Tibohine native Jim Sharkey, now based in the USA, has been busy writing songs about his native place – with Global Rossie Day in mind. Global Rossie Day 2020 is on Sunday, 21st of June.
Obviously with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be quite a virtual/social media element to this year’s celebrations.
Stateside, Jim (known to his friends in Ballaghaderreen as Bernie) has been busy… writing and performing songs!
One such number which we’ve been made aware of is ‘The Bar on the Square’, accompanied online by an evocative video of people and places from Ballaghaderreen. This song takes on a new significance this month, with the sad news that Durkin’s (the premises in question) is closing.
Jim posted online: “This song is about Durkin’s Bar and Restaurant in my home town of Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon…Ballaghaderreen photographer Michael McCormack kindly allowed me to use most of the photographs used in the video. Peter Byrne (a Mayo man!) who I met in Charlotte, North Carolina and quickly became friends with three or four years ago, supplied the last photo. He took it when he went to visit Ballaghaderreen around 2018”.
Well done Jim (Bernie) on a lovely song…which will no doubt revive fond memories for many of our Ballaghaderreen readers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I8raIX8MRk
Pictured at the ‘Ballagh Brats’ Reunion in Durkin’s a few years ago were, left to right: Jim (Bernie) Sharkey, Eddie O’Connor and John Horan. Photograph: Mick McCormack
