Larry Kirwan.
By Irish Echo Staff
Larry Kirwan has never been busier, it seems, since his band Black 47 called it a day last fall after 25 years. On this Saturday, his solo career will take a Staten Island twist when he debuts and records “Floating.” The song may be brand new, but it tells a story from the past, specifically one about his great-grandfather, Captain James Moran, and his relationship with the sea. For tickets for the 8 p.m. event at the Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor, go to www.noblemaritime.org/Larry_Kirwan.html.
“My great-grandfather was lost at sea off Penzance along with all of the crew on The City of Bristol SS, Sept. 29, 1898,” Kirwan said. “His body floated north over 150 miles, and the family legend has it that but for the tides he would have come ashore in Wexford rather than directly across the Irish Sea in Pembroke, Wales on Nov. 2, 1898.
“I had always wanted to write the story in some form but didn't receive the inspiration until playing last year at the Noble Maritime Collection in Snug Harbor, Staten Island,” he said.
And is Mr. Kirwan as busy as ever or does it just seem that way? We asked him about whether he’s taking it easy post-Black 47.
“As regards retirement, I've just arrived back from playing in Milwaukee. After the Staten Island gig, I'll be playing July 23 at Bridge Street Live in Collinsville, Conn., and July 24 at the Bull Run in Shirley, Mass.,” he said.
“One of my musicals is being developed for a major production and I'm in the midst of writing another musical about Iraq. ‘A History of Irish Music’ has just been released as an eBook on Kindle and Nook, etc.
“I'm still doing ‘Celtic Crush’ on SiriusXM every week, and there's a certain editor at the Irish Echo who demands 700 words of flawless prose for my column every couple of weeks,” he said.
The multi-talented Wexford native added: “A man hardly has time to raise his elbow with a couple of pints!! But I'm thinking strongly of throwing my hat in the ring for the Republican presidential nomination. After all, I have just as much hair as The Donald!”
