is because you really seem to be enjoying what you're doing.

Your whole heart is in it.

Well, I'm over 50 years and people say to me,

"Do you ever think or retiring or think of giving it up?"

I never think about that because, you know,

50 years it's been a long, long road but a very short distance.

I can remember when I started as if it was only yesterday.

So, it's been a wonderful life in music.

I've met some wonderful people along the way, like yourself.

And hopefully I'll meet a lot more.

I'd like to dedicate this song to the lovely Aidan Sharkey.

My friend who couldn't be with us tonight.

I want to know if anybody is with your partner down there tonight

I just want you to think of where you met.

It's called Where Did You Meet Her?

# Me name is Matt from Dublin and I'm living in London Town

# I searched all around for a girl of my own

# But there wasn't a one to be found

# Then I went to a dance on a Saturday night

# I had a little drink and I felt just right

# Was my first time there in me whole damn life

# There I met my pretty young wife

# And where did you meet her?

# I met her in the Galtymore

# In the Galtymore in Cricklewood

# I asked her for a dance and she said she would

# The band played an oldie called In The Mood

# I met her in the Galtymore

# Then I walked her up to her own front door

# And I kissed her for the very first time

# I liked it very much so I asked for a date

# Next Saturday at a quarter to nine

# Well, I met her on that Saturday night

# I asked her to marry me She said she might

# We'd a smashing time and we danced till late

# 'Twas my first and very last date

# And where did you meet here?

# I met her in The Galtymore

# In the Galtymore in Cricklewood

# I asked her for a dance and she said she would

# The band played an oldie called In The Mood

# I met her in the Galtymore

# Me name is Matt from Dublin

# And I'm married in London Town

# I've been married to her now for 30 years or more

# And it's going great guns and it's sound

# We've a son of 32 and his name is Matt

# He couldn't find a girl He's shy like that

# He went to a dance on a Saturday night

# There he met his pretty Miss Right

# And I said to him

# Where did you meet her?

# I met her in The Galtymore

# In the Galtymore in Cricklewood

# I asked her for a dance and she said she would

# The band played an oldie called In The Mood

# I met her in the Galtymore

# In the Galtymore in Cricklewood

# I asked her for a dance and she said she would

# The band played an oldie called In The Mood

# I met her in the Galtymore. #

Out on the floor, everybody for a quick seven.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

# I remember '62

# I was 16 and so were you

# And we lived next door

# On the avenue

# Jerry Lee was big and Elvis too

# Blue jeans and blue suede shoes

# And we never knew

# What life held in store

# We just wanted to rock and roll forevermore

# We were the rock and roll kids

# Rock and roll was all we did

# Listening to those songs on the radio

# I was yours and you were mine

# But that was once upon a time

# Now we never seem to rock and roll any more

# Johnny's in love with the girl next door

# Mary's down at the record store

# They don't want to be

# Around us no more

# Golden oldies but we hardly speak

# Too busy running to a different beat

# Hard to understand

# We were once like them

# How I wish we could find those rock and roll days again

# We were the rock and roll kids

# Rock and roll was all we did

# Listening to those songs on the radio

# I was yours and you were mine

# But that was once upon a time

# Now we never seem to rock and roll any more

# I was yours and you were mine

# But that was once upon a time

# Now we never seem to rock and roll

# We just never seem to rock and roll

# Any more. #

A pleasure, Brendan.

Oh, fantastic.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hey, Brendan. Johnny here. Just want to say hello, hope you're well.

Massive congratulations on 50 years.

You're one of the great legends here in Ireland.

It's a pleasure to work with you and it's always a pleasure to see you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Ah, the clock on the wall

# Says time to go

# And the tears in your eyes

# Says no, no, no

# And the pain in my heart

# Still grows, grows, grows

# Ah, kiss me, Molly, then

# It will be over

# Before me the ocean

# And dreams of better days

# Beside me the girl I leave behind

# And the ship it lies a waiting

# With so much left to say

# So little time cos I'll be on my way

Everybody.

# Ah, the clock on the wall

# Says time to go

# And the tears in your eyes

# Says no, no, no

# And the pain in my heart

# Still grows, grows, grows

# Ah, kiss me, Molly, then

# It will be over

Here's the bit I want.

# Think of me, Molly

# In every thing you do

# And think of all the good times

# That we knew

# And time will go a rushing past

# And you won't feel so blue

# Till soft wings bring me safely back to you

# Ah, the clock on the wall

# Says time to go

# But the tears in your eyes

# Says no, no, no

# And the pain in my heart

# Still grows, grows, grows

# Ah, kiss me, Molly, then

# It will be over

One last time.

# Ah, the clock on the wall

# Says time to go

# But the tears in your eyes

# Says no, no, no

# And the pain in my heart

# Still grows, grows, grows

# Ah, kiss me, Molly, then

# It will be over

# Ah, kiss me, Molly, then

# It will be over. #

Good night!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you very much.