The other Mary. I got Under the Influence when it came out (on cassette tape no less) and it remains one of my favourite albums. Listened to it recently, still brilliant.
This song, My Land is too Green, caused some outrage, unprompted, on the airwaves and from the pulpit. Imagine, a woman having views. I remember though that people generally were a bit bemused that some establishment figures and clergy were getting uptight about a red headed singer from Galway. The mask was beginning to slip and short years later we found out what the faux outrage was covering up.
I’d highly recommend Under The Influence.
I wouldn’t have looked for this and I wouldn’t have posted this without Andy Comerford and TC Tyres sending me into a mental stream of consciousness involving tyres and Kilkenny.
One of the great band names.
Fit Kilkenny & The Remoulds: Let’s Hear You Sing (1978)
Fit Kilkenny & The Remoulds: I Love the Sound of 500 Pounds (1978)
Planxty were huge at the time. The folk scene was front and centre of the entertainment industry in Ireland in the 60s and 70s. You had the Clancys, followed by the Dubliners, Horslips, then Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts. These were hugely popular acts in terms of both record sales and touring.
I think the political situation at the time was relevant context too. A lot of people wanted our own music rather than the British copying showband era that went before.
Lunny one of the creative forces in the latter 3, saw them all and they were great. 81,82 Moving Hearts had a Monday residency in The TV Club Harcourt St iirc
TV Club? The Moving Hearts toured the country almost full time. I saw them regularly in Katie Reillys Kitchen on the Tramore Road. I played junior football with their “other” piper Declan Masterson for Scoil.
