THREE years ago today, Kilcar singer songwriter Rory Gallagher headed down to the beach in Lanzarote.
He was accompanied by a man called ‘Jimmy’ from Senegal to record a song that was essentially a re-written version of one Gallagher, formerly of the Revs, traditionally played on the hots-spots of the island ‘Jimmy’s Selling Watches.’
Here’s what Rory and ‘Jimmy’ came up with that day in Lanzarote …
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=gAjQrnImT_k
Few would know – Gallagher included – just how the song would catch fire. It essentially became the theme tune to Donegal’s championship summer, one that would conclude with Jim McGuinness’s side bring Sam Maguire to the county for only the second time in its history.
The song was recorded on Tuesday, August 8, 2012 – two days after Donegal had defeated Kerry 1-12 to 1-10 in the All-Ireland quarter-final and was uploaded to YouTube the following day.
The original YouTube version had over 500,000 views before that championship season was even over and is on the verge of hitting 1,000,000 even now. Wwith so many other versions out there on YouTube it actually closer to the 2 million mark when all is combined
As well as that, the song reached No1 in the iTunes charts. Gallagher accompanied the Donegal panel on their whistlestop 43-town, five-day tour of the county with Sam Maguire following the 2-11 to 0-13 win over Mayo.
The Island Bar in Lanzarote. Photo:Roberto Villar Photography
Since 2012, Gallagher has constantly been asked to write another song in relation to Donegal football.
“It’s impossible to re-create this special little un-contrived moment in Irish sport and music history, the magic of it lies in the spontaneous nature of it,” he said.
Gallagher has since opened the popular ‘The Island’ Bar in Lanzarote, where he is the resident musician and with his wife Cara, will open another bar on the Main Strip in New Town Puerto Del Carmen called ‘Gallagher’s’ – it’s essentially a sportsbar, with a daytime cocktail bar with a disco – before the end of August.
The view from Gallagher’s – the new bar that will open later this month, owned by Rory and Cara Gallagher on the Main Strip in New Town Puerto Del Carmen
