Ger Thompson performing “Meet me under the Clock Gate” LIVE at Youghal Community Radio on 25th March 2011.
Written and Performed by Ger Thompson
Guitar/Vocals: Ger Thompson.
Lead Guitar: Alan Reid.
Interview by Shane Supple.
Camera: Peter Thompson and Genevieve Castonguay.

 

CRY 104fm’s radio jock Shane Supple talks to Warren Tivy, who during the year undertook a charity climb to one of the world’s best known mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa which is 12,000 meters above sea level.

Warren Tivy, musician, producer, sound engineer and owner of Claycastle Studios in Youghal decided to do some work for charity and he was doing work for different  bands and acts who were all raising funds for the Charity Africa Direct so it did this seemed like a good idea at the time.  He had to raise €6,000 to go to Nairobi where he spent two days visiting the projects that the funds were being used for. Warren said he had never seen anything like it; Nairobi is like any other city it’s busy and bustling But driving out to the slums where over 2 million people live in abject poverty he got a sense of what this was all for. What prompted him to do this I asked and he said one of the things he found interesting about this charity was that every penny and cent raised was handed over to the charity who were working in the slums providing care health basic needs to the people living in these slums.

After spending two days there they headed across the Serengeti by bus it took over a day to travel to Mushy on the other side of Kenya to base camp for the climbing. Warren had already spent the year working out getting fit and working in the gym as well as doing lots of running. He met with many other climbers who were treating it a little more serious then Warren and his fellow climbers from Ireland. It was a rough trek where you worked your way up through the rain forest first before hitting the volcanic rock of the mountain. It took seven days to climb and each night you would sleep over at that point you reached that day, It was tough going as the higher you climbed the altitude started taking its toll, for the last two days Warren says he felt sick constantly headaches and tired, sick feeling in your stomach. It was awkward as the higher they climbed the chances of illness increased the problem with that was because of the altitude there were no helicopters able to fly at that altitude due to lack of air so it was going to be tough on anyone who had to turn back down the mountain.

On the sixth day they arrived at Kabuki Huts where they spent several hours just getting used to the altitude and at 1am they set off to reach the peak in order to be there for dawn. It took six hours and it was only a small distance but with ice and lack of oxygen it was tough going. At around 7am they reached the summit and managed to see the dawn break. On the way to the summit they met many other climbers who had to turn back because of illness but the Irish group continued on.

I asked Warren what went through his head when he was standing on the summit. He said it was an emotional time the first thought that went through his head was oh my god I now have to climb down this mountain again. But it was beautiful standing there looking around at the world below you. As time was short they only got to spend a few minutes at the summit when they had to make there way back down.

The hardest part of it was the sweat that had built up under his protective clothing had turned to ice and as he descended it started to melt, within a short time he was soaked through and had to continue climbing down. By the time he got back down the mountain he was down to wearing a t shirt because of the morning sun and the heat it was difficult climbing down and they had to stop several times on the way down to acclimatise and get used to the altitude. I asked him would he do it again and he replied that he would do it all again, he is raising money all the time for the charity Africa Direct.

It’s good to see a local musician taking on such a large task all to raise funds for charity. Currently Warren and the crew at Claycastle are working on different projects but one that sticks out is the Marine session Live CD vol 2. After the success of the first CD they decided that so many musicians responded that they had enough material to start a second album so that’s what they are working at now, if you see Warren or any of the bands he works with playing in an area near you go along and support them.

This year marks the bicentenary of Chopin’s birth so “The Last Ballade” was a particularly appropriate way of celebrating the anniversary, appealing as it does to lovers of music and theatre and what better setting than in the 230 year old building that is The Mall Arts Centre. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

The musical drama was held at the theatre on Tuesday 28th Sept. Actor and pianist Michael Lunts portrays Frederic Chopin, man and musician, in this unique musical drama about the composer. The Last Ballade played for one night only, as part of a UK and Ireland tour,  at the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal

“The Last Ballade” relived the stormy end to one of the great romantic relationships, between Chopin and his muse, the novelist and ‘femme fatale’ George Sand. The music Sand inspired, including the beautiful Berceuse, the famous ‘Minute’ Waltz and the F minor Ballade, is played live as part of the action.

The Last Ballade offers audiences a dramatic insight, through the eyes of Chopin himself, into this extraordinary woman who has been variously described as both his muse and his “vampire”.

For further information on upcoming events call 083 360 6507 or email themallartscentre@gmail.com. The event was kindly supported by Cork County Council.

Actor and pianist Michael Lunts portrays Frederic Chopin, man and musician, in this unique musical drama about the composer. The Last Ballade plays for one night only, as part of a UK and Ireland tour,  at the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal on Tuesday, September 28th at 8pm.

Relive the stormy end to one of the great romantic relationships, between Chopin and his muse, the novelist and ‘femme fatale’ George Sand. The music Sand inspired, including the beautiful Berceuse, the famous ‘Minute’ Waltz and the F minor Ballade, is played live as part of the action.
The Last Ballade offers audiences a dramatic insight, through the eyes of Chopin himself, into this extraordinary woman who has been variously described as both his muse and his “vampire”.

This year marks the bicentenary of Chopin’s birth so “The Last Ballade” would be a particularly appropriate way of celebrating the anniversary, appealing as it does to lovers of music and theatre and what better setting than in the 230 year old building that is The Mall Arts Centre on Tuesday, September 28th at 8pm !

This event is kindly supported by Cork County Council.

Tickets on sale at Cree’s Card Shop (024 93899) at €15.

For further information or reservations call 083 360 6507 or email themallartscentre@gmail.com.

Oona Colin
Facilities Coordinator
The Mall Arts Centre/St. Mary’s Collegiate Church
Tel: 083 360 6507

The Mary Coughlan Trio performed recently at the Youghal International Spanish College Chapel. Event organiser Bobby Lee from Sacred Roots Productions said he was delighted with the new venue which was another first in his promotion of music in the town. Previous Sacred Roots Productions events were held at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church and The Mall Arts Centre.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Bobby lee is a well known  musician, recording artist,producer and facilitator with brother Fergal established sacred root records in 2005.
‘Sacred root is all about lives, in helping people realise theyre potential and dreams as human beings through the form of music’

Thank you for contributing toward the build bless you all we built  63 houses, a community center and a school t in a week by the grace of god.

Temperatures rose from 37 to 49 degrees celsius at one point hitting 56 in the kitchen melting we were with no casualties, Thank god

We are going again in October and are beginning to fund raise again so please continue to help if you can.

CONTACT BOBBY  @  sacredroot@gmail.com -  OR TEL 087 995 7102

Click on image to enlarge

Singer/Songwriter Freddie White played an outstanding performance at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, last Friday night (30th April 2010)
Photo: Michael Hussey REDTV.IE

Freddie White has long been synonymous with music of the highest quality. Whether interpreting songs by his favourite writers, such as Randy Newman, Tom Waits, John Hiatt and Guy Clark, or performing his own classy compositions, Freddie’s live performances are nothing short of legendary.

Freddie has been part of the fabric of the live music scene in Ireland since the 1970’s and his albums continue to sell well, amongst his loyal and new-found fan base.

Born in Cobh, County Cork into a musical family, by age thirteen Freddie was playing in school bands and by seventeen playing professionally. At nineteen, he moved to   London, where he busked in subways, and developed his unique voice and guitar style.
Click on image to enlarge

Sacred Roots Records
‘MUSIC SPEAKS  LOUDER THAN WORDS’

Bobby lee well known  musician,recording artist,producer and facilitator with brother Fergal established sacred root records in 2005.
‘Sacred root is all about lives, in helping people realise theyre potential and dreams as human beings through the form of music.

The majestic setting of St Marys Collegiate church Youghal Co Cork built in the 12th century will play host to a series of SACRED ROOT concerts to raise the spirits and with gods blessing the funds for  current and future music projects for sacred root.
Visit   http://www.myspace.com/sacredroot  to hear sacred root sounds.

Sacred root records is a non-profit making organisation

Youghal singer/songwriter Steve Whelan plays some live tracks from his album “The Last Walk” on the very successful radio show “Green On Red” on RedFM 104-106fm on Sunday 2nd November 2008 at 9:00pm (approx) Steve will be joined in studio with fellow Youghal musicians Tony Kiely (guitar) and Kieran McCarthy (percussion)

Steve Whelan has a very down to earth approach delivering his music with a spirit of honesty presence and grit. His smoky vocals married with his simple but poetic and addictive melodies produces a musical honesty and edge possessed by few writer composers. His influences range from Ben Harper, Cat Stevens, The Beatles to Gospel and Spiritual music.

>> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE <<

The “Green On Red” radio show is presented by Ashley Keating, on Sunday’s from 7 to 10pm, featuring the best of Irish music.

The show is the soundtrack to Read more