Broadcaster George Jones has said he is immensely proud to be part of the Ulster-Scots musical spectacular On Eagle's Wing, which returns to the Northern Ireland stage later this week.
The production, which mixes songs, music and dance, tells the story of the 18th-century Ulster-Scots emigration to America.
“It’s something that’s close to my heart,” George said.
“It’s a historical tale that needs to be told about the remarkab
le people who left here to start a new life in America.”
For George the show illustrates the significant impact people with Northern Ireland roots had in the shaping of the US.
“Some people call them Ulster-Scots, some call them Scots-Irish, but it’s basically about those who decided they’d had enough of the hardships and starvation that existed in this part of the world and headed to a new land,” he said.
“When our ancestors arrived in America it was a wilderness, they brought our music and culture to the country.
“That mingled with the other cultures to become part of America.”
George plays the role of Tommy in the lavish production, which also stars Peter Corry, Alyth McCormack, Paddy Jenkins and BJ Hogg.
The show starts of in modern-day America before taking the audience back on a journey through Scotland and Ireland during the Siege of Derry.
It focuses on a time that was not only pivotal in UK history, but also had a profound effect on the rest of the world.
“I was amazed at the number of Americans in the southern states who weren’t aware of this history,” George said.
“They just claimed they were Irish and had never delved any deeper into it.”
But Ulster-Scots is integral to the development of the US.
“The facts and figures are quite astonishing: 17 presidents can trace their roots to Northern Ireland, and ancestors of ours fought in the American War of Independence,” George said.
On Eagle’s Wing made its debut as a huge show in the Odyssey Arena in 2004, it was intended to tour the US but that fell through when the funders pulled out at the last moment.
This revival, however, comes with a renewed sense of optimism and faith in the show.
“I’m very happy to be in it,” George said, “and the whole cast believes in it.”
George is best known as a broadcaster with a daily show on U105, but his background as a musician and cabaret performer means he is no stranger to the stage.
The full article contains 434 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.
