Father Ray Kelly sings Hallelujah and smiles.

A very special Hallelujah

Two years ago to the day, Father Ray Kelly gave a remarkable performance in his parish that significantly influenced his life and touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide. I’m delighted to commemorate this illustrious event here with some of his thoughts and experiences that he shared with me especially for IrishBayrisch.

Cover detail of book Echolocation. Cover design by Olaf Hille. Rainbow-coloured sound wave on a black-grey-white background.

Echolocation

23 December 2015. The day before Christmas Eve. I’m in Castlebar in County Mayo. My passion for bookstores leads me to Eason in Main Street. In the Irish corner, I spot a thin, white book: Echolocation from Terry McDonagh. The first sentence on the back immediately arouses my interest:

The eight musicians of Da Huawa, da Meier und I and Na Ciotogi are standing and sitting on the stage playing an Irish-Bayrisch song

That’s how Irish-Bayrisch sounds

A music experience from 21 October 2015 at the Schlachthof in Munich

Anacrusis

“We play in flat keys, they play in sharp keys. That doesn’t really fit.” This statement is from somebody who knows what he’s talking about: Siegi Mühlbauer. And that’s exactly why I’m here tonight. I’m curious to find out how it sounds when the Bavarian music comedians Da Huawa, da Meier und I and the traditional Irish band Na Ciotogi present their first joint CD together. Of course it is entitled Irish-Bayrisch.