Welcome

Huckleberry Finn and Me – Out Now – stream or download here on Bandcamp

Huckleberry Finn & Me’ is a jaunt back in time to the long carefree rambling days of childhood. Days spent searching out childhood treasures, when time stood still. Time spent roaming country roads on bicycles, fishing and searching for hidden apple orchards. Is there not a Huckleberry Finn in all of us, the spirit of adventure waiting to be unleashed? Perhaps this song can be a signpost or a gentle nudge back to that Spirit of Adventure. The song questions, as adults could we not take more time, to sing and dance, to create magical times together.

PRESS

Eastcoast FM Radio, Declan Meehan Interview link here

Highland Radio, Paul McDevitt: “it’s an absolutely brilliant song, a beautiful laid back track that definitely carries that air of care free days when things were a bit simpler”.

Galway Bay Fm, Donal Mahon: “The song is very reminiscent of past times, I’m sure it will strike a chord with listeners”. 

Somewhere Further Down the Line

‘Somewhere Further Down the Line’ was released last November. The track received really lovely response and fantastic airplay from various radio stations including: Radio na Gaeltacht, Galway Bay Fm, Midwest Radio, Highland Radio, Radio Kerry, KCLR.

‘Somewhere further down the line’ attempts to capture the ordinary everyday happenings that make up a life of love. The song commemorates a whole generation who have passed on, good people who have lived and loved well, and left us treasures. The aspiration is that one day we may meet our loved ones who have passed on.

‘Somewhere Further Down The Line’, features on my upcoming debut EP of original songs, scheduled for release in Autumn 2023. The song was recorded and mixed by Axel Grude in Songcraft Studio, Garrafrauns, County Galway. In addition, award winning Galway based fiddle player, Michael Chang plays viola and fiddle on the track.

Supporting John Spillane for Drimoleague Singing Festival – May 2022

It was a great honor for me to play support to John Spillane in May 2022 for a gig organised by Drimoleague Singing Festival. John has been a great inspiration & mentor to me in my songwriting journey. I have attended many of John’s songwriting workshops including a very memorable week spent writing songs with John’s guidance during Listowel Writers Week. One moment in particular stands out from the gig. One of the songs I performed, Ilen River I had written during a Songwriting workshop John had facilitated at a previous Drimoleague Singing Festival. It was quite an experience to have John sitting in the audience for this one.

Music Training – Pulse College – Windmill Lane

Mick completed a course in Audiovisual Technology & Livestreaming with Pulse College in 2021, and is currently completing a second Music Business and Production course in 2022. The course is based in the famous Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin. It is an amazing time, inspirational even, spending time in the halls & studios of Windmill Lane. The building has echoed with the great sounds of The Chieftans, Planxty, Paul Brady, Thin Lizzy, U2, The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon, to name but a few. Their photos were on the walls, you can feel the energy of creativity in the place.

With all of this inspiration coursing through the veins, and standing firmly in the tradition of Irish folk music, Mick is currently working on completing an EP of songs for release in Autumn 2022. Sign up to his newsletter and be the first to hear new song releases & exciting news from the Mick’s Song camp.

Come West along with Rose – The Kinvara Fm Song

This song was written for Rose O Connor, to highlight and support the work of Rose and all the team at Kinvara FM Community Radio Station. They are all volunteers, a wonderful bunch of people who support local business’s, charities & the Community, by providing a platform for them. I have been interviewed and played on Kinvara FM on different shows at various times. Rose asked me to write a jingle for her show, and it turned into a full song, and then a video. I tried to capture some of the spirit, vibe, fun and generosity of the spirit of Kinvara FM in the song. If you’d like to donate to support the station, you can do so on their website: www.kinvarafm.com You can download the song by clicking this link: bandcamp. All proceeds from downloads of the song during the period June, July & Aug 2021 will be going directly to supporting the work of Kinvara Fm. Lyrics here

Song for Brigid

Song for Brigid – A song in praise of Brigid, Celtic Godess, Christian Saint, Woman of the earth, of fertility, of hospitality

I released this video in February 2021 for St Brigid’s day. I had originally written the song in 2017, and have sang it many times. Even though it is a spiritual song, it seemed to go down very well in all sorts of venues, even in pubs. In February 2019 I visited the Brigidine Sisters Centre in Kildare Town and took a lot of video footage of their celebrations for Brigids day festival. A lot of the footage that I took makes up most of the content of this video. I believe that Brigid and her story speaks to a deeper part of us, beyond the rules and regulations which often obscure the treasures hidden in our sacred traditions. Brigid invites us to return to simplicity, to return to nature, to return to our true values and the simple joy of living.

Who Feeds the Reindeer

I got the phone call from Innov8academy at the end of the summer 2020 with a song commission. Would I write a Christmas song for Children that would go with their children’s Christmas toy, the Shrumann Reindeer Feeder. The toy would be sold in stores across Ireland and Uk and even through Wallmart in USA. I was hitting the bigtime. I usually say yes prior to thinking of the consequences of these matters. Sure how could I not take up such an opportunity, to bring a bit of fun and Christmas cheer to children. And especially given the tough year we all, and especially children had been through with Covid-19 lockdowns and all that mallarkey. I set about my task in late August. As the sun was splitting the rocks, I was trying to imagine snow storms and sleigh bells. The lyrics and melody came pretty quickly following closely the story of the Shumann, the shrunken humans who feed Santa’s Reindeer. I was unable to get to the recording studio due to Covid lockdown restrictions, and it was my first time doing remote kitchen recording. I would record and send over audio files to the recording studio, either getting the thumbs up or thumbs down at times when I had to re-record. So it was over and back with audio files until the final product was completed. I sent the song up to Innov8academy, and waited for their response to this my first song commission. Thankfully they loved it and felt that it captured the spirit of the Shrumann christmas toy. The song “Who feeds the Reindeer” has been sent to toy shops in Ireland, UK, USA and further afield to create a bit of Christmas cheer and to promote the Shrumann Reindeer feeder.

Tribute to Terence MacSwiney

In October 2020 I was watching a documentary on RTE about the 100th anniversary of Terence MacSwiney, the Cork patriot and Mayor of Cork City, who gave his life for Ireland in October 1920. Straight away that night following the TV documentary, I was inspired to write this poem and was up until the early hours of the morning as the words kept coming. I felt that the poem needed some music which would do it justice. I discovered a traditional air called Cape Clear from the playing of the great Uilleann Piper Paddy Keenan and guitar player Arty McGlynn. Cape Clear fittingly is an island off the Cork coast, and I felt the air fitted so well with the poem. Having started writing the poem on the Wed prior to Terrance’s 100th Anniversary, by the time Terrence anniversary arrived on the following Sunday, I had completed the poem, set it to music, recorded it in my home kitchen studio, and made the video. This was a world record achievement for me, as I had to learn many new skills to achieve this inspiring challenge. Thanks to Axel Grude from Songcraft studios for jumping in at the last minute and adding some wonderful sound production effects.

Hope across the Sea – The Lifeboat Song

The Lifeboat Song – I wrote this song to commemorate and honour those dedicated people who risk their lives day in and day out to help others who are in trouble at sea. Read More

Huckleberry Finn & Me

I wrote this song about my brother and I when we roamed the highways and byways of county Wicklow as young fellows. The song is about the freedom that we shared as children. Lots of people have told me after gigs, that it really inspires them, reminding them of the fun and simple times they had as children. Sure isn’t it the simple things that are the key to life.

This song is about my younger brother and I growing up adventurous little kids, roaming wild and free through the countryside. Its about looking at the world with eyes of wonder, fun and seeing new possibilities, yes we still can. See More

Tearing down London & Digging up Holes

This song is about my emigration journey by boat to London in the late 80’s, standing out on Cricklewood Broadway with the rest of the Irish of my time looking for building work, the craic we had. Dedicated to the people, especially Irish, who fell through the cracks, tough city, eat up a lot of good people.

Song for Gemma

This song is about my beautiful sister Gemma who died in December 2014. It’s about the things we got up to growing up and in adult life, the good times we shared, special times, sacred times although I did not know it at the time, I think she was more tuned in than me. Ar dheis dé go raibh a hanam dilís.

Ilen River

I wrote this song at a John Spillane Songwriting Workshop in Drimoleague Singing Festival, Co. Cork in 2017, half an hour after I wrote it, I sang it in Harry Deanes Pub in the Village, tested it out like. All the locals joined in the chorus with me, so I knew I had a song, delighted with myself, skipped up the road after.

Trip to Donegal

This Song is about a Road trip up The Wild Atlantic Way from the Kingdom of Kerry to the Hills of Donegal for a family wedding. The combined age of the people in the car was 257 years of living between us. The car was packed with suitcases, walking frames, wedding presents, guitar, banjo, etc. Its about the many adventures we had on the way – good times, arguments, fun times, getting lost, perhaps a microcosm of the journey of life. The song proclaims to all who will listen – Always remember to have fun on the road – The journey is the destination. Dedicated to my Dad, Paddy, very  much part of this song.

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Entertaining a group of Leonard Cohen Fans in Galway. This song was either ‘The Dutchman’ or my own composition ‘Who will mind the Road’ What a night it was – full of spirit and joy
Playing on Kinvarra FM’ Rose O connor’s Come West Along with Rose Show as part of Kinvara County Galway, Crinniú na mBád festival – This clip was shown on Irish TV Station TG4
Playing at Seafest in Galway with Hugh Melvin on Whistle
Playing at Galway Folk Club
Great music session with Limerick Carers Association group in Sccul Sanctuary, Clarenbridge, its all hands on deck with this song ! Mighty fun altogether