Birr sean-nós singer makes Glastonbury debut
While former Beatles member and octogenarian, Paul McCartney, was undoubtedly the headline act at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, Offaly was also well represented at the iconic musical gathering by none other than renowned Birr sean-nós singer and storyteller extraordinaire, Thomas McCarthy.
The recipient of numerous awards for his unique talents, he was one of a large number of talented artists who gathered in ‘The Atchin Tan’ at the theatre and circus field at the event for five days and nights of storytelling, thought-provoking debates and fireside music sessions.
Among the other participants to take part in the novel fringe event were Ruth Sullivan (representing Traveller Pride); Baroness Jenny Jones, British Green Party activist and member of the House of Lords; renowned folk singer Paddy Rogan, and Policy and Campaign Manager with the English Council for Civil Liberties, Emmanuele Andrews.
Thomas McCarthy was born into a Traveller family in Birr, and has always been very proud of his heritage. Although he is based in London, and has been for many years, he regularly returns to Ireland and was the recipient of the prestigious TG4 Gradam Cheoil award for traditional singing in 2019.
He has always credited his late mother, Mary, with fostering his love of singing and storytelling and in a recent televised interview with RTE chat show host and comedian Tommy Tiernan, he outlined how he had built up a store of over 1,000 songs embracing the traveller way of life from his late mother.
The Birr native has toured the world with his music and is now one of the most sought-after artists for the quality of his sean-nós singing voice, and for his mesmerising and entertaining storytelling skills.
He has never shied away from his Traveller background and, in that recent RTE chat show interview, he also told Tommy Tiernan how he embraces the term ‘tinker’ and has “never been ashamed of his heritage.
“Tinker was, and is used, as a derogatory term, but I embrace it myself, all my ancestors were metal workers and I’m not ashamed of that, and I’ll never be ashamed of it,” he said.
He also said the ancient way of life which he was born into was destroyed “when plastic was introduced to the world” which meant that there was no longer any need for the metalwork skills which formed the backbone of the Travelling community. “We did a great service, we could turn out hand to anything and wherever there was a few bob to be made we were prepared to work,” he told Tommy Tiernan.
Tommy McCarthy has toured America numerous times with his unique brand of sean-nóas singing and storytelling and is planning to spend six months in Paris where he is due to play a 100-concert tour later this year.