Paul O’Brien was born and bred in the Dublin Docks and has recounted the experience and history in song, with his 2009 collection “Songs from the North Lotts”. In recent years Paul has travelled widely , visiting Dockland communities such as Belfast, Glasgow , Rotterdam and many more , hearing their stories , and capturing them in song , which led to the “Port to Port” collection and ongoing project.
The above video features Paul performing at the Sean O’Casey theatre, East Wall in February of this year. Tracks include ‘The Lockout’, ‘The last jaunt’ (written for a childhood friend whose father died in a dock accident), ‘The Hundred Ton Crane’ and ‘The Rathborne Chandlers’ (dedicated to the women who worked in the world famous, but now demolished, Candle factory on East Wall Road).
Also included are two songs by special guest Diarmuid Breatnach ‘Dublin City 1913’ and ‘Pat O’Donnell’. Diarmuid also performed recently at the Sean O’Casey Community centre on Culture Night.
Enjoy the video, and take the opportunity to catch Paul live this coming week, his first local appearance since February. Taking place in Smyths of Fairview this coming Wednesday, October 2nd see details below.
