 Check it out, Mike. Hello, Mike. Ah, that's it there. Are you with us, Mike? We are. Come here. Listen, lovely to see you again. Obviously, it's for the pre-pandemic or post-pandemic, whatever they call it when you're here last. And how things have been? How have things been, sorry? Well, we all thought during the pandemic and during the lockdown that when things come down and we all had a chance to kind of take it canny, as they say. That would keep that nice steady pace, quiet pace going. But if anything, it's, I think for all of us, all the Wild Atlantic women would say the same thing in any of the people that I've met over the last couple of years is saying the same thing. The music, thankfully, has opened up again and there's lots more opportunities. Isn't it great to see it? Oh, it's brilliant. Everybody. And you know, all the gigs seem to be getting a crowd now, which people are just delighted to get out there. It depends on where you are as well, though, because we found that, you know, when the smaller, smaller theatres, it's really only starting to come out now. You know, more in theatres, like theatres would have been my background more than like the pub scene. Yes. Whereas my son, Ben, he's in Nashville now at the moment, but yeah, he's on a scholarship too. So that, that happened during lockdown as well. What's that? Well, he was in GMIT and he had just had his first single in the January before lockdown. And when he was the weekend before lockdown, he was on the Irish triathlon team that did the Europeans and he got, he knew there was to be six story goes. There was six on the Irish team, but if they qualified for the Worlds that only four could go through to the Worlds in Amsterdam. So Ben was ranked number six because he was the youngest. He was 20th time and he said, right, he knew when he went out to race, I better, I better run here because if we qualify for the Worlds, I'm going. So he went out like the clappers and he was first for Ireland and he was fifth in Europe. Wow. That's brilliant. My God. So excited. When was that? That was in, not in the May, in the March, the weekend before lockdown. Around the seven dates of March, but 2020, but I was going to say Paggy Bonerson was in that as well. You know, they were great and they all met up down in Alicante or somewhere like that in Spain. He was all excited. Things were just kicking off for him and then bang, lockdown. Worlds were canceled, but every cloud has a silver lining and because of his results that he had there, he got offered sports and music scholarship in Nashville, Tennessee. You could kill two boards of the one stone there in Nashville, couldn't you? He's having a ball. Aye. He's having a ball. What a place to have a scholarship, especially if music's in your blood. Well, you know what? He's having an absolute ball, but it is very hard to go in the training for the athletics and... Well, a lot of discipline there, you know, it's alright having a party, but not an athlete, it's not going to party too much. And see, he had a soft mami, so he's having an absolute hard bone, I would say. Very good, very good. Well, I mean, that's great. I want to go straight into a bit of music first, if you don't mind. Sure. So the first song you're going to do first, please. Right, well, when I was talking to Jimmy earlier, I thought, what would I like to do? And I've been very fortunate, and another thing that happened out of lockdown was I got Artist in Residence in the hour clan down in Ghidor for the year, and that just was a sensational experience for me. And how many gigs did you do in that? What did that take in? It wasn't so much, you know, the amount of gigs, like we had lots of lunchtime concerts, and then we ran Donegal Live concerts and had lovely guests down like local lads, like Owen Ferry and Michael Maloney, Hard to Beat band, of course, Ann Biddy. My own dad had his 80th birthday, and Bernie in the circle. Where is that on? That was in the hour clan in the theatre, Ghidor, just behind Shanogs. Oh, yes, yes. Fabulous venue, really, really great. I was doing it yesterday, actually. Oh, it's a great venue now. So any artists that are listening to me that want to come down to the hour clan and give it a lash, just give me a shout. Excellent. And contact you on social media. Or the hour clan directly. It's actually a great venue. They have state-of-the-art setting, and of course heating, which is very important. Of course. And the lights and the sound system, and a really good talented team down there now in person. Absolutely. Didn't know that at all. Oh, sure. That's it. I mean, we've had, I've been very, very lucky, you know, go with, I was singing with Sean Keen and with Francis Black and... Down there. And in Letter Kenny, and Letter Kenny and in the hour clan, and different acts that were on, that BBC Gaelige, or Highland, or yourselves, you know, Rula Bula, the Irish, more Irish language languages, like Radio Nalif, Radio Faulche, they all, you're suddenly ringing up and saying, we didn't know about this theatre, and Radio Faulche is coming down to us now to the Radio Naligielte thing on Friday. Excellent. That's brilliant. And just lucky, the thing I like most about the Artist in Residence was meeting the other artists, because I thought, I mean, if it wasn't for the likes of yourselves here, and Colm Fairter and Rula Bula. Of course. You know, the local artists get priority, and that's what we try to do for the year below. And that was just amazing, what's available and what's down there. You mentioned they're just a couple of artists, and they're up there with the best of them. You know, this is the music talent, we had, there's a local hero song competition running, and you know yourself about it. I do. 83 songs in total. Wow. We're at the highest, the last time, and I think we're at the highest this time. And there's three or four of us on the judging panel, and there's not one bad song. But you could say that's wrong. Absolutely not. That's incredible. Blown away, actually blown away. When we listen to 83 of them, and you know, it sounds, it sounds a lot. But you had 83 different songs, and it was just amazing. Absolutely. And we can't wait to get somebody. Well, you know something, actually, on that song, or you know, artists that did enter, do enter into competitions, keep at it because, you know, it was Ben always said, Ben, he was into athletics, he was into music. And the way he put it is, if you're first over the line, or third, or fifth in athletics, it's a visual, physical thing. But when it comes to songs and singing or talent, or you know, whatever, that is, it's a subjective opinion. So you don't, you don't take that on, you just, it's for that contest. Yeah, that's fine. Absolutely. And you have to keep, keep at it, keep playing. 100%. You know. Well, first up, first Brigitte. Well, I think I'm going to start this. My, my mum, Kathleen, is from Arnmore. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. And that, that's what all the Arnmore songs matter about. Ah. Yeah. And when I was in our clan, it was easy to stay in Arnmore and come out and into, into Ghidor. It's not that far. No. But I've a couple of songs, as you know, yourselves, about dad . So I thought I met with Lorna, one of the Henry girls down in Ghidor when we had a meeting for an hour and a half. And I told her, I really want to write something decent about mum. And because it's all the songs about dad. Oh, God. You know, she, we started talking about our experiences. Yeah. And I started this song with Lorna below. And we were actually met down outside Meenalara. And it was a wonderful evening. And mum, I heard it for the first time. Some records, one of the ones I'm recording now. We can't wait to hear this. Well, I can't wait to hear if I can do it right or not. Oh, you'll do it right. I always say I write my own songs, so when I make the mistakes, nobody knows what will happen. Nobody knows what will happen. Very good. Is that there okay? Or is it too loud? Perfect. Don't you worry about it. You just take care of it. We'll sort the volume. Resting by the lake with her face towards the sun. Breathing in the beauty off the heather. She listens to the gentle ripples kiss the quiet shore. And closes her eyes to hear the laughter. She sighs as she remembers her simple childhood days. Smiling at the memories buried deep within this place. She smells the turf fire burning, sees her sisters at the door. And her heart is filled off yearning for those yesterdays once more. My friend, she's a fighter. The struggles of her life. She emerges. She survives. And how I love her. Island mother. Going to the lake. I see her waiting with a smile. Deep in prayer disturb her. She's lost in her own reverie. And I'm right here by her side. And I catch a glimpse of all who've walked here with her. She was when she was just a girl. And through this mountain site, this island was her work. Sitting in the evening sun, she whispers up above. Well, she hopes someday she'll find a way to share her mother's love. The struggles of her life. She emerges. She survives. The struggles of her life. She emerges. She survives. Absolutely beautiful. Well done. And have you played that? No. No? I did. I did do something. I've always been very odd about singing in front of my own family. And they used to laugh at me or that I could go up on the stage and sing in front of people, but not if there was a few of them. So I decided that this Christmas I played it to my mom as two sisters, one in London and one in Galway. And obviously my grandmother was the housekeeper in Ironmore. And as I took that, I just decided when I was singing that this could be anybody's island mother. And it really could be, even for Ireland, being an island. Exactly. So that's what my auntie said. And when they heard it, I have to laugh because my auntie Madge that's in London, she was driving and answered, you know, through the phone thing and through the car. And I won't use the language that she used, but came something to the effect of stuffy abridging. I'm going to go over the head here. Oh my God. Then I went up and played it for my mom and my father absolutely loves it. And he said, and I quote, it's probably up there with my father's legacy nearly. Oh my God. Nearly. I don't be getting notions of yourself. That's well done. That's brilliant. Thank you. You know, it's just beautiful to do that right like that and perform it amazing. She needed black. She needed, she needed, she needed was on she says, hello, Brie, Dunleig All's ambassador for music and following dreams with blue ribbon, wild Atlantic women's songwriting. Keep shening. She needed would have a great job in management. You're hired. You're doing brilliant herself. She is. But she's a natural. She's a redote. And the band, I have to watch what I say here, spoken about lovely song. Well done. friend. Oh that's very funny. There you go. That's because I disappeared to Aaron Moore. She calls me her wonderful friend. John Wallace said hello to you. Hello John. Yes and he said wish you all the very very best. Thank you very much John and so the songs of the islands. Yeah so basically I decided like from writing for as long as I've been writing and I got introduced on the stage to the National Pan Celtic by the emcee as somebody who always makes the final and I made it this year again. Who always makes the final writing about Donegal and home. So there must be something that we're missing here. She was from Carlo and she's I've never been to Donegal but it must be pretty special because there's that many songs that cook them out of it. Yes. So then I thought right wait a minute here. If I can write about my own area it's time that I met other people and what they're writing about it. My songs resonated with people and I was getting lovely messages from the likes of you know Charlie Megetic and Nora Lorna and Merid and you know lovely messages about the songs and I just thought well maybe it's time for me to you know as a teacher in Rugby Brack I always think we're always learning. So just to keep learning and go out and meet people and that's one of the highlights of this year was taking dad to meet Charlie and having the supposed to be a half an hour conversation and two hours later. When you see that is the natural personality of Charlie Megetic. He's great. You must well hate your watch. He was up here with us and he is exactly what you see. He's actually brilliant and you know what he's so good for Donegal as well but for example our first broadcasts with the Relay for Life Charlie came up and he's from Bali Shannon but he's living in Drumshambo. That's right. So he came up to sing Live for the first couple of Relays so not to bother him but it's just like eight in the morning on a Sunday morning. One bit Charlie. One bit. He has a great way with him and as I always say if I hear a song I know it's Charlie's voice and I like that and someone you know what I mean. He has a great story telling way with his songs. I love his music. I always have. And you see you perform with Sean Keane as well. Sean was a good friend of ours and we had the pleasure of his company up here and he's a gentleman. Do you know this region it doesn't matter as Sean is singing on his own or with an orchestra. He's just he delivers you know he delivers on his performance every time and you know if he's sitting here and he's just amazing. Do you know there was friends of mine another good friend of mine Tracy and her husband Harold were there in Tenerife there a week ago and they met Matt Keane Sean's brother and they said they never had a holiday like it forget about the sun the music and the sing songs at night was just unreal you know talent very talented man but very I would call him a listener. You know he seems to just absorb what was going on around him and the last time I heard him was over an hour and more and it was in Jerry Earley's and he was sitting out on a gig there and it was just one of them nights you know you couldn't wrap it up like and if you could wrap it up and sell it it would be amazing. Well there's nowhere better than Jerry's to be fair for that you know than our and more for to get the singers you know. I have to get it again. Regine always uplifts me love the show Margaret. Margaret thank you very much. Lovely. That's lovely. Thank you Margaret. Who's Margaret? Love it. Great stuff Ray and well done once again Paul and Jimmy. Thank you from Kevin on our drag Kevin thank you for getting a touch. We're going to go into another song if you don't mind. Sure yeah. And because I know I know do you write constantly? Constantly yeah constantly but we know book and it's brilliant my husband works sometimes abroad and he started to bring me home and we know books will have a notebook from Madrid and a notebook from Amsterdam whatever and it's beside beside the bed because when you get a notion you just have to and that's your way of doing it right in it. And loads of different ways like it kind of I would first of all maybe just like these new apps on the phones great or if anybody stole my phone they would give it back because you have to go through quite a lot of frogs before you find the friends but yeah that's what it's all about. Yeah so tell me what you give me a theme and I'll find something to sit. How does that say? Oh my God. We challenge. Oh you're throwing me something there. Emigration. Oh emigration. Go again Paul. No no Paul I don't have it here in front of me. Do you know what I'll do? I'll take a nap break and you take your time. Okay we'll be right back after this talk. 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At Logan airport we touched down and started our journey of life. No money in our pockets to spend leaving behind us, our family and friends far far from my hotel and back home in Ireland again. That'll do you have to revisit that one now. Oh, no, you're okay. Brilliant. Well done. Thank you very much indeed. We didn't put you in this puppy to pick a song. You're recording. You mentioned a single there. Are you recording or are you working on an album? I am. I have 15 songs written during the Songs of the Islands campaign there this last year. So seven of them are in English and eight askeleke. And they're all a song from collaborations with with different artists. So once I met, you know, I met everybody from cleaning the Galahar who won Iraq this and Sarah Louise McFadden that was on Glorchira and Betty, you know, just different ways and came away with their experiences and their styles and their genres because I thought I really want to touch every genre that I can this year from musical theatre to country. I even did country pause. My father's so proud. He can't believe it. So come to the country to the country gene and I loved it. I have to say. Welcome expect that. Well, it's actually been worked on in studio at the moment. I've got three different studios on the goal for three different sounds and full tilt Newton and Valley Studios moment and three of the songs will be ready now and one of them in time for a short in the Galahar, which is just two weeks away. Somebody says tell Bridget she's not as talented as their brother Paul John Francis. John Francis. I don't have a brother Paul John Francis. I have a brother John Francis that disowned me long time ago. Would that be him? Tell John Francis that he's never heard Paul when Paul's not. That's exactly we were looking at her drive a few years ago when Brie won the first Jimmy Kennedy song contest and a year later Claire Ward won a two two of the wild Atlantic women and two cousins. She's got our more blood in it. So if you really want to write a decent song, just go to Aaron Moore. Ask Jerry early. Well, my claim to fame with Aaron Moore is pretty straightforward. My father put the electric in it. Oh, right. I assume he did. Really? That was his job. His first job was putting the electric in Aaron Moore. That's very interesting. And we tell that while we have to have some claim to it, you know what I mean? So you wouldn't be plugging in anything from my dad. So he was in apprentice. That was his first job. He was electric. He was an electrician. It was an electrician. That was his first job. So we brought him over a couple of years ago with the Kraken on and we love just a different place. But I'm overdue. Stay in it. Well, we've quite a few sessions planned now in our for the for next for Sable Future because we've got the new Ampe Theatre in the Hall of Moors there. And there's, you know, lots of people on the island that's working hard to bring to bring music and to bring talent there. You've got Martin and Nailies. You have Jerry early Phil Barnes. You have the Culture Centre and then Fiona Glenn. She's the Ferroga officer and she's doing absolutely sensational stuff with the youth. Well, that's brilliant. And they can keep in touch with us and we'll plug away and play away and anything at all. You get a week's show out of our war. I think we can we can put it on. What do you call up when you put in a contact to Boston? Tell me if I plan here. We petition. We want to do a live show for Martin Moore. That's perfect. We'll go out on Saturday and come back in about a Thursday and I'll tell me why we couldn't get back because of the weather. Which year now? Saturday in 2023. You might be back in time for 2025. Very good. Very good. Well, listen, as always, it's a delight having you here. We love saying you up again on a script that you're making and recording your music, which we look forward to very, very much. Thank you. Are we talking 15 songs in this new album then? We are. So as you say, eight and seven. Yeah. And I'm going to put out the EP first because one of the songs actually and you might remember a little bit diva, which was yes, yes, yes. Well, just got the note we got words there a month ago that little bit diva was semi finalist and the international song of the year. Wow. Yeah. So I'm quite I'm quite impressed with that because it came from out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting it. Yeah. Brilliant. Brilliant. Final song for us. And give me a theme again. Let's do this for us. I like that. Jimmy, what do you think? Politicians? No. Politicians. Sligo. Sligo. No, that's what Jimmy said. Sligo. For a court match. Why would anybody write a song about Sligo? What did you say? The lighthouse. The lighthouse. We'll ask you to give you all right. Hi. Of course. Okay. It's actually it's the one that I had in this year's and panceltic. So that's one of the ones that we're singing and it's called. It's actually all about the lighthouse. Here we have got my bridge in Gritte here. You spoofing away as usual. Seriously. Have a great night from all the crew at Ashling. No, you're my how do I pronounce that to me? My my skiliter. Chris Screester. Ashley Screester. Ashley Screester. Oh, I know who that is. I do. Hello, Gary. And it's probably just John Francis because he didn't get enough of it. Oh, right. John Francis here. Push it up here. Come on. This one I'm dedicated to Sinead. That's John Francis' wife. She's she's lovely. God help her. She's got to put up for you. She's got to cross to bear. Oh, it's so great. Absolutely beautiful. That's for Haleena and Lela and Audrey and Future and Kayla and Orla, all the band who came to Carlo two weeks ago to sing that for me in the George Burnard show. That was that's something else. Well done. Go to my egg. No bother to you, Bridget and well done. It's just from Anne Patterson and Sheamus Noon. Sheamus, it's sound brilliant. Beautiful singing and piano sounds amazing. Lovely song. It's not fantastic. Come here. You have to keep in touch with us about the when you're releasing the EP and single or EP? I have see a single first and then have an EP and then I've got the album coming then in the summer. Oh, can I have it? Can I have it? Come here. An excuse to earn more, Paul. Oh, definitely. That's all we need. That's all we need. Jerry has a lovely new song coming out as well. He doesn't eat. It was as good as the last one. I'll tell you, we'll get a session out of that. Oh, it's absolutely sensational. I look forward to hearing it as well. And tell me this, people want to get in touch with Bridging Carr. How do they do that? You just have a website, www.bree-car.ie or if you just Bree Carr Music on Facebook. And during the day from Nine Little Three and Lurgy Brack National School, that's where I'll be. You're some energy. I don't know how you keep doing it, but well done. Keep doing it. That's the same. But thank you very much, Bridging. Thank you. Thank you so much. Slang-a-file.