© Eddie Delahunt
Mark Clavey: lead vocals, guitar
Mary Hanover: vocals, hammered dulcimer
Rachel Gaither-Vaughan: vocals, fiddle
(From Mark) “I first saw Eddie in 1994 at Cummings Irish Restaurant and Pub in south Kansas City, where Frank [Blair] and I had been hanging out with some regularity. I found myself completely befuddled as to how it could be that Eddie wasn’t a big name. The traditional songs he did sounded fresh, and his original material was exceptional. We followed him around to Harling’s Upstairs, O’Dowd’s Little Dublin, and up to Weston to see him at O’Malley’s Pub… and we became good friends and musical colleagues. In the past twenty years, Eddie has been a groom, a barista, an entrepreneur, a local celebrity, a mainstay in the Irish music community, everybody’s best friend, and very nearly one of the dearly departed. And whatever he’s done, he’s done it with charm… and an impish grin.” Eddie was Dublin-born and Dublin-bred, and music has been an ever-present part of his life. “I listened all the while as our family, relatives, and friends would play and sing at house-parties. Every house had its own music in Dublin, and at least one person out of every family could play some instrument.” Eddie carried that love of music wherever he went… far and wide in the Irish Merchant Marines all the way to landlocked Missouri. A two-week gig at Harling's Upstairs in Westport turned into a career in Kansas City. Eddie's working-man concoction of traditional Irish ballads, energized guitar riffs, and original songs have made him an adopted native son and a household name around town. “One Of Ireland’s Children” is the title-track of his first recording… and as the album-title, it might be a clever reference to Himself… but as the title of the song, it is not. “I wrote the song while visiting friends in London in the mid-80s. I took a walk down the blue-collar neighbourhoods where all the work had dried up and left a lot of 'Paddys' destitute. I call it an Irish blues song!”.
Lyrics
Paddy’s down in London-town. Got no money, there’s no work goin’ ‘round. On an empty belly he’s been sleepin’ rough. Got a chill, can’t shake it off. And to be home again he’s dreamed so long, but his home and all his people are gone. Though a lonely man, he’ll fight the tears – He’s still a stranger here after all these years. He says, “I remember my childhood, green fields and the wildwood, running free like a river – one of Ireland’s children.”
Took the boat in ’51 in search like everyone. Digging roads and liftin’ loads for England’s chosen ones.
Well the years went by and the Irish boys came back with what they’d found. Paddy kept on searchin’ through the streets of London-town. For Paddy’d been told there’s streets paved with gold in London. For Paddy’d been told there’s streets paved with gold in London.
Paddy’s down in London-town. Got no money, there’s no work goin’ ‘round. On an empty belly he’s been sleepin’ rough. Got a chill, can’t shake it off. Got a chill, couldn’t shake it off.