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Kansas City Irish Festivals, Music, Pubs, & Events by an Artist in Ireland

11 Responses to “Audio Interview with Damien Dempsey”

1. Medbh responds: June 6th, 2007 at 8:04 am

   Well done, Eolai, on your first interview. I could tell that you were nervous intially (I also tend to talk a lot when nervous) but you relaxed into it and let the conversation open up.

2. Primal Sneeze responds: June 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pm

   Great radio voice, Eolaí. More of that please!

3. eolai responds: June 7th, 2007 at 2:12 am

   Thanks very much guys. I really can speak slower, honest. We’ll see what happens so keep an eye on this space. Plans are afoot.

4. Ronnie responds: June 7th, 2007 at 4:55 am

   Great interview Eolaí, very natural, well done. He is some boyo. You are from Palmerstown same place as my Fiance Fiona (we got engaged on the stage in Vicar st. at a Damo gig last December - magic!)

   Looking forward to hearing another interview soon!!

   All the best!

5. eolai responds: June 7th, 2007 at 5:05 am

   Thanks Ronnie,

   I saw you on YouTube a while back. Father Damo. Great stuff!

6. kelly d responds: June 7th, 2007 at 9:38 am

   Maith thú, a Eolaí. I saw/heard Damien at “Chicago’s” Gaelic Park Festival Saturday p.m. (26 May) amid an unusually small crowd (beag ar son the bad weather, b’fhéidir?). Bhí sé go h-iontach ar aon nós. I’m looking forward to hearing the interview (when I have 27 spare minutes).

   Slán.

7. Sue Farrell responds: June 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

   Hiya, not sure of your name, sorry, but just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your interview with Damo. It was brilliant, so natural and it really came across how much you actually admire him and his music (unlike the twat dj s we have here in Dublin who only talk to him cos they have to!) I would class myself as a Damo fanatic (he himself would definitely agree!!) and think he’s one of Ireland’s greatest artists and one with the most integrity - he’s put up with a lot of shit because of the Dublin accent and his music but fair play, he’s proving them all wrong at the moment (as well as proving us diehards right as well cos we have a lot to put up with from our friends and people who just don’t get him!!) Again, many thanks, hope you can get to see the man live yourself soon….its an experience and a half! Slainte

8. eolai responds: June 7th, 2007 at 3:14 pm

   Kelly - that’s great to hear.

   I think when I use words like reggae and electronica, it scares off some people who prefer their music to be closer to trad - but Damo is a true folk performer, just in the modern, living sense; he’s of our time. His own voice owes so much to Sean-nós, and that in turn is complemented by the Uilleann pipes he uses so well on so many tracks.

   Since first hearing him I have been mesmerized by what he does.

   Sue - thanks a million. I hadn’t realised he wasn’t getting the airtime he deserves at home. And I’m long sick and tired of people not liking an Irish person because they sing in their native Dublin accent instead of the more common fake American one - I think it’s great that as he said about Senior College’s Rock School in Ballyfermot, that he’s now influencing a whole generation to use their own accent.

   Apart from my nervousness, the thing was quite natural. It would have been easier to have done it in the flesh, but Damo is so easy to talk to anyway. And I loved that I was just talking to an ordinary house in the background - though I was worried my dog would hear the other dog and start barking like crazy, and yet when it was over I was sorry that hadn’t happened

   Thanks again and I’m really glad you enjoyed it.

9. Primal Sneeze responds: June 7th, 2007 at 11:44 pm

   Eolaí / Sue - While I cannot comment on every radio station’s play list, the two I listen to most, TodayFM and KFM, he does get his fair share of airplay. And is regularly interviewed on the former.

   Singing in one’s own accent is not a new phenomenon in Ireland. You know that yourselves. I will let you make your own list of examples.

   The problem with Damien is his particular strain of Dublin accent. This may not be an issue for people with other Dublin accents. But you don’t have to be linguist to know it is harsh and not easy on the ears of non-Dubs. I’m not singling out Dublin - The same harshness is to be found in certain Belfast accents too.

   However, I suspect a bigger issue is the anger in his work. Ireland may not yet be ready to be challenged in this way.

   So if Damien does suffer low airplay on stations other than the two I mentioned, I reckon it is due to the particular accent and anger.

10. eolai responds: June 8th, 2007 at 1:03 am

    Primal - It was only interview time and interview time at the moment that I was referring to, rather than airplay. If it’s true that Dave Fanning only interviewed him for just ten minutes, I really think that’s way less than Damien, on the occasion of a new album, deserves.

    And of course it was that particular Dublin accent also that I was talking about in terms of him influencing a new generation. Yes we could be here for ever listing actual Irish accents used insinging. Here’s one I mentioned earlier.

    Even if there are other factors like you’re suggesting, it’s the accent that I’ve heard people often give as the reason why Damien isn’t very good at what he does. Since Dublin Town came out people have been saying that accent shouldn’t be heard in music.

    I don’t believe the employment of one’s own accent should have a bearing on how the quality of one’s music is received, most especially when talking about somebody in the folk tradition.

    Rock, folk and reggae have long traditions of people singing angrily about social issues. To receive less airplay because of anger would be to reduce radio to formatted pop. Oh hang on…

    I can understand people shying away from Damien’s social politics and his lyrics, which are rather blunt at times, but if that’s the case there’s no need to refer to the accent as being the reason for claiming his music lacks quality. And I still hear people say that.

    I honestly believe that the perceived harshness of any accent is totally down to the experiences of the listener. As such any accent can be harsh or not. I know of many people who find a scouse accent very harsh, but through familiarity I don’t and never have.

    I struggle with Cork accents, but that doesn’t render the music - or the singing - as somehow less in quality (which I know you’re not claiming) - and I believe it would be wrong for people singing in Cork accents to receive less airplay because of it.

11. Elaine responds: October 6th, 2007 at 5:55 pm

    well done eolai…. gud interview and delighted at d length of it!!!!

    Congrats Ronnie and Fiona! i saw dat on utube as well “just call me father Damo!!!!” saw dat a couple a days b4 i went 2 my 1st damo gig…. it was so cool! but i was dyin den dat i mite b made go up on stage 4 wateva reaosn (cus i was rite at d front- against d barriers :D)

    i dont reckon damo gets enough airplay…. ive never heard him on 2fm etc. your pretty smile is such a definate crowd pleaser- even 4 people who arent real fans- it should b given a bit of play!

    i love dat damo sings in his own dublin accent… i dont care how raw, rough or harsh it might be… i absolutely love it- its real! and i’m not a dub- i’m from monaghan lol its not hard for us poor culchies to understand a dub accent (Primal Sneeze). its so good 2 hear a genuine irish accent come through!

    I dont think its anger comin across in Damo’s songs…. its passion and there’s a difference. You can tell that he really cares… its actually means something to him!

    Anyway well done again Eolai… and as always Good on ya Damo! Lovin it… so keep it up please

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