The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and the Wake for Ger Foley

March 29, 2016 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

I’ve only been to one traditional Irish wake and it was a hoot. The sadness of the passing of the loved one was counteracted by storytelling, singing and lots of drinking.

Earlier this month, a man named Ger “Farmer” Foley died after a long fight with cystic fibrosis. After the funeral on March 24, friends and family gathered at Falveys Pub, Killiorglin, County Kerry, to hoist a few pints of Guinness and shots of Jameson in the man’s honour. At some point, Brian O’Sullivan began to lead the singing, which included a rendition of the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” The video–of course there’s video; everything is documented in the 21st century–has gone viral.

https://youtu.be/digsMgWmrL8

God bless the Irish. When I go, I can only hope for something this joyous. By the way, the Killers love the video.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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