I have gladly managed so far to survive many of the things that have killed many of my friend

I have gladly managed so far to survive many of the things that have killed many of my friend

22 February 2023

ACCLAIMED Belfast singer Brian Kennedy changed the words to Irish ballad, Carrickfergus to include Downpatrick during an appearance at The Saint Patrick Centre last week.

Throughout 90 minutes, Kennedy sang and played guitar and shared stories of his life as part of the centre’s In Conversation Series hosted by Gerry Kelly.

After singing Carrickfergus  and replacing Kilkenny with the line, “And in Downpatrick, it is reported…” he shared how US President Bill Clinton had personally requested the tune during an exclusive $25,000 a head fundraiser in an exclusive Manhattan apartment.

Kennedy said President Clinton knew every line and put his arm around him afterwards to chat. 

Kennedy, to much laughter, said he managed to keep quiet “for once in his life” about an encounter he had hours earlier.

He said he had held the lift for his New York neighbour, who was none other than Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern whose relationship with President Clinton caused a scandal that nearly brought down his presidency.

Kennedy described how Lewinsky rushed into the lift in a baseball cap, saying  “gee, thanks.”

The singer is now working on his 18th album and has had a string of hits including Captured and A Better Man. Kennedy has also toured with Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and appeared on Broadway in Riverdance.

He was welcomed by Dr Tim Campbell, director of The Saint Patrick Centre, the world’s only permanent exhibition to St Patrick.

“This was an uplifting occasion for everyone involved,” Dr Campbell said. “Brian has had an amazing life and is not only a talented musician but a great storyteller. We were grateful for the live music and the banter with Gerry Kelly.”

Reflecting on Morrison’s reputation for being a perfectionist, Kennedy said: “He is not terrifying to be with for me. I do hear some negative things about him but I will tell you this. I have never met a more passionate man. And when I got really unwell with cancer, he sent me a beautiful card and he has given me a signed Van Morrison guitar to auction at some point in the future.

“I really only mostly know an incredibly generous side of him.”

Kennedy told how Morrison had gone out of his way to help an aspiring singer-songwriter from the Falls Road.

He recalled how in San Francisco, Morrison told the audience: ”I want to introduce a young man from Belfast who has a great pair of lungs.”

He said Morrison’s attitude was “check out this kid” and this opened doors to touring with Joni Mitchell, who is Kennedy’s favourite guitarist.

Kennedy spoke of his health battles, including a diagnosis of rectal cancer four years ago and a massive heart attack last year that led to a quadruple bypass. He was given a choice between “a colostomy bag or a body bag. That’s how serious it was”.

He continued: “I have managed so far to survive many of the things that have killed many of my friends.”

He found humour in hospital, recalling how a Korean nurse spoke to him in intensive care, repeating: “Brian Kennedy, Eurovision.” This prompted another patient to ask: “Why does he keep calling you a vision?”

The singer-songwriter shared stories of his traumatic childhood, his struggles with his sexuality as a gay man in Catholic West Belfast and how music became a source of comfort for him as a lonely teenager in a violent city and a violent home.

“Singing was something that set me apart,” he remarked.