Ballintubber Abbey

Filmed in County Mayo, Ireland in February 2008, while I was on the Paul Goode Fellowship in Ireland, which I received from Artist Trust in Seattle. The music was inspired by seeing a gravestone at the Ballintubber Abbey. The man had died in 2002 at age 50. On it was writ 'there will be many songs to sing.' I thought to myself 'that's what I want on my gravestone!' Then suddenly I could see him at the pub, merrily making music with his friends, and the next instant I could see his funeral in the graveyard where I was standing, all the same friends full of sorrow. I went back to the car, started driving, and burst into tears. I had to write the song to purge myself of a deep collective unconscious sorrow. I'd been playing with my new friends Pat & Mick in the pubs in Westport, and told them of my strange vision. They knew Mick Cuffe, said he was a real talent, a one-man band. Another man said he was a comedian. They told me he died of drink, bless his heart. There will be many songs to sing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ballintubber
• Abbey
• Ireland
• Mayo
• Croagh
• Patrick
• Amy
• Denio
• Mick
• Cuffe

[tillyireland]

had one of the best nights i can remember, mick cuffe not singing that night sat beside me and we had a few pints, he started telling jokes and stories, i would pay anything to have that night again.

[ctomarctus]

Hey whatever became of Rev. Thomas A. Egan, who had Ballintubber Abbey re-roofed in the 1960s? Is he still around?

[rarjungle]

okay, holy cow, the music is exquisite, and garsh darn if i am about to cry now for that dear mcCuff, and i aint' joking, but since i've been drinking beer, i am must be honest with you and say the images went by a wee bit fast!

i love the video footage at the end the most. many good images.... holy cow, i wanna meet macCuffe in heaven, i know that for sure!

[skeane80]

I'm from Ballintubber. Mick Cuffe was a bit of a local legend. A great musician and a comedian rolled into one. When you saw Mick was in the pub, you knew there'd be a few hours of mighty craic

[mpesk]

Wonderful.  Thank you.

[waynerdy68]

That was awesome thanks.

I would love to live there with my 2 kids.