Album in aid of Irish Pilgrimage Trust to be launched in Hollymount

Pat McGovern from Robeen is no stranger to the stage, having performed major roles in various Ballinrobe Musical Society shows as well as various other music and drama ventures over the years. This Friday night (April 11) will see him launch his debut album at a special show in The Kirk, Hollymount, at 8pm.

This wonderfully crafted eleven-track album (cover pictured) entitled ‘Somebody Special’ was recorded in LaunchpadLK studio in Limerick and all proceeds are in support of The Irish Pilgrimage. The title track was composed by Don Stiffe from Galway and was previously recorded by Matt Keane.

The album also features The Broad Majestic Shannon, Katie Daly, Hard Times, Rainy Night In Soho, Will You Go Lassie Go, Will You Meet Me On Clare Island, Scorn Not His Simplicity, Beeswing, The Old Man, and a selection of reels.

Pat is joined on this superb recording by all four members of the local band, The Rambling Rogues, featuring Paul Clesham, Maria Hughes, Michelle Rattigan and Sharon McCabe, as well as Niall Hughes from Hollymount and Pat’s daughter, Aisling McGovern.

The intricate and evocative design and artwork for the CD and delightfully presented booklet was created by Catherine Flynn and her husband, Paul.

Music has always featured strongly in the life of Pat over the years. His eclectic tastes in music know few boundaries and range from Leonard Coen to Hank Williams, Liam Clancy and Phil Coulter as well as traditional Irish songs and music.

Perhaps it was his close association with the Irish Pilgrimage Trust that eventually tipped the scales in favour of going into the studio to record an album. “Music, song and dance are a big part of our annual Easter trip to Lourdes and I had this idea to utilise music to celebrate and promote the goals of The Trust,” said Pat who floated the idea last autumn among his fellow musicians and friends, one of whom is his daughter Aisling.

The group enthusiastically embraced the idea, and the recording is dedicated to all of the special people involved in any capacity with The Irish Pilgrimage Trust. Five of the seven featured on the recording have served as volunteers with the Pilgrimage Trust in Lourdes.

The Irish Pilgrimage Trust is in existence for over fifty years. It has a thirty-two county footprint and is comprised of groups of volunteers who take children and young adults with additional needs to Lourdes for a week-long holiday each Easter.

READ MORE: Mayo’s special Lourdes connection

“A huge amount of time, voluntary effort and creative energy has been invested in this unique project. It is an effort borne of love and passion for music and a very noble cause.

“All of us who worked on the album have endeavoured to put our own interpretation and unique stamp on each number. It is our dearest wish that everyone who purchases ‘Somebody Special’ will garner as much joy from listening to it as we all did creating it while also supporting this most worthy cause,” says Pat.

“Somebody Special” will be widely available through the following retail outlets from this coming weekend: Hollymount Store, Ballintubber Stores, Martin Murphys, Ballinrobe, Mace, Castlebar road, Ballinrobe, Corrib Oil, Ballinrobe, Hunt’s Service Station, Claremorris,  and Centra, Claremorris, or by contacting Pat on 085 1742082. A digital download of the album will also be available through the online music distribution platform, Bandcamp.