- Culture
- 09 Dec 20
"I’ve always loved Kirsty MacColl’s music - this song is a tribute to her on the 20th anniversary of her tragic death in December 2000," Martin said.
Cork singer and multi-instrumentalist Martin Leahy has scribed 'A Song For Kirsty MacColl' in tribute to the artist - who was the daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl and enjoyed an extensive solo career.
As well hits such as 'A New England' and 'They Don’t Know', Kirsty MacColl is known for her duet with Shane MacGowan on The Pogues' classic Christmas track 'Fairytale of New York'.
She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including 'There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis' and cover versions of Billy Bragg's 'A New England' and The Kinks' 'Days'.
The Croydon-born singer died tragically and in controversial circumstances after being hit by a powerboat while diving with her children in Mexico 20 years ago.
Martin Leahy has been playing on the Irish music scene for 25 years, working extensively with some of Irelands greatest songwriters and musicians, including; John Spillane, Christy Moore (on his No.1 selling album Listen), Cormac O Caoimh, Ger Wolfe, Jimmy McCarthy, Greenshine, Noel Brazil, Declan Sinnott among many others.
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An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Leahy also produced the recent Cormac O Caoimh album Swim Crawl Walk Run - which was deemed Album of the Week by RTE Radio One, RTE Lyric and BBC Radio Ulster.
As a member of the traditional Irish group North Cregg, Leahy has toured the World playing many major festivals including Glastonbury, Cambridge and Milwaukee.
Listen to 'A Song For Kirsty MacColl' below: