|
Donegal News - 1 May 2012
Kathleen Fitzgerald and her fellow members
of the Richard Fitzgerald Céili Band were given a Civic Reception by
Bundoran Town Council this afternoon. Kathleen’s daughters - Joan,
Angela, Gràinne and Marie Thérèse Diver from The Screaming Orphans -
were also honoured for their role in promoting the town abroad
through their music.
Kathleen Fitzgerald and her fellow members
of the Richard Fitzgerald Céili Band were given a Civic Reception by
Bundoran Town Council this afternoon. Kathleen’s daughters - Joan,
Angela, Gràinne and Marie Thérèse Diver from The Screaming Orphans -
were also honoured for their role in promoting the town abroad
through their music.
The Fitzgerald Céili Band were one of the
most successful Irish Céili Bands of all time. Their tours of the US
and Canada in the early 1960s cemented their popularity across the
Atlantic. Their biggest hit ‘Beautiful Bundoran’ touched a chord
with emigrants from all counties and made a great name for the
seaside town even among those who had never been to Ireland.
The Screaming Orphans, who are based in New
York, toured with Sinéad O’Connor in 1997 and have also worked with
the likes of Baaba Maal, the Afro Celt Sound System, Peter Gabriel,
and Joni Mitchell.
Cllr. Michael McMahon, Chair of Bundoran
Town Council, was the person who had proposed they be honoured by
the town. He said he was delighted “to honour these people who have
spread Irish music throughout the world”
He recalled being in New York and Beautiful
Bundoran being one of the most played songs on the juke box.
“Certainly it was Top of the Pops, there’s no doubt about it, and
when Kathleen hit that note, it made a sound that caught the world
by storm.” |
