.
Photographed at the launch of the single were members of the national Ukrainian choir and Phil Coulter Pic: Marc O’Sullivan
TWO Ukrainians, now resident in Kerry, are part of the National Ukrainian Choir which has released a new version of Phil Coulter’s single, ‘Steal Away’, in collaboration with the singer.
The choir, which was brought together by local development companies across Ireland including NEWKD in Kerry, is made up of 40 people including singers Liliia Nemchenko and Myroslava Herusfrom from Ardfert, and Maksym Losovyi from Ballybunion who fled Ukraine as a result of the war.
The single, translated into Ukrainian, was launched at a special event in Saint Stephen’s Church, Dublin, this week where the choir performed the new single with Phil Coulter.
Continued below…
.
The song, originally written by Phil Coulter 40 years ago, tells the story of a couple who escape from the Troubles and there are many parallels with the current situation facing Ukrainians today.
The song will be available for download via Spotify, and the road to the launch forms the subject of a documentary due to be released in coming months.
Commenting on his involvement in the initiative, Phil Coulter said: “When I wrote Steal Away in 1983 the song was in response to the conflict that was happening in Northern Ireland at the time. I couldn’t have imagined that 40 years later it would have a connection to the situation facing Ukrainians today.”
Speaking about the launch of Steal Away, Éamonn O’Reilly, CEO at North East West Kerry Development Programme said: “This project has been a breath of fresh air for frankly deeply feeling Ukrainians who, through singing, feel life!”
The single will be available on Spotify from 31st August.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
