Limerick lady Emily Clarke is leading a crusade to get Pope Francis to include Limerick on his itinerary if, as expected, he visits Ireland next year. Indeed, she is very much ahead of the posse with the release of her own song, Papa Francis.On her recent visit to Knock Shrine, Emily spoke passionately about her desire to see Pope Francis visit the city that is so dear to her heart.
Limerick lady Emily Clarke is leading a crusade to get Pope Francis to include Limerick on his itinerary if, as expected, he visits Ireland next year. Indeed, she is very much ahead of the posse with the release of her own song, Papa Francis.
On her recent visit to Knock Shrine, Emily spoke passionately about her desire to see Pope Francis visit the city that is so dear to her heart.
“Like the title of one of my songs, Ever Be Limerick For Me, that’s how I feel about the city on the Shannon. It has been through demanding times and endured a lot of adverse publicity but it is triumphing over all of that.
“My faith is very important to me. I know in my heart from talking to so many people that it means so much to them as well. I have not the slightest doubt but that Pope Francis will receive a tumultuous welcome if he visits our city. It would be tremendous for Limerick.
“I sent a copy of my song, Papa Francis, to the Vatican, as well as a personal letter inviting the Pope to come and visit us should he decide to make the trip to Ireland next year. I got a lovely letter back from the Vatican thanking me for my song about the Pope. I was so excited the day it arrived and it has ignited a whole chain of events since then.
“The amount of people who are rallying to the cause is phenomenal. A lot is now going on behind the scenes. I had a lovely interview with Joe Nash on Limerick Live 95 FM. He was so accommodating and so enthusiastic about it and it was a privilege for me to take the message to the people of Limerick across the airwaves.”
Emily is no stranger to the music scene. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, she featured as lead singer with Limerick-based pop bands Lucky Numbers and Fantasy.
Performing young
“I loved those years and the excitement of performing to big crowds. I was only 14 when I started in this business. I would think it crazy nowadays for young girls to go on the road with bands at that age but that’s how it was back then. I’ve always loved the buzz of the music scene and I still feel the same about it today.”
These times, Emily is performing her own solo shows, mainly around the midwest region.
I remark about the similarity in many ways with Gina from Cork, lead singer with The Champions.
“You are not the first to make that comparison. It has come up several times over the years. I am proud of that because I have enormous respect for Gina who is such a professional on stage,” says Emily.
Debut almbum
Her debut album, Ever Be Limerick To Me, is a true showcase for the wide spectrum of music that is close to her heart these days.
“As the years move on, we all get an appreciation for different genres of music. That’s life over and over again. I loved my days in the pop bands but life is all about change.
“I included two songs that I absolutely love to sing, Moonlight In Mayo and The Green Glens of Antrim. The lyrics and melodies conjure such magical moods of two special counties. Country music is represented by Can I Have This Dance and Help Me Make It Through The Night. Never Ending Love and Sailor are a little more from the pop side of things while Back Home To Donegal, and You Raise Me Up are songs that I also love to sing.
“I was thrilled to have some of the top musicians work on the album, including Frankie Colohan, Peter Maher, Richard Nelson, Declan Aungier, Eamon McLoughlin, Robbie Casserly, Ger Fahy, Nicola McGuire and Danny Sheerin. My new album, Papa Francis, is a complete gospel collection of 13 songs, including three of my own compositions. It is an album I have wanted to do for a long time. I have also included Lady of Knock, written by Dana, on this album. I have a great affinity with Knock and visit it a few times every year. I love the peace and tranquillity of the place and it touches my heart in a special way.”
pursuing her dream
In the months ahead, Emily will be quietly pursuing her dream to see Pope Francis visit Limerick like Pope John Paul II did on 1 October, 1979.
“It would be a huge boost to the region. He is such a humble man with a great outreach to the world.
“It would clearly be the greatest honour of my life if I got the chance to perform my song Papa Francis for him in Limerick. I have no doubt at all but that Limerick would extend its arms and embrace him with wonderful affection and thanksgiving,” says Emily.
Emily Clarke’s videos of Ever Be Limerick Fr Me and Papa Francis can be viewed on YouTube. CL
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