Cruising With Mc Cormack

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Many people sadly have to live far away from home .
But for the exiles of Erin there is a special place held in the heart
for friends and relations .
In our adopted homes around the world many of continually tell our
family and our friends that you are never too far from my mind .

This phrase is the title of Derek Mc Cormacks latest album just
released here in Australia . On this album there are thirteen
songs
performed by Derek with the help of some of his friends including some
of the Fureys who will soon arrive here in Australia for another tour
to coincide with the St Patricks Day festivities .

Derek Mc Cormack is well known in Australia with tours
when he was a member of The Irish band Barleycorn .
That is the new Barleycorn of course and not the old Barleycorn who
sadly met up with such terrible tragedy during the troubles in Northern
Ireland .

Derek was first heard on Australian Radio when one of the most popular
producers in the country picked up a song called Roisin
that Derek had performed . The song was an instant hit with many of the
listeners to the national radio program called ,
" Australia All Over " that is presented by a fella by the name of
Macca . After Macca played Roisin on his radio show he was
bombarded with weekly requests to play more of Derek Mc Cormack. The
demand was so great that the ABC , i.e. The Australian Broadcasting
Corporation released a compilation album that included Roisin by Derek
Mc Cormack on it . The CD was a big seller and another big result for
Derek was an immediate gathering in of new fans all over the country
.

I had spoke with Derek when he came to Australia in 1998 as a member of
the Fureys band . Derek played rhythm guitar with the boys and sang one
song at the gig . When Derek sang Roisin the
audience exploded in applause that heralded Derek being put up
as the toast of the town that evening at the Campbelltown RSL Club .
After the show a long list of people stood in line to speak with him
.

I found him a quietly spoken man who is very content with life .
He told me he lives near enough to Dundalk to be happy and as far from
Dublin to be comfortable with .
In recent times Derek has been responsible for providing all the music
on those ferry cruses . He says with a great big smile
that its the perfect venue for him because the people have to listen to
his songs , because they have nowhere else to go , unless they'd like
to swim all the way back to the pier .
That is the sort of Craic you'd get from big Derek who is very humble
about his great gift . Derek is your typical romantic .
A wonderful package of voice and song wrapped up in its Irishness is
what you get with Derek .

For the fans of Irish music I'm sure you'll find this Cd an invaluable
addition to your music collection and indeed a rare treasure to keep
.

The End

Footnote .

Not long after this interview Derek McCormack died . This album had
left a great legacy for the world and we are all the weatlhier for
having known this man in his music and song .

By Paul Mc Cann