‘I've survived cancer and a heart attack. I grew up on the Falls Road' – Brian Kennedy on taking criticism and his first acting role
'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘I've survived cancer and a heart attack. I grew up on the Falls Road' – Brian Kennedy on taking criticism and his first acting role
'It's unrecognisable,' singer Brian Kennedy says in relation to the music industry, and how it's changed throughout his career. Kennedy is in the middle of recording his 19th album, which has the working title How Can I Keep From Singing?.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Choral Festival celebrates 40 years of music as Wexford nominees line up for prestigious awards
A standout moment came when local musical society, St Michaels Theatre Musical Society (SMTMS) won their category, earning top honours under the Musical Direction of Kevin Kennedy. Competing against other musical societies and choirs, SMTMS earned top place in Competition F, winning the Maeve Wilson Trophy for the third time since it commenced in 2019. 'I am incredibly proud of our choir. The dedication, energy and commitment of our members really shone through on stage. It's especially wonderful also to win the Maeve Wilson cup. Maeve was so fond of local talent and she would be delighted to see us win this for another year', said Mr Kennedy. Mr Kennedy also paid tribute to Ms Heffernan, describing her as 'not only a valued member of our society, but a valued member of AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies), having joined the Choral Festival committee 15 years ago, and taking over as administrator four years ago. The entire weekend is a credit to her leadership and hard work'. The festival opened on Friday, May 16, in which 16 schools participated in the schools' competition, much to delight of the passers by in Brennan's Lane as choirs took advantage of the revamped space to warm up. Several competitions were held over the day, comprising primary school choirs, secondary school choirs, junior musical cameos and soloists to name but a few items. The day was a showcase of the passion and promise of the next generation of musical talent. Hosted by Chris and Roisin Currid, A Night at the Musicals was the spectacular Saturday night event. With the steer of Mr Kennedy, this concert featured an array of talent from 10 musical societies from across the AIMS South East Region; some performing highlights from their recent productions and some performing brand new arrangements. It was an evening filled with excellent music, standout performances, joyful energy, good humour and charm, making it a thoroughly entertaining experience for the sold-out event. Competitions continued on Sunday at St. Michael's Theatre and The Parish Church, with an impressive 38 choirs comprising approximately 1,100 singers performing throughout the day. Both venues, praised widely for their acoustics and welcoming atmosphere, proved to be the perfect settings for events. Reflecting on the occasion, Festival Director Lizzy Heffernan said: 'This weekend was really special. Celebrating 40 years of the AIMS Choral Festival here in our town and seeing so many groups, both young and old, come together in song was just brilliant. New Ross was alive with music, and the atmosphere was electric.' Beyond the music, the festival brought a welcome social and economic boost to the town. The shops and pubs benefitted greatly from the impressive turnout. The recently opened Brennan's Lane added to the vibrant atmosphere, where the weekend was rounded off with a lively open-air performance by local group, The Nomads. South Street was buzzing as choirs and spectators came together in joyful song, while gathering together along the street. There was also great excitement for many in attendance as AIMS announced their nominees for the 2025 awards, which will see 11 Wexford nominees who have been shortlisted from various groups across the county up against drama groups across the country for the top spots. The nominees include: Jacinta Kavanagh, Nominated by Carnew Musical Society; Best Visual - Sullivan: Enniscorthy Musical Society - Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Best Technical – Gilbert: Wexford Light Opera Society - Young Frankenstein; Best Stage Management – Gilbert: Oyster Lane Theatre Group - A Christmas Carol; Stage Manager: Colin Murphy; Best Comedienne: Antonia Close as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein - Wexford Light Opera Society; Best Actor: Kevin Reade as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol - Oyster Lane Theatre Group; Best Male Singer - Richard O'Toole as Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Enniscorthy Musical Society; Best Overall Show – Gilbert: Oyster Lane Theatre Group - A Christmas Carol. Meanwhile, two top Wexford musical directors are in contention for the spot as Best Musical Director – Gilbert, as Patrick Clancy and David Hayes have been shortlisted for their work with Oyster Lane Theatre Group's adaptation of A Christmas Carol and Wexford Light Opera Society's Young Frankenstein, respectively. The Enniscorthy Musical Society has also been nominated for the prestigious Adjudicator's Special Award - Moment of Theatre for the camaraderie, energy and full commitment of 11 brothers' hatred of Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The awards, which will be held in Killarney, Co. Kerry, will take place on Saturday, June 14.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Exactly what Pope Leo XIV did upon return to lodgings after becoming pontiff
Pope Leo XIV had been the pontiff for barely two hours when he bent down to bless and sign a little girl's bible when he joked: "What date is it?" The Irish Mirror can now reveal extraordinary personal details of what happened when the Pope returned to his lodgings on Thursday night. There was laughter among his friends as they confirmed the date for him. There were handshakes, warm embraces, and a few selfies. Archbishop John Kennedy, from north Dublin, described the joy as the Pope came back to the apartments where he had been living for the past two months. He left them on Wednesday morning to join his fellow voting cardinals as "Father Bob" and returned on Thursday night as Pope Leo XIV. Kennedy said the Pope met a young girl called Michaela, the daughter of a member of staff, and then went back to his old room for a "good rest" to prepare to tackle his first full day at Papal work. Archbishop Kennedy, a close friend of the new Pope, recalled: "After dinner, as I returned to the office, I noticed that there was a gathering of Police and Swiss guards and some of the officials. "Word had got round that the Pope was actually intending to come back and sleep in the apartment which he has - he only moved in about two months ago. He eventually came about 10.15/10.20pm. He very calmly got out of the car and greeted a lot of people. "One of the first to approach him was a little child, whose name is Michaela, she is the daughter of a person who works at the archives. She presented her Bible to the Pope asking him to bless it and to inscribe his name, which he did with great care, and I think he wrote her name and then he put a message for her. "Then he asked: 'What date is it?' And everybody laughed. "We told him it was the 8th of May and he then put the date on it as well." The scenes on Thursday night echo stories from across the world about the new Pope. Everyone he has met speaks warmly of the man who loves tennis and is a dedicated supporter of the baseball team, the Chicago White Sox. It also emerged yesterday that some family members had predicted he would be pontiff one day when he was as young as nine. Kennedy went on to give more details of the Pope's surprise arrival on Thursday evening: "In turn people greeted him, shook hands - people were taking pictures. I then, on behalf of all the people gathered, I welcomed him back to his house. I expressed our gratitude and gave him our good wishes on the occasion of his election and then asked for his blessing, which he very readily and generously imparted. "He was then escorted upstairs to his apartment. We are not too sure where he is going to live now. The choice is ultimately his. He wasn't really coming back to get his stuff - but to get a good rest after what had been a very long day." Archbishop Kennedy is the Head of Discipline at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and he reports directly to the Pope. He described the new Pope as "humble and determined - a perfect combination." The official inauguration of the Pope will take place next Saturday. The Pope spoke yesterday and identified artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity. In his first formal audience, he made clear he would follow in the modernising reforms of Pope Francis to make the Catholic Church inclusive, attentive to the faithful, and a Church that looks out for the "least and rejected." Citing Francis repeatedly, he told the cardinals who elected him that he was fully committed to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that changed the church. He identified artificial intelligence as one of the main issues facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to "defending human dignity, justice and labour". Some more of the Pope's background was revealed last night. When his older brothers were playing outside playing games of 'cops and robbers', their younger sibling would always play the part of a priest. His brother Louis, who lives in Florida, said he would "hand out biscuits as if they were communion wafers." "We used to tease him all the time, 'You're going to be the Pope one day!' Neighbours said the same thing. Now 60 years later, here we are!" The Pope grew up in a small brick house in a working class suburb south of Chicago. He was the third son of Millie and Louis Prevost. Scott Kuzminski, 63, who grew up in the local neighbourhood and attended the Catholic grammar school attached to the church, St Mary's of the Assumption, said: "Millie and Louis were proud members of St Mary's. It was a hardscrabble school. It was predominantly Irish at the time." His father was a school caretaker and his mother established a library at St Mary's. He said: "They were the kind of people who volunteered for jobs in the church. Leo's mother was a brilliant singer, in church and in theatre productions. "I was in Fiddler on the Roof, she played Golde. I was in the choir as a villager. The irony of singing the [Jewish] Sabbath prayer with the Pope's mother .... I don't know how that happened."
