Suffering Gaels pay the piper....off
March 28, 2002
In a desperate bid to revitalise their floundering career The Suffering Gaels today unveiled new line-up changes. Spokesperson and image consultant for the aging folk group, Aisling Ireland, explained the thinking behind the move. "When I came on board the first thing I noticed was the attention that people gave to the piper in the band. At their performances the only question people have is about the pipes..all they want to know is what the hell is that yoke your man with the beard is playing. This gave me an idea and over several tense meetings I got them to re-arrange themselves. It was difficult to do but they soon saw the benefits in changing. I mean, it's just Irish music and no-one has any great interest in it. It's not like people have conventions for this stuff " the blonde bombshell laughed.
" At first, they fought the idea but when I explained how easy it was to play the thing they came around. With three pipers in the band, of course we needed a musical instrument to fill out the sound and Tom elected to switch to the fiddle. Well he will when he finds out about it on his return from Japan. I think he'll enjoy stepping out of the limelight as front man for the band...let's face it, he's been carrying the load for a long time and it's time the other three shared the burden.
The band is delighted with the change. Legendary ex-fiddler Dale Russ said" It's such a simple idea really I don't know why I didn't think of it before. The fiddle is such a hard instrument to play and the pipes are so easy. They don't have any strings you see, so no problem with tuning and messy rosin. I won't have to work as hard and people will ask me all the questions.
Conor Byrne was equally as excited. " For me it's perfect" said the white-haired entrepeneaur " Sure and didn't I learn to play them when I was two and a half. Now I'll be able to relax on stage and not have to worry about the technology of the fiddle. I'll be able to concentrate on my singing and then I'll be the first piper to be able to sing and play at the same time"
On hearing of the change Mac Ginty's first question was"Play the pipes? What are they?" After the band assured him that he wouldn't actually have to play them but just move his fingers and elbows at the same time he went along. "Sure that's just like playing the guitar"
Disgruntled former employees of the band, Tomas Mulgradient and Peedo Giollamhuire, said last night.........continued on Page 3.