Country Sound: Hooked on a country music feeling

When Anne Randolph returned to her hometown of Kiltimagh on Friday night to present her new show, Atlantic Heart Songs, it was as if she had never been away.

For the lady who is so used to seeing the rest of her family in the spotlight over the years (her son Darren is the current Republic of Ireland goalie), this was a night that reunited her with her western roots and the town she loves so well.

School days

Anne, formerly Walsh, is one of a family of five. Her sisters Mary and Sheila reside in Kiltimagh and Swinford and her brothers Michael and Andrew are in London and Arizona respectively.

Anne attended St Aidan’s NS and the local St Louis School in Kiltimagh.

“The St Louis Sisters and staff were very progressive and they gave us a huge appreciation for music. Like so many things, we probably didn’t appreciate at the time just how much they wanted the best for us all.

“They brought Frank Patterson and Eily O’Grady and also Clannad to do concerts in the school.

"They had the music rooms, choir and orchestra. I did senior singing for the Royal Irish Academy exams and I recall choosing the Percy French song, Gortnamona, to sing on that occasion. The St Louis Sisters were so proud of us all,” says Anne.

The Banner

On leaving Kiltimagh, she took up an appointment with AIB and her first assignment was to Ennistymon in Co Clare.

“I spent seven very contented years there and I still have great fiends from that part of my life. I love Clare and go back there every year to Lahinch and that region close to the seaside.”

It was while in Ennistymon she met her husband, Ed Randolph, who had come to Ireland in the early 1980s as part of an influx of young basketball players and coaches from the USA.

He spent a short time in Belfast before taking a call from Enda Burke of the Claremont Admirals in Ennistymon, asking him to come to Clare to replace another American player who had just left the club.

“I was into sport such as badminton and squash back then and that’s how I met Ed,” recalls Anne. “He had taken a year out of college in America and came over to Ireland at a time when other students were doing the same.

"Some of them extended their contracts, others went back home to America, but a good few settled here too.”

Bray to stay

Because of Ed’s commitment to basketball coaching at a major level, Anne sought a bank transfer and they decided to move east. Bray has been their home for the last 30 years.

Their two sons Darren (30) and Neil (25) have worn the green jerseys of Ireland for some years.

The two lads were mad into basketball from the outset. Both have played for Ireland at international level and Neil is still very actively involved at the highest level here at home.

“The lads had great times at the Bray Emmets GAA Club and Darren played underage for Wicklow and had good potential as a Gaelic player.

"He played soccer with the local Ardmore Rovers club in Bray, as did Neil, when they attended the Presentation Boys School. We have a great love for Bray and the people of the area.

“Darren was scouted for Charlton Athletic at the age of 16 and his professional career took off soon after that.

"He spent some time on loan to various clubs before moving to Motherwell in Scotland, where he spent a four-year term.

"After that it was spells with Birmingham and West Ham and he is currently with Middlesbrough. Naturally, we are very proud of his progression to the top-choice goalkeeper with the Republic of Ireland,” reflects Anne.

Psychotherapy

While the rest of the family are well used to the spotlight, Anne, who trained as a psychotherapist prior to the downturn in the banking sector around 2009, and who is now self-employed in that sector, has recently rekindled her abiding love for music and song.

“I retired from the banking scene around 10 years ago and I have put a lot of work into establishing my own niche in the psychotherapy field. Still, music was always there in my life.

“I was watching The Late Late Show one night and Sharon Corr was talking about a singing teacher called Liz Ryan in Dublin.

"I made contact with Liz and I went back to singing classes. She encouraged me to progress my interest further and do a gig or more.

After careful planning, I did my first solo show in The Mill Theatre in Dundrum, Dublin, in September and it was such a beautiful night.

"I was blessed to have such wonderful musicians with me for the show. Vera Craughwell, Keith Donald, Matthew Mazannek and James Blennerhassett also accompanied me for my hometown gig in Kiltimagh Town Hall Theatre last Friday night.

"It was an amazing homecoming and the reception was second to none.”

Hometown hero

There is almost a sense of calm and mediation to the show that Anne has put together.

“Each song I feature appeals to me in a certain way. I love good lyrics, nice melodies and a strong storyline.

I have to have a feeling for a song. What I do best is sing songs that resonate with me. I have a fondness for singers such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian and Iris Dement.

"I have always loved traditional Irish and Scottish songs too, as well as the classic Irish songs and melodies of Percy French and Thomas Moore and the musical poetry of Yeats. Robbie Burns features strongly too and I include some of his material in the show.”

Back among her own folk on Friday night, the closing song in the encore was carefully chosen and went down a treat.

The old Gaelic poem, Cill Aodáin, written by local 19th century bard Raftery, the poet from Killeden, resonated deeply with the audience.

The song is special to Kiltimagh and Mayo people. You never forget where you come from.

"The lads at home in Bray tell me I shout more at the television when Mayo are playing in Croke Park than I do when the Irish soccer team is playing! The family come up from Mayo and join us here on those special weekends.”

Anne is hoping to present a number of shows in the Atlantic Heart Songs series in the months ahead.

“After the shows in Dublin and Mayo, I’m hooked on the music now. Who knows where it might go from here on. I absolutely love what I am doing now.”

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