 That is the new song from, as I say, Risen Up a Chart and the winner of last year's local hero competition in association with Hot Press. Right, Monday night session is quarter past eight and we say hello to our first guest. We welcome back, it's been a wee while though, but cherry early, you're very welcome. Thank you Paul and Jimmy. That's good to have you here and I have to say we totally appreciate your commitment because if anyone was on Facebook they would have seen the video you put up across and over the Atlantic. It looked worse than it actually was now in fairness. It was rough enough looking now in fairness, but I would say knowing yourself and your background is probably you've seen rougher. Yeah it was worse earlier on the day actually but it settled as the evening went on so yeah, but I wouldn't miss it. No, thanks very much. We'll talk more in a wee minute but we're going to go into a song for cherry and the first one up. I have to say a good evening, Mike Glyn, you're very welcome, Mike. Thanks very much Paul. And Gronya, you're here too looking after security. Yeah. And it's lovely to see you, thanks very much. Needed, family needed. Well, cherry, first track up we're going to do is a cracking tune called Caledonia. California. California, Mike. Going to California was a song actually, my father used to sing in the bar on a Sunday night and every chance he got some. It's a great song, it's a Johnny McEvoy one, but what do you call the woman's song or two? Eila Grant. Eila Grant. Yeah. She's a beautiful voice. Right, cherry, we'd love to hear that. We'll do that first. Ah, of course. He was never there but she pleaded, saying, darling won't you stay home just one time? I need always say I'm sorry, but there's no need to worry. I'm gonna meet my aunt, drink some beer and fight a war in the kitchen, mate. As she tidies up the dishes and another, she drank a lot. The nights, they have no pity in the streets of New York City. As he sits there, hear his key turn in the door. She said, I'm going to taste the sunshine, sit beside and to pass away the tide. He didn't books an old love story and forget. I'm sure maybe, who knows maybe, we might meet again sometime. He came home sober. He was long when he found the note she'd written, sitting by the tail. And it said, I'll always love you, just sitting to taste the sunshine, sit beside and to pass away, son, oh, maybe we might meet. As he sits there, watching TV, drinking beer and shots of whiskey. Wondering where all is yesterday. Faced the sunshine, sit beside, I read in books and all. I'm sure maybe, who knows maybe, we might meet. I'm sure maybe, who knows. Very nice indeed. Thank you very much indeed. I'll do that one. That was done for my mummy, who's listening back in the Eidols. Oh, very good. Keeping well. Keeping well, thanks a lot. And my lovely harmonica there, love that instrument. I was going to, believe it or not, you were doing crazy horse up the stairs first. There's many tonight, I go out into the garage and I put on Johnny McEvoy, either on CD or Spotify, whatever I have them on. And that's one of the ones I love accompanying on the harmonica as well. Yeah, he does that really well. It's a beautiful song. That song, California's written by him as well, I'm sure you know. Johnny McEvoy, I think, probably won't be, at least, no longer what is, than he'd really, really appreciate it. We used to, myself and my father, used to go to here and just loved. What I like about Johnny McEvoy is there's as good a story between the songs, that are the songs, you know, and he keeps the audience, he captivates them all the time, you know. Great story telling, yeah, yeah. The pleasure of meeting him at one of the Haydnard radio concerts, and I got, he brought out a book a couple of years ago, and it's all the stories about the songs and the lyrics and every song and the story about them, and I got him, they've seen it, and that was a year before my father passed away, and they loved it. Yeah, it's funny when my father signed that song, he put it sort of maybe his own twist in it, you know, and around home now, people would be more familiar with my father's version of it funny enough than Johnny McEvoy's, you know. And some people will say that my father sang it better, but he used to love to hear that, you know. Why not, sure, why not. But it's still one, you know, and it's great when we do do it, you know. I didn't do it for a long time after he passed, but I had to get the go-ahead from my mother, you know. In fact, it was the night Daniel was in to do a tribute night for him, and Daniel asked me to sing it, you know, and, of course, when Daniel asked, when I told my mother that Daniel wants me to sing it, it was okay. Very good. Well, do you know, it's nice that you were able to come back and sing it again. Yeah, because I love singing it, because, you know, it's like, you know, it's all them old songs and songs that I remember him by, and so it's lovely to bring him into the room, you know. Music's got that great thing, hasn't it? It brings you closer to people that are no longer here. Yeah, absolutely. And it's just brilliant. Well, anyway, as I said before, it's great to see you back here. There must be a couple of years now. Would you believe, Paul, it's nine years in November since I came in here, this December, actually. 12th. It was the 7th of December. Yeah, it happened to be on the 85th anniversary. That's right. Of the Stalwig, when I signed the song, I'll go. And sort of, it was actually John, John Muldowney and Smeaton, Jonathan, who were in, so I sort of stole six or seven minutes out of them. I remember it now as clear as a bit. I ran in there a parade a little bit, but then, you know, with the help of yourselves, both you and Jimmy, that song sort of, you know. Well, do you know, I didn't know much about that story. In fact, I knew very little about it. And the fact that it was that night was the anniversary night. And then I'd done a lot of reading and research about it, the best of my ability. And it's a story that's just stuck with me unbelievably, because I always had a great, I still have a great appreciation and respect for the lifeboat people. Always have. And maybe because of my own background in the fire service and stuff, but the thing about the fire service, you were getting paid. You know what I mean? And these people are volunteers. And it's just... Yeah, it's really, I suppose, you know, the satisfying part about it was, there was many people in the island that actually didn't know about that rescue. It was just something that they never spoke up with themselves, you know. They never addressed what you said. And you said that to me, and I was like, is that modesty? And it's something else. But the 18 were rescued, isn't that right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, so that was 18 were rescued. And then they got, you can correct me if I'm wrong, they got medals from, you know, Irish R & L.A. They did, yeah. Well, the R & L.A. And then the Queen of the Netherlands. It's very unique that rescue, actually, because it's the only rescue that got two gold medals for the same service. Because the R & L.A. bestowed gold medals on the station and on the Coxson Jack Boyle. But then Queen Wilhelmina of Holland also bestowed a gold medal for the station and the Coxson. So it's unique in that sense. And are the medals still around? Yeah, actually, yeah, yeah, yeah. The gold medal on the station is still there. In fact, they're all still there. And again, I suppose, you know, people didn't know the significance. You know, I mean, I remember that medal hanging on the old Apo station, and I never really questioned it. You know, it was just one of them things that, you know, the people at the time, and even the sons and daughters, never spoke much about it, you know. So it was, yeah, it was great that, you know, because with that song done, I think, it took a lot of them, them men back to life, you know, in many ways. Was that a doubt? And I love singing it now because once you get to the chorus, you just pull back and, you know, a lot of the audience, especially in the 80s, like, you know, young people in particular, they just sing it with such a gusto, you know. But I think what you're doing is brilliant for the memory of it. And then, still, under young people, the bravery element of it, because the lifeboat was a lot different down here than what it is now. Yeah, yeah. You know, like, that was crazy stuff. As opposed to the time, they didn't know any better, and they were still, you know, they were still, you know, they were still decent boats, fine boats, you know. Were they? Oh, they were, yeah, yeah. I mean, look, there was, there were one engine, but nowadays, there's two engines, and, you know, they have all the state-of-the-art equipment. Back in 1940, it was basic stuff, you know. But still, I watch that, I'm sure you can see it to yourself. I watch that documentary on BBC all the time, but saving lives. Yeah, yeah. And you can't help but just admire, it's just a matter of the bravery, you know. It's a great ethos, Paul, you know, with the volunteer element to it. Of course. And tell me this, do you know where the island being the size it is? I know mainland lifeboats might, maybe, recruit a lot easier. But is it difficult in the island? Um, I think it's getting a bit harder, to be honest, because, you know, since the, you know, we won't go into the fishing downturn, but that can get me off on a rant, you know. But I suppose since we lost the downturn in the fishing, you're losing that sort of maybe natural seamanship. So now, you know, there's a great training program in place where we're getting younger people that, you know, with the greatest respect to them, didn't have much of a sea background. Yes. But they're getting trained up to a very high standard, and we have some brilliant people there now. Within the, within the ordinal leg? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just probably the, we've lost and are losing some of the older lads, you know. I know. And it's hard to, um, Replace hard. Hard to get replacements for that, yeah. It's hard to beat experiences, you know. Of course, and as I said, I don't want to go on about it, but that's a very good point you made. Actually, when you said the fact that, because of the downturn in the fishing, there's obviously a natural element of boating, you know what I mean? You have to, you have to learn, of course, the skills of rescue. Yeah. But there's a seamanship in you, which is... There is, yeah. And in fairness, the downturn of the fishing wasn't because of the fishermen, you know. That's because of, I suppose... Policies. Policies, yeah. And that's disappointing part, but... It is. But look, we're still there. We're still on 24 hours, seven days a week. So, you know... Are you still involved now? I'm more now in the launch, launch authority now. Right, okay. Deputy launch authorities. I'm still, yeah. Still a bit me. Well, a script. Finger in the pie a little bit. A script. A script. Sound and grit, Gerry. Your dad's not far away when you sing that song from John Muldowney. Oh, Jesus. The legend that is John Muldowney. Oh, no. John was up a couple of weeks ago, he was having a bit of a crack there, and it's always gritty. I was nearly going to call John to come up, but you know what would happen if John came up? He would have actually sang it before me. He's done that in the past, you know? I remember doing that in the broadcast. Do you remember the night we were out and John sang it? We were doing an outside broadcast from your place. Yeah. And John started to sing it. And I said, oh, Jesus, Gerry's way up the stairs. He's the stairs going. Now look, I'm pumping that. That was good. John said, I'm going to sing this song. I'm going to sing this song before that, who are up there. He's saying, is it? Hello, Gerry. What a voice. Is it recording a CD or where would you get it? That's from Bernie Freel. Bernie, I have a couple of CDs recorded. I'm not going to do a CD on this one. It's just a single, the one that's coming on later on. But look at if she drops it. I still have copies of a collaboration of a couple of CDs we've done yet. Great, Gerry. Oh, Gerry, sound and grit. Happy Monday, lads. How's that from Jimmy? I don't know what to say, but only listen. Thanks very much. Right, Gerry, we're going to the song that we know so well and we loved and travel so well and we love launching at Wiggy and the memories I have and the crack. And it brought out a tone. Did I ever tell you my father put the litigant and I'm more of a public secretary every time I meet you? This is about the 42nd time you told me about it, Jimmy. Oh, Paul. In 19... Oh, sorry, sorry. What did I tell you so far now? 1958. We go to Burt and Portham. We used to look out, me dad. See, see them lights out there? I put them on. Wouldn't be one of, wouldn't be one of, only for me. I love telling people that. I know people go, oh, Jesus, it goes again. You're to blame for... They pulled the cable over in the boot. I mean, me dad's telling me. He's on a young fella again. Loved the place, hey. Loved it. I know you've been out a couple of times in your little... Your buzz cars. Must get the Beetle out of a Beetle now. Oh, you do? Oh, I've changed. I've got a bit of the money and... I hope there must be a fairly big Beetle, is it? I'll tell you what, 1975, she should tell me. Right. I might get her out. Right, we're going to go to A.I. Go and lovely accompaniment here to buy a very own Tridio Donald. And don't forget the Fallout timesheet. Okay, thank you. She's in double time. No, I don't know that I'll carry on. And Mike, you're going to accompany too. We're looking forward to this. Yeah, so yeah, we'll do this. And I'll do this for a good friend of mine out in Spain. Good for him? Good for him, yeah, yeah. For John Joe McGatigan and all the lads and the Cavities and Caberoig. Not tonight of any nights at the cocks and all the crew. The chances of survival on a night like this are few. December 1940, around the coast of Donegal. Kimber great north of Wynne, the could have been the cruellest of them all. Fourteen men were missing, eighteen more and greatest rest. Jack Boyle knew that their future and his hands had come to rest. He knew a man who knew the sea, if any man would know. Will you show the way without delay? Oh, Donald said, I'll do the best I can, I'll do what must be done. I'll go, cos I'm a life, my father's son, I'll do what must be done. I'll go, birds watch them gather and they cast a worried eye. I'm wondered how that life would crew could possibly survive. They'll all agree that some at least the greatest price would pay. And the old men shed a tear and ealt on the ground. While standing on the pier with his handpicked squad of men. Jack told each one that they might never see their homes again. He told them there would be no shame, at this time they said no. He'd trace the cross upon his bra's depth dump and said, I'll do. I'll do what must be done, I'll go, cos I'm a must be done. I'll go, cos I'm a nice, the storm against the gale, against the mighty wave. Those men were rightly honoured as the bravest of the brave. And let us all salute like these, who would risk their lives for strangers, in parallel of the seas. They faced the seas from hell, with their waves above them, crashed and asked them everyone, who made the vow to be done. Life would crew, a son, a father, a son, a father, a son. But crew, a son, have you earned eternal rest. And surely if there's justice, they are seated with the best. Thank you very much. Lovely. I just want to point out the poignancy to that song that we didn't mention. And maybe for people that's maybe hearing it for the first time. It's the fact that it's called A Go, Jerry. And it's a story about looking for people that were prepared not to come back. Absolutely, yeah. This is why they say, I'll go, because they didn't ask everybody. No, it was a hand-picked crew, yeah. And I suppose, again, I'll come back to my father, he was nine when this happened, and he kept that story alive. And I suppose he was prepared to talk about it when others weren't. And I think for us, myself and John Gallar, he's listening in Glasgow, well, oh, John. Oh, John, yeah. It was easy for us to write it because we had no connection to... Directly, yes, yes. ...to any of the crew, you know, and it wasn't an epitome. It was just, you know, we could, I suppose, write about it and sing about it because, you know, it was, you know, it wasn't family to us, you know. It was just admiration more than anything else. Well, yourself and John, you know, you don't have credit. And I think it was so important because, as I say, every word in every line, you're hanging on it. But the thing that gets me is the fact that, you know, as they went out in Emily, that lifeboat that night, they were prepared not to, you know, they weren't prepared not to come up, but it was there. Well, look, I suppose, you know, for every time you go out, all, you know, that's a possibility, you know, for anybody that goes out. But I suppose the odds were much higher on that one, you know. Yeah. Unbelievable. Anyway, we're a quick hello, a couple of lows here. Maria McCormick's class, Jerry, Mary Ferry. Lovely song, Jerry. Elaine Dougharty, lovely song. Jerry, keep it up. And who else are we saying? Glenna, I hope I'm saying this right. Kisler or Chisler, hello from the USA. Hello to you. Hello, Glenna. Mary Loog, well done, Jerry. Ben McBride, great song. Jerry, come out just. And Tracy McBride, Jerry, sounding good as always, you know, the great memories I have of this song. We know that was some crack that day, wasn't it? It was some crack. Do you know, there's things that stick in my head, and that's just one of them magic. All of them, we ain't thinking of this. Oh, my God. But it was a good crack, it was all great memories. Right, we're going to take a look at it. Time to go back up again, Tracy. Eh? We'll have to go back up again, lads. We're no better man than myself, aren't we? And on your sailor, Sean, sailor listening from Varmore. Oh, that's the main man, that's the king of Varmore, Sean. Is that the king now? Well, I'd better not say Sean, because he goes off the head if I call him Sean, so it's Sean. Oh, Sean, good man, Sean. Sean is working on the ferries these days, and he's a busy man, because every time I see Sean, there's a camera stuck on his face, so... There you go, very popular, Sean. So hello, Sean. King Sean. Well, we look forward to meeting Sean, the next day we're over in the ferry. Look out for the red beetle. Right, quick outbreak. Back with more music and chat after this. Ensure the safety of your team with SIFTEC. We have part-funded courses in first aid, people moving and handling, confined spaces, food hygiene, quad bikes, fire warden, IPAF mupes, electrophusion, welding, and machinery cards for Ireland and UK sites. Also delivering online courses like Utilities, water hygiene, and construction supervisors. SIFTEC can deliver group training at your business premises. To find out more, contact SIFTEC.ie today. For our rhythm, we can own every day of the month. Find personalized solutions to support your home-owned health. Now on 3 for 2 at Holland & Barrett. Offer ends 14th of May, subject to availability. Are you ready for caring community games? Come and make some noise. Throw shapes, run, paint, cycle, sing, take to the stage, and make friends. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you're into, there's a place for you at Caring Community Games, because together we're all in. Play your part at CaringCommunityGames.ie. Don't miss the BAFTA Award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre's brand-new show, Magnificent, at the SSE Arena Belfast on Friday 31st May 2024. As always, Highland Radio make it easy for you as we look after all your needs. We will provide luxury transfers overnight stay at the Clinton Hotel Belfast on a B&B basis, your ticket to the show, shopping time in Belfast City Centre. For more information, go to the outlet at highlandradio.com or give us a call on 07491 25000. Michael McIntyre in Belfast. Looking for real choice? Leave diesel behind and make the move to Toyota Hybrid Electric, at Kelly's Toyota Letterkenny and Mancharlis. World-leading hybrid electric technology, lower emissions driving, with the widest choice of hybrid electric models from Ireland's best-selling car brand. With flexible payment options available, make the move today, at Kelly's Toyota Letterkenny and Mancharlis. Toyota, built for a better world. Virgin Media is bringing Ireland's best broadband to more and more homes. Big homes, little homes, outhouses, haunted houses, big gaffes in the country, non-bouncy castles, number 16, Oxbow Lake Houses, the house with all the cats. Get two gig full fibre broadband, with 99.9% reliability from Virgin Media. It's playtime. TSNC supplies see virginmedia.ie subject to availability. Ireland's best broadband see virginmedia.ie for sash proof. The CFC interior stock disposal sale ends this Saturday, the 20th of April. Due to renovations, an incredible £1.5 million worth of stock must go to miss our highest ever discounts on selected ranges across all departments. The stock disposal sale at CFC Interior's Derry. Sale ends this Saturday, the 20th of April. Join me, Marty, for this and every Friday night from 8 for Rockin' Hits on Highland Radio, in association with the Reno7 Letterkenny, the best family entertainment complex around with bowling, laser quests, soft play centre and more, visit Reno7.ie. Genesis is turning 30 and you're invited to celebrate three decades of Genesis Salon and Ghidor on Thursday, April 25th, with a live broadcast on Highland Radio from 9 till 9. There's 30% discount on full price treatments booked in the salon and a luxurious hamper worth 400 euro up for grabs, proceeds to the cancer flight service. With a live DJ, goodie bags worth 30 euro, bubbles, nibbles and cake, it's going to be an unforgettable celebration at Genesis Salon's 30th birthday bash. See Genesis Socials for more. This is Highland Radio with Paul McDevitt. Here are in the county Galway one pleasant day I spied a damsel she was fair and handsome and her beauty. Indeed, thanks very much indeed. Well done Jerry and join us into your music from all your friends at the Log Cabin. Oh brilliant, I had the doidles. And who else were saying hello? Say hello to Jerry from all the McLean's and Malin Bar. We were up there last Monday night and jeez we had a night for the ages up there. Is that right? Oh my god. Good night. Some carry goes up on that. Good evening from Blackpool just listening late to the show and to join Jerry singing that's Paul Ward, your cousin. Ah lovely, hello Paul. Hello all the family. And we see Patrick Rogers well done Jerry. Bernie Cook, O'Donnell watching from Manchester. Hi Bernie, that's my my own next door neighbour, Bernie. Oh very good. And Sean Monagall, big shittered to Jerry from John and Lisa and where'd you go? And Darren Duffy in Malin. We will see you in August. Oh god, do I have to see them? Well done Jerry. Sounding great. Keep your lip from Connie, Paddy, Arnmore. Ah that's the green island lads. Oh very good. Paddy, I think they were in here as well. Paddy and Connie. Ah they were. Ah of course they were yeah. We're sure they got it. Can you know the island, how's things going on if he is busy or? Yeah you know what? It's shaping up to be a good summer. Good stuff. Easter of course was early this year. The weather hasn't been great but yeah it's tipping along. You know there's a lot of stuff happening on the island which is. The Russia Rio Festival on this year. That's on the 17th of the weekend of the 17th of May which is a great festival. Very you know unique in its shadows and absolutely fantastic. How many years that go now? This would be the fifth year I think. A very successful every year. Fantastic yeah, yeah. It's booked out already. It's sold out yeah. It's fantastic now. I have to say that the Glens family that's two of them with me are massive drivers of that and with the connections through the music. Yeah they're loading up to come there. It's fantastic yeah. Russia Rua you know was was an old channels singer, a keeper of songs I suppose and. Have the wee book. Oh do you have the book yeah. Big connections too with Stravan believe it or not. Work down in the lagoon. Is that right? Way back yeah yeah. And I know she has family down there as well Paul. Yeah that's that's hoping to be here this year so. It's very good hey. Yeah look it's a great you know. It's great that she's been remembered now I suppose. And her songs would have been covered by you know by Halton, Morayden and the Brennans you know. Clannets. How long has she passed away to you? She passed away in 50, 60. What's it 1960? 63. 63 was it? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. That's how you are. But we you know I mean we've we've we've redone now and updated her headstone and stuff. So there's a lot of you know it's great that she has been remembered. Isn't it lovely? Isn't it lovely? There's a lot of songs this year. Well it's great and well done to everybody involved in it. And I just want to go before I ask you something else Mike and Grania as lovely to see you but there is a connection here with someone as nice Mike you know because Brenn and German are your sons from Evaga Bonds. That's right. And well you have a big connection with Islander and we always knew that because Grania you're from Arnmore and Mike you're just a blow on us. That's it. That's what we always will be. We'll never it'll never be any different. But you're happy to open that. Indeed I am. Of course. Come here the boys are doing good. They're doing very well. They've had a very very busy year and they've had they're I suppose they're getting bigger gigs and maybe don't have to do as many to stay alive. Yes. And so say the likes of Vickers Street and Aiken Productions have been very good to them. And last week now Brenn was down in Waterford and the lovely festival down there and he played a lot with Andy Irvine and they've a lot in common and it's nice to see that. Well they've a lovely style. Well it's a great thing. It's a thing I have to say about all of those people that we knew back in the 60s Planksty and all the people that were associated with Planksty and of course Christie coming out in his own and all of those guys Paul Brady all of those people are very very supportive of the new up and coming talent. So our boys no more than anybody else like the Lankham lads and all these they've been given the best of support and encouragement and advice by these people so they've been able to avail of their experience and they're an absolute love of music. You know so But you see that and you know the music they make and even their presence and been in their company you know you can see that they're blue as the A tell us about growing to that. Well it was actually Breen wrote the words of that and it was about Gerry's dad Breen and Andrew were great friends from when Breen was seven or eight years of age and Andrew was going to bring him out he told him and bring him on a boat and he'd hook a fish that had pulled him out of the boat and so they've been and they're all kinds of lovely pictures of you know the associations with the two together and Andrew handing over the rudder when it was safe to do so to Breen so it was a lovely thing but I suppose coming up to say Andrew's death then and we were all devastated and then I think it was probably the day after he was buried Gerry had to open the boat to let off a bit of steam and Andrew of course in his latter years had the habit we all knew if we were out on boats and particularly novices like myself and myself he was watching every move you made and if you did make a wrong move he would let you know when you came back in and so one of them said to the other when they were down that day after he was buried said I wonder is he watching us now and with that an extraordinary thing happened and Minky Whale the smallest of the Whale family broke, breached the surface and came up right beside the boat and then just went back down into the depths again and of course the Minky Whale has a blue eye and so did Andrew and so that little bit there were bits about Roshiru and there were bits about you know Andrew as a younger lad but then that bit was referring to Andrew and of course one of them looked at the other we know we've been watched and he said well there's your answer beautiful and Jim will put us that day as well and it was Jim and one of the most extraordinary experiences I suppose we have had Gronya and I in going in following them around wherever we can was that in Vickers Street they were playing one night to 1600 people and when they started that song everybody around us knew the words and we couldn't believe that that's what I always say after songwriters and I love doing it sometimes when you go on somewhere and somebody's singing and you're standing back I love seeing the crowd singing their songs you know it's just nice it blew us away that night just to think that our wee sons had written, put this song together that they had influenced so many people very proud moment and the audiences they get vary from teenagers right up to old fogies like myself Mike thanks for sharing it that's a beautiful story Kela we're all listening from Bill and Tammy's house and our more fair play dad, Mike and Trudy Nana said you're sounding great thank you that that's good that's a mommy test everything's good now Jerry you have an event coming up in Vickie Street tell us what it is this is a brilliant story so I went to I befriended who I didn't know at the time Jackson Smith came established in the island and we started singing songs and telling stories met Jackson then and Beaver Island last September when we were out there and played more songs and had a bit of crack as you do on the islands, the early islands are the same and after I came back he actually called me and he says I had known that Jesse Jackson, Jackson sorry I'll keep getting Jesse and Jackson mixed up but I knew that Jackson he was the son of the great Paddy Smith I mean an icon in music and she also was a home on the island didn't get to meet her but I suppose cut along a story short just before Christmas he called me one day and he says hey Jerry do you fancy opening for my mom in Vickie Street that was my initial reaction as well hang on I said Jackson absolutely no chance I said my god I'm giddily I'm not that bad so when I got off and of course Pat and the kids said to me Dad imagine your CV for that one thought about it for a while and I said I can go wrong so I'm looking forward to that in the 27th of June that's going to be unique I'm actually nervous thinking about it but no more nervous than I was coming in here tonight to you lads you're never so bad until you started playing a song as an ad see that's the way it goes here that's the way it works yeah the good thing about that is nobody does but can we at a rebranded many nights three nights I'm doing the first night and the boys you vagabonds are doing the second night right so we're going to finish with a quick intro Jerry do you know us you'll have to come up some night bring Muldoonie and Jimmy says 20 minutes and he'll bring a bag of canned Muldoonie come here this new song once again I was out in the garage going along in the harmonica and the first when I listened to it I just fell for it right away give us the back bone so I suppose again John Gallagher John is my right hand man or I'm his left hand man or it works in a very weird way as opposed to when we collaborate John's a fantastic writer so it's just a brilliant songwriter so after I have to say this little harbor below my house where I always had fond memories and this applies I think to from Fulman Island I suppose is a massive part of your life because it's the first place you see and it's the last place you see but this particular harbor for me was always a special place there was always older men probably weren't that old but I thought there were the older men of the village and there was always a great feel about it unfortunately now there's only one or two votes switching out of it and me being one of them but every time I go there every time I went there you could just feel the presence of these old characters really fantastic men so after my father passed this came more and more into my head because like him and my father and all these great characters that used to be about the pier they were no longer there but every time I went there I could feel them so I called John and I said John I have a song and funny enough John had the same feeling about the place so we jigged and jagged around and eventually we wrote it that's probably shortly after my father passed when we wrote it because it was very very present and then we sat in it for quite a while just the time wasn't right or maybe just getting more comfortable but I took it to Ori, Ori McBrady and Ori produced it and I was very lucky to get Mike to play in it Jackson Smith the aforementioned Jackson actually did played in it Brin Glenn and a lovely girl Rebecca lovely she does harmonies on it and plays a bit of the flute in the blood and whistles so yeah it's hard when you release a song you don't know where it's going to go but I hope it resonates with somebody maybe it was a pier, it could be somebody else it could be a farmhouse exactly it could be something but something clicks in your head and I found that when I listened to it and I listened to it and I listened to it a lot of times in the one night and it did it brought me somewhere that I remember things from well that's good and that's not named after the pier but it could be any pier on any island or village or it could be the town square your parents or your forefathers so yeah we're delighted that this is the first air play exclusive air play and if no one's heard it I want you to have a listen to this very very closely it's a brand new song and Jerry as I say and Mike and Trudy thanks very much as always for coming up we enjoyed your company, we enjoyed the story can I add, this is the first time he's been played and I wouldn't want to pass you to guys because of what you do for not just how you help me with what I'll go but what you do for all aspiring musicians coming up in this county so you know this is as much for you guys thank you lads this is a brand new song from Jerry early where the souls of fishermen rest and wherever you're listening if you can just give yourselves a couple of minutes and pick up on the lyrics and the songs I know a man stood at the head of the pier I could tell he was watching a boat disappear he knew me alright I could see by his smile he said it's so good to see he sat down for a while and I did and we spoke of days long ago as we stared at the spot the sea meets the sky and we sat on the edge our feet hanging free and we swapped tails of fish in the zone and we where the soft breezes blow on the way from the west clouds glide in the oceans white breast where the souls of all the fishermen rest I remember the days we played around the pier the fishermen tend the boats and the gear how to fish earned so much more out of passion to men I never say no to a neighbor or friend to respect the old ways and the freedoms we'd want I need something behind when your time here is done where the soft breezes blow on the waves glide in the oceans white breast I feel a welcome river where the souls of all the boats the skippers the crew it was true and they left it to the children who left it to you with kindness as you pass on through in comfort old souls understand that me for a while with the warm calmest time I turned for a wave a final goodbye but it couldn't be seen and I wasn't surprised where the soft breezes blow where the soft breezes blow where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen absolutely amazing genuinely it's just beautiful there's a reason why you write that and you just wait for the time to launch there's a reason you know there always is where can people get it Jerry? so it's on Spotify and iTunes thanks to my daughter Kayla because I was left to me you look like me so yeah it's funny be the ones that are on some reason and I'm sure I'll be singing it in corners oh what are you saying I'm really so Jerry it's amazing we're getting an unbelievable reaction here and we'll read some of them out but you can check them on the Facebook and thanks to everybody who messaged in here because it's very appreciative and absolutely as always it's a pleasure seeing you and we enjoy your company but we're going to have to do a special or something some night we two hours you know what I mean and we'll plan that in advance and I just want to say to Mike and Glen thank you so much indeed to our very own Trudy O'Donnell thank you very much indeed he's a brilliant and thanks to Mike and Trudy for joining me very short notice I have to say and pass our best wishes and open support to the two boys wish them all the very very best thank you very much everyone