Poignant Christmas song hits number 2 on iTunes, just behind Mariah

MOVE over Mariah Carey, it looks like there is a new queen of the Christmas song – and she lives in County Clare.
Ennis-based Deirdre Devally, an MA Creative Writing student, has penned a new song ‘Christmas in Dublin’ in a collaboration with Niall Teague which is proving to be a festive hit.
Sung by Anne Brennan the track is 60-year-old Deirdre’s first song release and recently reached number two in the iTunes holiday song chart for Ireland.
“It was behind Mariah Carey, in front of Michael Bublé, Bruce Springsteen and other huge names. It has got USA and Irish airplay,” she told The Champion.
She described the reaction to the song as “phenomenal” saying she couldn’t believe it when she saw its position in the Irish charts. “It’s so thrilling and exciting.”
Deirdre, who is originally from Dublin but has lived in Ennis for 24 years, explained that the song deals with the longing of those who are away from family to come home and was inspired by her own experiences.
“It’s an emigrant song. For so many Irish people, particularly in the west, our ancestors had to emigrate. In my mother’s own family, four of the six children emigrated.”
She recalls how on her 25th birthday she went to visit her aunt in America who left Ireland as a young woman, not knowing it was the last time she would ever see her.
“My aunt was only 50, she never made it home because she was always working up to Christmas, but she always had a huge desire to have family with her. She had no children of her own.
“As a big surprise for me on my birthday my family got me out to visit her. We had a great day on my birthday, we stayed in a friend’s house in upstate New York and that night we got snowed in. The next morning my aunt took the train back to Manhattan.
“I never saw her again because she died suddenly. The impetus for this song came from that feeling of an emigrant longing for home, particularly at Christmas.
“While the song is specific to Dublin, I think the sentiment is universal – the longing of emigrants or those far from home to be with family.
“Christmas in Dublin is written from the point of view of the one who is away from home but it’s also about the parents and grandparents left behind.”
Though the song was written in pre-Covid times, Deirdre believes that the pandemic has given added meaning to the lyrics for some.
“So many of us during Covid were unable to see our parents or loved ones for so long and this song just resonates with that feeling of longing and loneliness.”
The connection between Deirdre and her song-writing collaborator Song Writing Master’s Degree graduate Niall Teague was facilitated by Professor Joseph O’Connor and Song writing MA Director Carl Corcoran, both well known for their contribution to the arts.
“I don’t play an instrument but I started writing songs. With this song, I thought it was pretty good. I would be pretty slow to put myself forward but I thought there’s something about this so I asked Joe if he would introduce me to Carl Corcoran.
“Carl listened to the song a few times and he put me in touch with Niall. I wrote the lyrics and melody and Niall did all the musical accompaniments, it was a co-writing process and then we got Anne Brennan on board.”
Anne who hails from Maam, county Galway comes from a family steeped in musical tradition and has shared the stage with some of Ireland’s best artists including Paul Brady, Damian Dempsey, Declan O’Rourke, and Sharon Shannon.
The song features stalwart drummer Miki Belton and the talents of ‘Music Matters’ senior string ensemble lead by Karen Dervan.
Dervan is a professional viola player, arranger and producer who has performed with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Wexford Festival Opera and Lyric Opera Orchestra.
Deirdre, describes writing as her “passion” and believes that whatever age you are you should follow your dreams.
“I’m sixty now, I’m no spring chicken, but it’s just wonderful to see my song in the charts.
“Writing is something that I have to do, it’s a passion. But it is also a gift, and I feel like you need to use your gifts otherwise it is a waste.
“I have a wonderful friend Anne Rynne, she recorded her first album in her sixties and at 73 is working on her third. In some ways Anne really taught me that it’s just never too late.”