A musical dedication

A song composed on the night his mother died has become the most-requested number from Derek Ryan’s latest album. Sally Ryan (69) passed on back in July in St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny after an illness. To Waltz With My Mother Again is dedicated to her memory.

The Carlow singer recalls the emotion of the occasion and how memories came flooding back of childhood days and growing up around Garryhill.

“When I came back to my own house that night, I locked myself away in the studio and sat at the piano. I turned off the lights and I just found myself in another place and another time.

“I wrote the song very quickly. It reflected exactly how it was when we were young and daddy (Pat) was playing on stage and mammy would bring us along to the places that were nearby.

“It was very much from the heart. The strange thing was that I never wrote it down. I kept saying it over and over in my head. It was more for my own therapy than anything at the time.”

It took some persuasion for Derek to contemplate recording the song. “I was in the studio with Jonathan Owens in Granard doing work on my album when I just ran through it one evening and Jonathan took to it on the spot. I also asked family and others what they thought of it.

She was always a quiet woman and was always in the background. She never wanted the limelight or anything like that

“I had thought that it might be too tough to sing it but people close to me persuaded me to record it and said there were a lot of people out there who would relate to it. I’m glad I did now as I feel I can pay a tribute to my mother every night I am on stage.

“She was always a quiet woman and was always in the background. She never wanted the limelight or anything like that, never ever, ever in her life. I actually find the song quite comforting at this stage.”

The lyrics have touched the hearts of many radio listeners and showcase Derek’s ability to reflect the deep emotions with well chosen words. The chorus goes:

Lord, once more, give us an encore

To feel the way I felt back then

I would give everything for my daddy to sing

So I could waltz with my mother again

The song is one of 12 tracks on Derek’s latest album entitled Ten, his 10th studio album comprising of 12 self-penned songs including Ya Can’t Stay Here, Honey Honey and Hayley Jo. To Waltz With My Mother Again has just been released as the new radio play single from the album.

Meanwhile, Derek is all set for a hectic schedule throughout 2019. Apart from the regular dance and concert shows, he is broadening his appeal with an outreach to the European country circuit.

“We did a guest spot on a summer festival in Pérouges in France last year and it was a great experience for us. What took me completely by surprise was that the almost entirely French audience sang along with some of my own songs such as God’s Plan and Life Is a River.

“We are going back to do two country shows in France this summer and one in Denmark while another one in Spain looks on the cards too. I’m really excited about these outlets as there is an entire new scene for us out there if all goes well.”

The summer festival scene here at home will see Derek headline the Carlow Fest along with Nathan Carter and also perform at various other outdoor shows such as the Cowboys and Heroes in Leitrim, Lisdoonvarna in September and the Wild Wild West Festival in Kilconly, Co Galway.

Recent days saw Derek and some friends climb Croagh Patrick just outside Westport. “It was my first time to climb the famous mountain. It was a tough climb but I enjoyed it. It is a lovely part of the country.”

From expanding into the European country circuit to scaling the Reek, Derek Ryan is reaching new heights in more ways than one these times.

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