Mickey Coleman

Merry Christmas, anxious readers! What follows is a conversation I recently had with singer & songwriter, Mickey Coleman. 

I’ve been listening to Mickey’s music and following his career for about a year now. Found him quite by accident while researching Northern Ireland for a once in a lifetime trip last summer. As travel time approached, we decided to include one of Mickey’s performances in our itinerary and meet the man behind the music. This first question is totally personal and a wee tease directed to Mickey about the venue where we saw him.

Is the Terrace Bar in Omagh always loud, rowdy and packed wall to wall with GAA fans cheering Tyrone on to victory?

“No you really got it on a bad day.”

NOTE: Even with the ear splitting noise and chaos swirling around, Mickey did not disappoint.  …and, Tyrone beat Kildare that night to proceed to the GAA 2009 semifinals.

I’ve already introduced Mickey and his music to many who will read this and am very excited to be able to post this interview for you as well. Here we go… 

You’re born and raised in Ardboe, County Tyrone, N.I. What’s it like there? 

“Well I have to say I love where I live, the people are mostly friendly and when it’s not raining the view is fantastic. I live on the western shores of Lough Neagh which is the largest lake in Ireland, generations of my family made a living from this lake where the main industry is Eel exports to Europe.”

When did you realise that writing music and singing had become your life’s work?

“I had an accident a couple of years ago playing Gaelic football when I broke my leg. It’s only then that I started to play fulltime and write on a continuous basis at my songs. I have always had a great love for music and writing but it was only then that I had a chance to start doing what I love for a living. Follow your heart.”

You’ve posted a long list of people that influenced you but is there one person that inspires you?

“My Mother.”

What are your feelings on the success of your debut album, Carefully Crafted?

“My feelings are mixed; I think it could have been better. I suppose it was slightly rushed and maybe slightly over produced in the sense that there could have been less going on in it, I think it is a little busy at times. My next album will be more stripped back and will focus more on the lyrical input to the songs. I suppose overall I’m happy I suppose my next challenge is to keep raising the bar.”

You recently spent time with the legendary Christy Moore. What was that like? Did he give you any career advice? Is there anything else from that meeting you’d like to share at this time?

“Meeting Christy was the highlight of my career to date and to actually sit down and discuss songs, how we write them etc… was magic. The man has so much passion for the music. He was a real gentleman and has invited me to play with him on stage the next time he’s up North so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Your new song, Mother’s Lullaby, is causing quite a stir. What was your inspiration for such a sad, heart wrenching story?

“My inspiration for this song came a few days after the attack on Palestine by Israel on 27/12/08 when there was footage beamed around the world of two kids age 4 and 6 standing crying in front of what was left of the family home. Both parents had been killed in the attack. The first thought that entered my mind when I saw these images was that they would have no mother to sing them a lullaby that night when they would go to bed. Most of the time the truth is not told in the media when it comes to war so I thought that I would give my take on it from what I knew of the situation. I know this fact due to growing up in Northern Ireland where the nationalist community suffered greatly at the hands of Britain due to not having a proper outlet in the media. If you search back in the TV archives, you will see that Gerry Adams voice was always over dubbed by an actor’s because he was deemed a terrorist and so called terrorists had no voice at that time. Yet the same man is in government with them today and has free speech. Does that mean they got it wrong in the media? Need I say more!!!!!”

I know that bringing awareness to the growing problem in Ireland of young people losing their lives to suicide is a cause you passionately support. How did you become involved in the “From the Heart” benefit concert and, will there be another?

“I performed a concert in Derry one night and sang a song “Sunday Morning Calling” from my album, which is about the emotional rollercoaster you go through when you lose someone to this issue. I was approached a few weeks later by a lady who asked me to write a song for an album to raise its awareness in the Derry area. It was a success, the concert sold out over 1,000 people.

There will be another concert 27^thFeb 2010 in Letterkenny, County Donegal.” 

In your interview with singer, songwriter, local radio host, Malachi Cush  http://www.streema.com/radios/Six_FM?f=0  http://www.myspace.com/malachicushon a recent Sunday morning, you said the Old Ardboe Lament is a traditional Irish tune that you adapted for your album. Do you know the origins of this haunting song?

“This song was written by a local bard by the name of John Canavan whom I think passed away in the early 1900s, roughly 1920 or there about. The song is about emigration and the first line of the song was recited by a man who was leaving Ireland around that time heading for America never to return. In those days the local people would have a leaving party at a crossroads for the people that where emigrating because a lot of them either died on the way there or would never return.”

Do you enjoy performing more in a small pub or a larger venue such as the Millennium Forum?

“I prefer to perform in theatres or somewhere there is a listening audience as most of my songs have a story to tell. When in a noisy bar they kind of get lost in the noise. Any where there is quiet I suppose.”

What are you listening to on your iPod today or what cd is in your player in the car right now?

“You might be surprised at this; Colbie Caillat. www.colbiecaillat.com/  I think she’s great, just discovered her!

I love all types of music. I listen to James Taylor a lot I also love Glen Frey, Don Henley and Bruce Springsteen. On the Irish scene at the moment I like a guy called Declan O’Rourke. www.myspace.com/declanorourke Check him out if you haven’t found him already, he’s amazing. To be honest I’m always on the lookout, I love discovering new music.”

Is there a release date for your new album and will it be available at cdbaby as well as your website?

“To be honest I don’t have a release date. It keeps being put back as I don’t want to rush it and the finance of course. However, I am hoping one of two things: Either I get recognized by a record label or I put up my fee.  lol….

I am hoping that it will be complete by the end of February, God willing. I will certainly keep you all posted on that…”

One we all want to know ~~ when can we see you here in the States?

“I’ve been and gone, Diane. Was in Florida for 2 weeks and had a great time. Thanks to Jill Pearson for inviting me as Celtic Thunders street team special guest.”

And finally, what would you most like your American fans to know about you? 

“That I love them sincerely and I really appreciate their love for my music. It’s great knowing that people on the other side of the world love my music and songs.”

“Thank you so much.”

Find and follow Mickey at these sites:

http://mickeycoleman.com/index.html

http://www.myspace.com/mickeycoleman1

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=156313743038

Click on the cover to download album at ITunes

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Tags: Christy Moore, Irish Music, Lough Neagh, Malachi Cush, Mickey Coleman