Internationally acclaimed band 'can't wait for Naas' this Punchestown Music Fest
Music legends Deacon Blue are set to perform for their first ever gig in Co Kildare at the end of this month.
The band are this year celebrating 30 years of success. Deacon Blue, fronted by husband and wife team, lead singer Ricky Ross and vocalist Lorraine McIntosh, will perform live at Punchestown on Saturday, July 29. This exceptional band are set to create some magic and nostalgia for the residents of Naas, Co Kildare, the Midlands and beyond.
Speaking to KildareNow exclusively, singer Lorraine reveals that she is particularly looking forward to hearing Culture Club, who will also be part of Punchestown's line-up this July.
For Lorraine McIntosh, music all started with her mother Sarah Gallagher's native Co Donegal as there was a wide range of support for her there. Although her mother, known locally as Sarah with family nickname ( Jimmy Bann), passed while she was just 11, she has a large extended family residing at Gweedore, and returns there regularly.
At eight years old she first sang with her father, David McIntosh, at Teach Hiúdaí Beag, Bunbeg.
She said: "I started singing harmonies with him."
To this day, she still loves singing harmonies and will encourage her children to join along with her.
Described by herself as being a 'shy girl' who was born in Glasgow but moved to Ayreshire, she confesses that there was a lot of poverty in her childhood. There was no money for music lessons. She recalled how her school did not really promote music.
She said: "In school music was not fun, until my final year, when we started a folk group."
However, it all changed for the young woman, who at the age of 22, joined Deacon Blue. This band had just signed a record deal with CBS/ Sony.
Not long into joining the band, she formed a romantic relationship with Ricky Ross, they are now married 27 years and have three children, Emer, Georgia and the youngest Séamus.
Reflecting on the differences performing back in the late 80s and 90s, to now, she said: "At the beginning no-one knew your song, it was a battle to keep people there, and hopefully get people to come back."
According to Lorraine, there is a 'desperation' in Deacon Blue's first album, Rain Town.
She said: "We took every show as a challenge to our very survival. As we get older, there is still that need to challenge and prove our best, but it just lessens a wee bit."
This hardworking woman, who admits that even now there is still a bit of 'anxiety' before going on stage, said: "Every night we go out to prove we are a brilliant band."
But being in a band together and being married must bring its challenges?, I ask.
'No' asserts, Lorraine. She said: "We have been really lucky that we really like each-other. We are not in the band all the time. I also do acting, Ricky does radio shows."
Ricky Ross presents Radio Scotland's Americana show Another Country.
She said: "Doing stuff with the band is the icing on the cake. It is a total laugh. We have played all over the world. We are very lucky to be still doing this."
However, in 1994, the band split up for five years. On this split, she said: " I was expecting a young baby and had a young baby."
Irish audiences are great, she says, just like Glasgow audiences are.
Deacon Blue have performed throughout Ireland, over the 30 years.
This July will be their debut in Naas.
She said: "We can't wait for Naas."
Meanwhile, before Punchestown, they have a busy schedule ahead of them, including Edinburgh Castle on July 22, next.
Along with music, Lorraine has many passions including current affairs. She is deeply concerned about the Syrian refugee crisis, and is very critical of American President Donald J. Trump.
She said: "The situation is terrible, people are drowning."
In 2016, it was recorded that at least 2,510 refugees died while making the perilous journey to Europe.
Meanwhile, this Scottish woman is very opposed to Brexit.
She said: "I think Brexit is awful. My children are saying that they want to get Irish passports. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay."
Deacon Blue will be performing at this July's Punchestown Music Festival, Saturday, July 29.