'Misty-eyed revisionism' slam from victims' group, as Gerry Adams does guest vocals on musician's new single
The appearance of Gerry Adams as guest vocalist on a musician’s new single has been slammed as “misty-eyed revisionism” by a victims’ campaigner.
Republic of Ireland folk musician Davie Furey has the veteran nationalist reading a poem in Irish on new release ‘Donegal/The Swallow’s Tail’, which the singer-songwriter describes as one of the highlights of his career and “the product of [his] long-time collaborative friendship with Gerry Adams, former Sinn Fein president and renowned activist”.
The single isn’t political, it’s a ballad about missing the scenery of Donegal while away from the county. The first voice heard on the track is that of Mr Adams, who speaks a couple of lines of poetry before Davie Furey’s vocals come in; he returns later in the track to read more of the poem.
The song has been revealed just days after the surprise end of a civil claim for damages against Mr Adams, brought by three victims of IRA bombs in England during the Troubles – which Davie Furey described in a social media post as a “charade of a court case”.
For Kenny Donaldson, director of Northern Ireland victims group SEFF, the single and a publicity campaign aimed at getting it sales and radio play is part of a “revisionist” movement seeking to alter the veteran nationalist’s public image.
Said Mr Donaldson: “Sadly, there are no shortage of people willing to associate themselves with the phenomena that is ‘Revisionist Gerry Adams’.
“We expect more of this in the months and years ahead – this juggernaut narrative is about legacy building and mainstreaming those who once seen as being on the fringes of society, but are now to be viewed as kingmakers and true patriots.
“A full factual analysis and account of Gerry Adams’ legacy will be difficult to relay while this revisionism continues.”
A statement to the press describes the collaboration as a “unique project [that] marks Gerry Adams’ first musical appearance, adding an iconic touch to Davie's melodic storytelling”.
Adds the press statement: “The two were united by their strong sense of national identity and their love of music and poetry. When Adams sent his poem ‘Tir Chonaill Thuaith’ to Furey, he was immediately gripped and proposed writing a song around it, to which Adams readily agreed. Stanzas of the poem, read by Adams as Gaeilge, are scattered throughout the song.”
The former Sinn Fein president is quoted as saying: “I was very pleased when Davie Furey invited me to record one of my poems for his song ‘Donegal’. It’s a wonderful song which captures the essence of one of my favourite counties. It was a delight to work with Davie and the musicians. I am a big admirer of Davie’s music and I wish him well with ‘Donegal’.”
He also gives a few words in Irish, expressing his pride at being asked to contribute to the single.
Mr Furey describes the former Sinn Fein president as “a good friend over the years”, adding: “I greatly admire the work he has done in bringing peace to our country and his work in striving for a United Ireland.”
The song goes on pre-sale at the end of this week, followed by a full release on April 10.