By Dickie Felton | 22 August 2021
“This is a day in our lives that will not come again, let’s sing like there’s no tomorrow my beautiful friends…”
Damien Dempsey, the greatest living Irishman, is back. His one year, eight month and 27 day stage exile is over.
Oh how his songs of hope amid hopelessness have been missed.
Dempsey lifted spirits at London Irish Centre to the highest hills in a night of wild celtic emotion.
The Camden venue’s first live gig of 2021, some nine months into the year, was a homecoming gig of sorts.
It was as if the enforced absence had made hearts grow frantically fonder.
Friends reunited and a singer at one again with his people in the Church of Damo.
“If I wasn’t doing this I’d be doing the security somewhere…” – Damo
Dempsey even joined in the football style chants of ‘Damo! Damo!’ And why not? He’d waited a long while to hear that particular tribute.
Onto the songs. ‘Chris and Stevie’ was as emotional a rendition as I’ve ever witnessed. ‘Sing All Our Cares Away’ was a moment of real unity with 400 fans singing as one.
Other gems included ‘The Apple of My Eye’ and the reggae-influenced ‘Your Pretty Smile’.
I’m not sure whether it was the fans or Dempsey himself who were beaming more.
The Dubliner was joined on stage by Éamonn de Barra who also had a smile the size of The Liffey.
‘It’s All Good’ was spine chilling. A real celebration of life and love as strangers hugged each other and for that moment all seemed right with the world.
On Friday London Irish Centre sent emails wanting feedback on the show.
“Did the concert make you feel more connected with Irish culture?” they asked.
I responded that I’d never felt quite so high, happy and at home as I did in the venue’s McNamara Room.
The concert had made me more connected with Ireland of course, but more connected with life itself.
Damien Dempsey’s healing vibrations will last forever.