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Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away (1932-2007)

DigiTrad:
FOUR GREEN FIELDS


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Jeri 08 Aug 07 - 08:50 PM
curmudgeon 08 Aug 07 - 08:52 PM
GUEST,Timbertall Girl 09 Aug 07 - 12:01 AM
GUEST 09 Aug 07 - 08:39 AM
pattyClink 09 Aug 07 - 05:08 PM
kendall 09 Aug 07 - 05:33 PM
curmudgeon 09 Aug 07 - 05:43 PM
GUEST,Big Mick 09 Aug 07 - 06:38 PM
katlaughing 09 Aug 07 - 10:47 PM
katlaughing 09 Aug 07 - 10:52 PM
pattyClink 10 Aug 07 - 09:49 AM
GUEST,TJ in San Diego 10 Aug 07 - 11:18 AM
C. Ham 10 Aug 07 - 11:27 AM
ard mhacha 10 Aug 07 - 02:18 PM
Barry Finn 11 Aug 07 - 01:07 AM
curmudgeon 11 Aug 07 - 09:15 AM
katlaughing 11 Aug 07 - 10:02 AM
Jeri 11 Aug 07 - 10:08 AM
Jeri 11 Aug 07 - 10:14 AM
katlaughing 11 Aug 07 - 04:30 PM
Barry Finn 12 Aug 07 - 03:12 AM
Felipa 20 Aug 07 - 07:25 AM
gnu 26 Oct 07 - 07:55 PM
gnu 14 Jan 08 - 06:18 PM
olddude 17 Nov 08 - 11:45 AM
GUEST,Denis Curran 01 Feb 09 - 02:16 PM
gnu 01 Feb 09 - 02:25 PM
gnu 01 Feb 09 - 02:27 PM
Joe Offer 22 Mar 20 - 08:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:50 PM

Tom are you going?


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:52 PM

The church seats 700. As of Sunday night, 400 seats were spoken for. I chose to pay my respects today and allow others to take the few seats that may be left - Tom


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: GUEST,Timbertall Girl
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 12:01 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Tommy Makem was one of the artists I've loved almost all my life since small kid time. He was a major influence on my in my singing of traditional music. I send deepest sympathy to his family and the many friends he had. Sandi


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 08:39 AM

My heart is broken for you Tommy. And for your family.
You were a lovely man as well as really really talented. Go n'eireigh an bother leat.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: pattyClink
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 05:08 PM

about the day:

link


"Farewell, my friends, I'm leaving soon,
I'm gone away for a while,
oh, but I'll be back and see you all,
should it be ten thousand miles, my friend,
should it be ten thousand miles."


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: kendall
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 05:33 PM

I couldn't go. Keeping him in my memory as a powerful singer, poet and funny guy is what I want to do. The memory of what we had will never die.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: curmudgeon
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 05:43 PM

More from the   Portsmouth Herald   -- Tom


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:38 PM

Strong in the coming, Stronger in the leavin'. God be good to ya, Tommy Makem.

All the best,

Mick Lane


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Subject: Foster's Daily Democrat article re' Makem funeral
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 10:47 PM

It's okay and, even preferable for archiving, to post full articles when they are about music, esp. someone like Tommy. Here's the one PattyClink posted about


DOVER — Tommy Hardiman greeted his cousin Tommy Makem at Boston's Logan Airport in 1955.

It was the first day of an American journey that would lead Makem to worldwide fame.

Hardiman also was in the room last Wednesday when the vaunted Irish-American singer passed away at the age of 74. Makem, a longtime Dover resident regarded as the "Godfather" of Irish music, died Aug. 1 after a yearlong battle with lung cancer.

"I can only thank God for allowing me to be that close to this noble man," said Hardiman, speaking at Makem's funeral Thursday at St. Mary Church. "Thank you for allowing us to sit back and dream of our ancestors and our ancestral home."

At least 1,500 people — including friends and family, local and state dignitaries and admirers of Makem's work — came to pay their respects at his service Thursday. They filled pews inside St. Mary Church, where Makem was a communicant, and overflowed into an adjoining room where the ceremony was being telecast.

As Hardiman finished up his remembrances, the faint sound of a handheld accordion intervened, played by Makem's longtime friend and collaborator Liam Clancy. Holding the squeezebox in his lap, Clancy sang the traditional song "The Bard of Armagh," a tribute to Makem, who was known by the same name.

"The songs you sang, the words you spoke, will always be remembered," said Makem's granddaughter Molly Dickerman. "You were a fighter, a lover, and most of all, an amazing person."

Crowds gathered along the sidewalks prior to the funeral as the City of Dover Fire and Rescue Department's Engine 3 led a processional down Central Avenue and Chestnut Street, its lights flashing and sirens silent, carrying with it Makem's casket.

The casket was draped with both Irish and American flags and brought into the church while the fire department's color guard and the police department's mounted patrol stood at attention. Flags adorned with Celtic crosses fluttered above the doorways.

"You can feel the weight of his presence in our midst today," said Rev. Bartley MacPhaidin, a former president of Stonehill College, where two of Makem's sons went to school.

Because he was studying abroad in the 1960s, when The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem sailed to stardom, Father MacPhaidin was unaware of their success when he first returned to Ireland in 1965. When he got home, he said, they were all the rage.

"And what a blessed rage it was to our ears," MacPhaidin said. "Their rage was a rage for joy and a rage for happiness ... it was a rage that uplifted people and bound people together and raised souls that hadn't experienced an uplift in years ... They did that for thousands and thousands of people."

Though famous for his singing, banjo playing, and storytelling, Makem's funeral was more about the man he was offstage. Friends and relatives called him a kind man who gave generously, lived modestly and loved his children and grandchildren dearly.

Gov. John Lynch and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen were both in attendance along with a number of city officials, including Mayor Scott Myers.

Afterwards, the processional left St. Mary Church for St. Mary Cemetery on Dover Point Road, where Makem was laid to rest alongside his wife, Mary, who died six years ago. About half the funeral attendees congregated around the grave site, forming a large circle around Rev. Fritz Cerullo.

Eugene Byrne, a local resident and fellow Irish musician, lamented the loss of Makem, who he called his mentor, teacher, hero, and friend.

"He was the music, he was the story. He was the words, he was the song," Byrne said. "The singer has passed, but the songs will live on forever."


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Subject: Portsmouth (NH) Herald re' Makem funeral
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 10:52 PM

And here's the one from Tom/curmudgeon...thanks Tom and Patty for the links. I can barely see for the tears just thinking of Liam singing the Bard of Armagh on this day.


By Chris Elliott
August 09, 2007 12:24 PM

A visitor to Dover on Thursday morning would have known something big was happening, that a dignitary was visiting or that a show business celebrity was in town. In fact, both of these statements would be accurate in explaining the large crowds near downtown Dover this morning. The internationally renowned musician who had adopted Dover, N.H. as his home, Tommy Makem, was being buried.

Of the various celebrities that have called the New Hampshire seacoast area home, there is none more luminescent than Tommy Makem. His influence on American folk music and on traditional Irish music is practically indescribable. He is the author of numerous immortal songs and was a performer nonpareil. Any Tommy Makem fan will tell you without guile or hyperbole that right into the last years of his life, he was still refining and improving his craft.

Rather than deteriorating from vigorous use, his voice was still growing in expressiveness and wisdom as he entered his seventies. He was felled by lung cancer, but his artistry remained in full bloom. Indeed in his eulogy, it would be told that when asked if he intended to retire soon, Tommy responded, "I retire every night." The anticipated overflow of attendees were shuttled to and from St. Mary's Catholic Church on Third Street via two C&J Trailways buses that left from the Dover Middle School. Downtown traffic was snarled coming into town by attendees who took their chances on nearby parking. Attendance was such that the overflow was seated in the nearby rectory with a video feed of the proceedings in the church.

It was a crystal clear, sunny, arid day in Dover, a typical example of the sunny summer days that charmed Tommy Makem into to selecting Dover as his home. St Mary's church swelled to capacity and reverberated with the cacophony of an anxious crowd. All fell silent as the pipes played and Tommy Makem's casket was carried in off of a Dover Fire Department truck and into the church. Tommy enjoyed a close relationship with Dover's fire and police departments, and they afforded their friend this last honor.

First to speak was Sister Anastasia, who read the familiar passage from Ecclesiastes about a time for every season. She was followed by Molly Dickerson, Tommy's granddaughter, who read a beautiful piece entitled, "The Amazing Man My Granda Was." Father Cerullo read a homily recalling sweet stories of Tommy and his family. Tommy was a communicant at St Mary's and a valued parishioner. He referred to Tommy as a "master of kindness." He recalled the biblical use of the phrase, "salt of the earth," noting that in those times, salt was a highly valued commodity, suggesting that in this sense, Tommy was "the salt of the earth and the light of the world." He said that Tommy's mission in life was to do the right thing, a strategy that he contended would "confound some and astonish the rest." He said that Tommy told him that his mother "sang incessantly," and that he must have picked it up from her. It was clear that here was a dear man who had lost a dear friend, and who was keeping his sorrow at bay for the sake of the hundreds of people who were at his church to process their own grief that day. Surely, his tears would come with a smaller, more intimate audience.

There was a presentation of gifts that included an American flag, an Irish flag, Tommy's banjo, bread, wine, Irish sweaters, doctoral degrees, a whistle and a fire helmet. Family and friends spoke at the end, including Father MacPhadin, Eugene Byrne, Peter Makem, and Tommy Hardiman. Father MacPhaidan related Tommy's generosity on and off stage, saying that he was a slave to encores, and that if the audience was with him, he would have a hard time leaving the stage. He recalled Tommy walking out onstage to a third or fourth encore and saying, "Have you no homes to go to?" To close, Tommy's longtime musical partner Liam Clancy played concertina and sang The Bard of Armagh. As the crowd spilled out into the sunny Dover street, the reality of this day's meaning seemed to settle in. There were more tears outside than there were during the ceremony. Beet-faced, white-haired men with the map of Ireland etched into their faces wept and held one another, tears streaked across women's cheeks, some under veils, some fairly crippled with their grieving. The long, solemn procession followed the fire truck to St. Mary's cemetery where the Bard of Armagh himself was laid to rest.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: pattyClink
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 09:49 AM

Thanks, kat. You are right, these ephemeral newspaper links ought to be replaced with text when it is something really 'archive-worthy'.

I read Liam's board last night, and there is so much sadness over his passing, 'an era ending' etc.    That's not the way to honor him. We need to be sure to get out and support our local bard, or BE our local bard. Go see Mairtin de Cogain, for example, who is a young fellow very much in the Makem tradition. Anybody care to name others--besides the great man's kids?


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:18 AM

I never had the pleasure of his company nor the golden opportunity to see him perform live, with or without the Clancys. But his voice and wit and charm will ring in my ear as they always have, and I will always cherish the gifts he so warmly and openly shared with us all. He made everyone feel a little bit Irish. My very best to his family and friends. St. Peter must be clapping hands and singing along as I write this.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: C. Ham
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:27 AM

Mike Regenstreif featured a tribute to Tommy Makem on Folk Roots/Folk Branches this week that included songs by Tommy solo, by Tommy and Liam Clancy, and by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy.


playlist

podcast page


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 02:18 PM

To-days Irish News Belfast, gave a full account from Foster`s Daily Democrat, Dover New Hampshire, this included photographs and the many tributes.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 01:07 AM

Shane has been informed that there is a mudcat thread honoring his father.
My condolences to his family.

Barry


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: curmudgeon
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 09:15 AM

Links to all the features in   Foster's -- Tom


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 10:02 AM

(Ummm, Jeri, that's the article I copied and pasted just a few postings before.)


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 10:08 AM

You did, but the Newspaper's site has the photos. (Same link Tom just posted)


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 10:14 AM

It was supposed to be, but wherever I linked to is gone now, so I deleted it. Tom's (curmudgeon) link has photos.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 04:30 PM

Ah, thanks for explaining, Jeri.:-)


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 03:12 AM

Tommy was sent home this evening in fine fashion. Lots of songs sung by family & friends that he & the Clancy's made popular over the years, mostly led by his sons & their partners the Spain brothers & cousins but also by the many other relations & friends at hand. Mickey Spain did a great rendition of Ewan MacColl's "My Old Man", you could hear a pin drop as the eyes all around were being wiped of tears. No father could be more proud of his sons.

Barry


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Subject: Radio memorial to Tommy Makem
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 07:25 AM

I was listening last night and luckily heard Bobby Hanvey's "Travelling Man" programme at 11 pm. He rebroadcast a Dec 2006 interview with the late Tommy Makem. Much of the discussion was about the significance of crows!

Also mention of a Tommy Makem album of workers'/trade union songs whet my curiousity. I don't think I've heard any tracks from that recording.

See http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=17877#174240 for info on Downtown Radio

I expect the programme will be archived on line for the rest of this week?


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: gnu
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 07:55 PM

Gosh. I was just at the tube and saw that there are a bunch more videos of Tom's on.... including this one, which truly shows Tom in a way that some people know him.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: gnu
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 06:18 PM

And, I am very pleased that so many more are being made available... not just of Tommy's, but of The Clancy's and many others... here is one of my fav's.


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: olddude
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 11:45 AM

I want to cry,
I loved his music, grew up with it, my kids grew up with it

a very very sad day

in my prayers and heart forever

Thank you Tommy for all the memories and all the music


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: GUEST,Denis Curran
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 02:16 PM

I have been searching like crazy for:Ould Heelball you're boozing again ; may also be known as: Ould Waxie you're boozing again. Can you help please. drdeniscurran@yahoo.com


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 02:25 PM

Dennis... cut and paste this... I'll go get another one...

http://www.mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=2117863


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Subject: RE: Obit: Tommy Makem has Passed Away- 1 Aug 2007
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 02:27 PM

Dunno why this one came up in the search as I did not read it.... cut and paste it and read it to see if it hepls, Denis

http://www.mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=2449868


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Subject: ADD: The Winds Are Singing Freedom (Makem)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Mar 20 - 08:08 PM

Somebody sang this Makem song this afternoon.

THE WINDS ARE SINGING FREEDOM
(Tommy Makem)

And the winds are singing freedom
They sing it everywhere
They sing it on the mountainside
And in the city square
They sing of a new day dawning
When our people will be free
Come and join their song of freedom
Let it ring from sea to sea

In the battered streets of Belfast
Can't you hear the people cry?
For justice long denied them
And their crying fills the sky
But the winds of change are singing
Bringing hope from dark despair
There's a day of justice coming
You can feel it in the air

Chorus

Too long our people suffered
In their misery and their tears
And foreign rulers used our land
For about eight hundred years
It's a long road has no turning
And I know that soon we'll see
That day of justice dawning
When our people will be free

Chorus

There's a time laid out for laughing
There's a time laid out to weep
There's a time laid out for sowing
And a time laid out to reap
There's a time to love your brother
There's a time for hate to cease
You must sow the seeds of justice
To reap the fruits of peace

Chorus

Source: https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=2188&lang=en

I haven't made corrections to the song yet.


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