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Jimmy Ross unveils the plaque to his brother Christie at St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
A SMALL gathering of musicians and supporters of the Christie Hennessy Festival gathered at an archway in St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of a plaque to the late singer.
Although Christie grew up in Casement’s Avenue, it was in a cottage at 2 Steeple View, formerly known as Peter Street off Brogue Makers Lane, that the late singer was born 72 years ago.
Local musician Mark Leen said Christie was a proud Tralee man, who always maintained his accent, wrote beautiful songs and was a masterful guitar player.
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“Just as Joe Dolan is remembered in Mullingar, Christie Hennessy is being honoured today,” said Mark, who thanked Cllr Sam Locke, stonemason Billy Leen, Frank Hartnett of Kerry County Council and Tralee Chamber Alliance who paid for the plaque.
Christie’s brother Jimmy Ross performed the unveiling which was followed by a performance of a Christie classic, ‘All The Lies That You Told Me’ by Francie Conway and Luan Parle.
Francie Conway also told an amusing story about how his father — a friend of the Ross family — wondered why Christie changed his surname from Ross to Hennessy.
“My dad said ‘I don’t know why he changed his name from Ross to Hennessy. Ross is a very fancy name. Any fella up the town who thinks they have a few bob is drinking Hennessy!’,” said Francie. Scroll down for photos…
The crowd gathered at the unveiling of a plaque marking Christie Hennessy’s birthplace at St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Musicians Francie Conway, Luan Parle and Mark Leen at the unveiling of a plaque marking Christie Hennessy’s birthplace at St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kieran Ruttledge of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Jimmy Ross and Cllr Sam Locke at the unveiling of a plaque marking Christie Hennessy’s birthplace at St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Francie Conway and Luan Parle performing at the unveiling of a plaque marking Christie Hennessy’s birthplace at St John’s Park on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
The new plaque in the laneway at St John’s Park. Photo by Dermot Crean
