OVER THE past 18 months Offaly has very much been thrust into the international spotlight as the ancestral home of Barack Obama. Prior to the new US president though, the Faithful County’s best known ambassador was singer-songwriter Mundy.
Mundy (born Edmund Enright ) enjoyed success in this teens when ‘To You I Bestow’ featured on the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. Since then Mundy has released four multi-platinum selling albums and on Monday February 9 he plays the Town Hall Theatre as part of the promotion for his new album Strawberry Blood.
Born in Athlone but raised in nearby Birr, Mundy eventually decided to leave his rural home and travel to Dublin in an endeavour to get signed by a major label. Upon his arrival in the capital he befriended Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Gemma Hayes, and Paddy Casey at the International Bar singer-songwriter sessions.
Mundy also began recording demos with a number of different producers including Tommy D and Youth. ‘To You I Bestow’, caught the interest OF composer Nellee Hooper and was subsequently included on the soundtrack to Buz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet.
The soundtrack went five times platinum in Australia and also won a BAFTA for Best Film Music. On the back of this success Mundy signed a deal with Epic Records and recorded his debut album. The label was very keen to market him as a pop act but ultimately dropped him when his songs veered more towards the singer-songwriter genre.
Throughout early 2000 Mundy took time away from the hectic touring schedule and instead went back to his roots in Ireland. He made a spectacular return to form in 2002 with the independently-released 24 Star Hotel.
Ffrequent touring around the country over the past six years has seen Mundy built up quite a fan base and his ode to the perfect Irish summer ‘July’ is now a feel good anthem. In recent years he has collaborated with Sharon Shannon on Steve Earle’s ‘Galway Girl’. Their version has become the biggest selling single download in Ireland.
Buoyed by his recent success Mundy now releases his fifth studio album Strawberry Blood and the lead single ‘I Miss The Country’ is sure to be a big hit.
For tickets contact the Town Hall on 091 - 569777.
