Kilkenny’s adopted son Jimmy MacCarthy is preparing once again to take the music industry by storm. The Irish population is patiently awaiting his newest musical offering in the form of his new album Hey Ho Believe and they may not have too much longer to wait according to the man himself.
On a much-anticipated visit to the acclaimed singer/songwriter this week, MacCarthy welcomed me into his beautiful home that is Jenkinstown House in the park in Jenkinstown just six miles from Kilkenny city. The stunning building which was originally built for Sir Patrick Bellew (1798-1866 ) and which MacCarthy purchased almost four years ago, is a credit to him and the workers who have taken so much care to protect the historical feel of the house and church attached. The house boasts high ceilings, stained glass windows, great hallways, and stunning antique furniture fit for the home of a lord.
The old house has now become the permanent residence of one of Ireland’s most prolific songwriters, but not only is it a beautiful home, it is also home to Kilkenny’s newest performance space – the Thomas Moore Theatre. With seating for up to 106 people, this beautiful venue to the side of the old stone house is a hidden gem.
“I am really happy with how the theatre has turned out. It has a special sound proof ceiling, floor, and walls so that it is an excellent place for recording a performance or for simply enjoying it,” he said. “When I saw this property, I knew that it was what I wanted. I wanted somewhere to record and I wanted a performance space. I also wanted to live here and this house gives me all of that. It is a work in progress and it has been a lot of effort to bring the project to where it is today. I remember I walked in the first day and I said, ‘I will be good to you and you be good to me!’ I think this has worked out well to date,” he laughed.
Jenkinstown is an ideal spot for MacCarthy’s work – song-writing. There is inspiration everywhere and if Thomas Moore’s old haunt wasn’t inspiring enough, well you only need to look out one of the stunning old sash windows and reflect on the vast Kilkenny countryside to witness the beauty of nature which is inspiration in itself.
MacCarthy is a deep man. He is methodical, learned, well read and a genius when it comes to song-writing. His work has been recorded by several of the great Irish singers including Christy Moore, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan and Tommy Fleming. The much-loved songs recorded by these artists, include, Ride On, No Frontiers, Katie, and Adam at the Window.
Ride On – one of his most popular and best-loved songs has to date even been recorded in Mandarin and has been recorded over 700 times across the globe. Speaking about Ride On and its popularity MacCarthy explains that it is a song that most people can relate to.
“It is a song of parting. Everyone has lost a girlfriend or a loved one through death, emigration, whatever. Ride On simply says – go forward – keep on moving forward and don’t stop.
“The line ‘run your claw along my gut,’ symbolises the gut-wrenching aspect to losing somebody,” he explains.
MacCarthy is no stranger to hard times and spent his youth on the road as a musician in the hard times.
“There were times where we wouldn’t have had enough to eat,” he remembers. Drink played a huge role in his life at that time, but he proudly states that drink has not been a part of his life for 24 years.
“Drink was big in my life during the early days. I learned how to operate socially as a drinker. My life changed dramatically when I stopped going to bars and my ability to socialise was hampered I suppose.”
MacCarthy is still a very private person with little interest in the public glare of stardom or in opening his heart in interviews. What you see is what you get and what you get is a sincere, song-writing fanatic, a poet and a romantic all rolled into one.
So, why a new album after a dry period of almost eight years? MacCarthy is adamant that there were so many songs that were just looking to get out.
“The new album Hey Ho Believe is going to be a real mixture of songs from the past and from more recent times – I take them from my lyric scrap,” he jokes.
“The songs are contemporary but with a traditional feel. I have about 100 songs that I can pick from, that I haven’t yet completed and this album has several of these older, half-finished songs included.”
The lyrics of the promotional track which is also titled Hey Ho Believe, illustrate exactly this. The topics are reflective of society today and the music is fun and catchy;
‘I see the moneylender sniffing coke, I see the switch blade flashing as it slits a young man’s throat, I see the empires crumble, the acrid smoke, I hear the newsroom laughing but I just don’t get the joke.’
The sound is very much Jimmy MacCarthy. His voice seems to have improved with age as opposed to how most singers suffer as age catches up with them. Ranging from high falsetto notes to low baritone tones, this song is one that is going to hit the radio stations running. It is a winning tune that is catchy, meaningful and relevant to today’s world. And I think this is one of Jimmy’s strongest attributes – he is able to apply his amazing talent for writing and singing to almost any situation, any language, any culture or any problem. He has a song for everyone. And it is not any old song – but a well thought out and perfectly formed tune that will linger in your mind both for lyrical and musical reasons.
“I am a perfectionist. I like to do it properly if I am going to do it at all. When we recorded this album we committed ourselves for three separate weeks to the studios of Grouse Lodge in county Westmeath and we just went for it. I am lucky to have several featured artists appearing with me on this project including Anto Drennan, Liam Bradley, Eoin O’ Neill and Graham Henderson. It’s a bit like Moving Hearts without the pipes and sax and whistles! Donal Lunny is the producer of this album and he is so gifted. He also appears on some of the tracks.”
Coming from humble beginnings in Macroom in Co Cork, MacCarthy still loves his home county. Growing up working in the family newspaper distribution business and then going on to become an apprentice horse trainer and jockey, MacCarthy is not afraid of hard work. Horses are his passion and he hopes some day to own horses again.
These days, MacCarthy gets up, has breakfast, walks for 30 minutes in Jenkinstown woods, carries out vocal exercises, practises the Alexander method and some meditation, and only then is he ready to take on what the day has to bring!
And grounded he most certainly is.
“I am very excited about this new project. We begin with some live performances in The National Concert Hall in Dublin early next month and this is something I am very much looking forward to.”
Sitting in his Jeep out the front listening to Hey Ho Believe and Christian Telephone which deals with clerical abuse, I realise that I am lucky. I am listening to one of the all-time Irish greats in song-writing. And what’s more, he has just proven that he is truly still great!
Jimmy MacCarthy plays the National Concert Hall on Wednesday March 10, the Opera House in Wexford on Saturday March 13 and the Opera House in Cork on Friday April 9. Keep an eye out for Hey Ho Believe which should be ready for release in coming months.
