2026 is the 30th anniversary of Imro becoming a fully fledged national membership society for Ireland’s songwriters, composers and music publishers (and separate from the UK-based PRS, of which we were all once members). Michael D., as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, was instrumental in making that come about.

He totally got it – the national importance, culturally and economically, the symbolism of the move, from a post-colonial point of view. He was a mighty champion for us and we owe him a great debt of gratitude.

WRITING hits such as the multi-million selling You Raise Me Up, Eurovision winners Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids and The Voice plus Isle of Hope has seen locally based songwriter Brendan Graham become one of the most successful songwriters of this generation. However, he never raised up his own voice on any recordings until now with his debut album The Arrow of Time. Listeners will find more soulful and thought provoking songs rather than bouncy Rock ‘n’ Roll for the kids, young or old, on this new album. The stunningly beautiful Sleepsong calls on angels to guide a loved one safely on life’s journey and The Deepening Silence has memories of another loved one who has passed on but may still be here – perhaps in spirit? Brendan, who grew up in Ballinasloe and now lives near Cong, told The Tuam Herald that he, like so many others, questions where does time go? “The whole concept of the album is all about time and how we are fascinated about it. I suppose the longer I’m alive there’s less time here ahead of me than what I’ve left behind,” laughed the ‘almost’ 81-year-old.

Recorded by Eric Campbell featuring Brendan Graham, Feargal Murray, Charlie McGettigan, Paul Harrington, Eimear Quinn and Dave McClune at Ventry Studio Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Watch the full video on YouTube

Legendary Irish songwriter brings his songs back home. 8.5/10

It’s not unusual for a non-performing songwriter with a trophy cabinet brimful of hits to reach a stage in life when the urge to record his or her own versions becomes irresistible. This is where we find ourselves with Brendan Graham, whose songs you know, even if you don’t know you know them.

So far so normal. But there’s a startling, raw intimacy to these fresh recordings right from the off, with the celebratory Eurovision sheen of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ replaced by a stark wistfulness that evokes memories of early Tom Waits or latterday Nick Cave, as Graham’s bare-bones voice and piano, with a little help from original singers Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan, strip the song back to the emotional bedrock from whence it came.