Kilkerrin journalist inspired monologue CD track.

KILKERRIN-born sports journalist Martin Breheny's list of the GAA players of the century, published in The Irish Independent, was the catalyst for the track The Teams of the Century on the new CD The Very Best of the Gael by former Glenamaddy-based Garda turned composer and broadcaster John Duggan. John would have known Martin during the years he was stationed in Glenamaddy as the Kilkerrin journalist was working with The Tuam Herald at that time but the two men probably never thought that many years later their combinations would create a GAA monologue. John is no stranger to the recording scene as he has been featured on records for many years, ever since he and another man from Glenamaddy, Seamus Mannion, recorded vinyl albums as the duo John and Seamus. Of course John also wrote many hits for popular Irish singers including The Rose Of Castlerea for Brendan Shine and Back to Glenamaddy which has been recorded by John himself as well as by numerous other artists. But this time John has given his singing side a rest and he concentrates on monologues for all the tracks on The Very Best of the Gael. Galway footballers and hurlers get mentioned but as Tipperary are the current All-Ireland hurling champions the fans there will be enthralled by the track Back to Tipperary 2010. This is a tale about a long lost Tipperary emigrant who was discovered living in Australia by a nephew who managed to convince the exile to make a trip back to Ireland. The young man also managed to have the emigrant re-united with his ageing brother and another pleasant surprise was in store for the two elderly Tipperary men when they were given Hogan Stand tickets to watch their county win the Liam McCarthy Cup last September. The story sounds a bit far fetched but no doubt it will go down well among the older music, and hurling, fans in the land of the blue and gold. However it will hardly be the album's best selling point in counties such as Kilkenny or indeed in Galway! John thinks of the counties that have been less successful in winning All-Ireland hurling titles too and he has a fine track on the Waterford team that went all the way back in 1959. Of course other more successful GAA counties such as Wexford in hurling and Kerry in football also feature on this CD. 'When I sit down to write a verse or two it is usually some happening or experience, from the past, that inspires me. 'Of course in some instances the events are exaggerated but I think that I am more a recorder of real happenings than an inventor of stories,' says John. 'The plain people of Ireland have inspired this recording and it with them that my roots and loyalties are firmly planted,' he added. The Very best of the Gael is probably aimed at a specialised market of GAA supporters and monologue lovers, and no better man than John Duggan to wring every ounce of emotion out of the stories that he has penned for each track. The CD is released on the Dublin-based Ceol music label. â€â€ TG.