I have been meaning to write about this for some time, but I always seem to find an excuse to avoid doing so. For example, what would the band think of a blog post like this? ... and other insecurities.
It came up for me again yesterday, after reading a blog post by an excellent writer, and Facebook friend Rodak.. http://rrrrodak.blogspot.com/2012/04/reflections-on-faith-and-friendship.html It was the reference to the shooting of innocent youngsters in a Ohio University, which jogged the memory. Only one aspect of a poignant story which he wrote on the topic of faith and friendship.
In 1980 I was invited to take part in a video in Ardmore Studios. Agnes Bernelle, Brecht artiste and friend of my mothers, asked me to go along as they were friends of hers. I was nineteen. The story I am about to tell.was prompted by remembering, about a year ago, of the existence the following video which for me was the beginning of an unpleasant discovery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-BxrqOCPoU
This is not a love song, as it might appear on first glance. It is a tribute to the five members of The Miami Show Band who were shot in cold blood at a faux check-point, at the then, border between the North and the South of Ireland. The Irish border was established in 1922 when Michael Collins struck a deal with the British government, settling for 26 out of the 32 counties. It didn't turn out to be a popular move on his part, and was assassinated in the same year by the Anti-Treaty IRA.
The border checks have since stopped and the British Army has finally left the country.
At the time of the making of the video, I had no idea that any of the following had happened. I was eleven in 1972 and had never watched television or read papers in the school I was attending, pretty much full time. And then I guess the story got lost over the years..
I discovered this book on the web after doing some research.
It came up for me again yesterday, after reading a blog post by an excellent writer, and Facebook friend Rodak.. http://rrrrodak.blogspot.com/2012/04/reflections-on-faith-and-friendship.html It was the reference to the shooting of innocent youngsters in a Ohio University, which jogged the memory. Only one aspect of a poignant story which he wrote on the topic of faith and friendship.
In 1980 I was invited to take part in a video in Ardmore Studios. Agnes Bernelle, Brecht artiste and friend of my mothers, asked me to go along as they were friends of hers. I was nineteen. The story I am about to tell.was prompted by remembering, about a year ago, of the existence the following video which for me was the beginning of an unpleasant discovery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-BxrqOCPoU
This is not a love song, as it might appear on first glance. It is a tribute to the five members of The Miami Show Band who were shot in cold blood at a faux check-point, at the then, border between the North and the South of Ireland. The Irish border was established in 1922 when Michael Collins struck a deal with the British government, settling for 26 out of the 32 counties. It didn't turn out to be a popular move on his part, and was assassinated in the same year by the Anti-Treaty IRA.
The border checks have since stopped and the British Army has finally left the country.
At the time of the making of the video, I had no idea that any of the following had happened. I was eleven in 1972 and had never watched television or read papers in the school I was attending, pretty much full time. And then I guess the story got lost over the years..
I discovered this book on the web after doing some research.
Stephen Travers was the base player.
He survived by playing dead, while the gunmen walked around the area looking for survivors.
The fifth band member who survived went to visit relatives instead of travelling back with the others.
One of their most popular songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQOLZkTRXQ
More to follow.....
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