Strong Tipperary showing sees Premier winner at International song and poetry contest
Fidelma Nugent of Cahir won in the poetry section
Dublin-based singer-songwriter Kenny Grant has claimed the top prize at this year’s Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest with his original composition A Hundred Thousand Welcomes.
Grant, who hails originally from Scotland but now lives in Malahide, received a crystal trophy along with a €500 cheque. The winner was revealed at Templeneiry Church, Bansha, on Wednesday, August 20, by actor Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With The Enemy), who chaired the judging panel. Six finalists in total competed on the night.
The runner-up award, the Mick Tuohy Perpetual Cup, went to a collaboration between Buddy Sutton, Julius Wandelt and Peter Reinders — representing Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands — for their song It’s Time for Peace.
Grant is no stranger to success in this competition, having previously won in 2014 with A Child in A War. In recent years he has also co-written five tracks for Cool to Be Kind, the debut album of English band Sunbirds, fronted by former Housemartins and Beautiful South vocalist Dave Hemingway.
His latest winning song paints a vivid picture of a walk through Dublin city — beginning at the famine memorial on Custom House Quay and the Jeanie Johnson emigrant ship, before moving towards the Grand Canal, where today’s refugees escaping conflict and hunger have sought shelter.
The poetry section of the contest was won by Cahir native Fidelma Nugent for her piece The Weave of Home. A musician, poet and choir director, Fidelma is currently undertaking doctoral research on Catholic influences in the choral works of Olivier Messiaen.
Her poetry is strongly influenced by themes of place, memory and community, often blending musical rhythm with language. She was presented with a €300 prize by John Grogan, a direct descendant of the late Darby Ryan.
Other poetry finalists included Julie Ryan from Galbally, Co Limerick, who took second place with The Undertaker, while third prize went to Sylvia Greene of Tipperary town for her work The Garda and the Car.