YOUNG ROCKERS DESERVE ENCOURAGEMENT
Young 'rockers' deserve encouragement
I took considerable interest in the two letters in last week's UlsterHerald, which referred to a recent live performance by a local rock band - a performance which has drawn scathing comment from your columnist Shane O'Donnell. I was particularly impressed by the thoughtful analysis offered by Mr. Mike Reynolds. While Mike is probably best known for his great contribution to local music, he is also no slouch with the written word. He marshalled a wonderful defence for the common man performing to the best of his ability and took a telling thump at our sad modern culture of carefully packaged super-stardom.
Reading Mike's comments on the difficulties and joys of live music, I recalled the great ceremony on the Courthouse Hill, the Saturday after the despicable Omagh bomb. I remember very clearly the marvellous live performance by St Eugene's Band on that day, despite the obvious and understandable emotional pressure of the occasion.
These fine musicians, with Mike notable among them, made a unique contribution to our community's utter rejection of the evil deed perpetrated at the lower end of the town.
Moving to much less serious matters, I must confess that I am from the wrong generation to presume to speak with any authority on Shane's comments on the local 'scene'. I certainly applaud your editorial policy in providing a forum for exchanges of youthful opinion. I do hope that Shane and other young 'rockers,' if that's the appropriate term, took the opportunity to read the UlsterHerald article on the Sun King, where Raymond na Hatta sketched with his inimitable style and humanity the rise and fall of the greatest rocker of them all.
Pat McDonnell, Dromore
I took considerable interest in the two letters in last week's UlsterHerald, which referred to a recent live performance by a local rock band - a performance which has drawn scathing comment from your columnist Shane O'Donnell. I was particularly impressed by the thoughtful analysis offered by Mr. Mike Reynolds. While Mike is probably best known for his great contribution to local music, he is also no slouch with the written word. He marshalled a wonderful defence for the common man performing to the best of his ability and took a telling thump at our sad modern culture of carefully packaged super-stardom.
Reading Mike's comments on the difficulties and joys of live music, I recalled the great ceremony on the Courthouse Hill, the Saturday after the despicable Omagh bomb. I remember very clearly the marvellous live performance by St Eugene's Band on that day, despite the obvious and understandable emotional pressure of the occasion.
These fine musicians, with Mike notable among them, made a unique contribution to our community's utter rejection of the evil deed perpetrated at the lower end of the town.
Moving to much less serious matters, I must confess that I am from the wrong generation to presume to speak with any authority on Shane's comments on the local 'scene'. I certainly applaud your editorial policy in providing a forum for exchanges of youthful opinion. I do hope that Shane and other young 'rockers,' if that's the appropriate term, took the opportunity to read the UlsterHerald article on the Sun King, where Raymond na Hatta sketched with his inimitable style and humanity the rise and fall of the greatest rocker of them all.
Pat McDonnell, Dromore
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1086
Published Date: 22-Aug-02
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