Shannon, MacGowan and Mundy got Kilkenny fans bopping ‘til they dropped
By Naoise Coogan
Some 1,400 fans of Sharon Shannon, Shane MacGowan, Mundy and Dessie O’ Halloran thronged the massive new venue at Cillin Hill where they witnessed a musical extravaganza that may not be repeated in Kilkenny in our lifetime.
Where would you hear Shane MacGowan singing ‘Fairytale of New York’ at Christmas time - live? In The Hub of course! It was the gig of the year and it was only January 3!
Legendary performer Shane MacGowan joined the loveable Sharon Shannon, cheeky singer/songwriter Mundy and old-timer Dessie O’Halloran on stage at The Hub at Cillin Hill on Saturday night for what could well prove to be the gig of the year. The crowd of 1,400 were treated to huge MacGowan/Pogues hits including ‘Fairytale of New York’, ‘The Irish Rover’, ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ and ‘Fiesta’.
While Mundy’s set included his massive hit ‘July’ and a rocking version of ‘Mexico’, while Dessie O’Halloran got the crowd going early on with ‘Come Down the Mountain Katy Daly’ and his big hit ‘Say You Love Me’.
This was a show of out and out talent and everyone who was lucky enough to get to see it knew that they were experiencing a very special musical event.
Sharon Shannon hosted the evening with her stunning smile and energetic accordion tunes. Music runs through the veins of these musicians and one can see that they enjoy every moment of every gig they do.
Sharon Shannon and her superb ensemble performed traditional music hits such as ‘Potholes’ and ‘Blackbird’. Decie the techie also proved to be a big hit with the audience and he sang two popular numbers including ‘Land Down Under’.
Shane MacGowan was as good as ever and gave the show his usual boundless energy and attitude. ‘Fairytale of New York’ was a show-stopper and a song that stayed with everyone long after the gig ended.
The grand finale saw the stellar line-up all together on stage for ‘Courtin in the Kitchen’ and ‘Galway Girl’, which almost lifted the roof off The Hub and proved that Kilkenny really was the best venue on the tour.
Further info on The Hub is available at www.thehubkilkenny.ie