Sounds of global success
On the music stage, both classical and popular, Northern Ireland people have made – and continue to – make their mark. Sir James Galway is widely regarded as the world’s greatest flautist; Kenneth Montgomery a much-respected conductor; and Angela Feeney has achieved acclaim as a concert soprano. And Barry Douglas is a globally ranked pianist.
Among the most popular and influential artists in rock and blues is singer-songwriter Van Morrison. As a writer and producer Phil Coulter has helped shape the careers of many individual performers and bands from the Bay City Rollers to the Dubliners. Songs he has penned have been recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Dana (Rosemary Brown), Ireland’s first Eurovision Song Contest winner and later a Member of the European Parliament, and Richard Harris, the renowned Irish actor.
Their achievements are being carried forward today by a new generation of performers such as Katie Melua, Brian Kennedy and Nadine Coyle of the Girls Aloud band. Snow Patrol has also recently achieved global chart success. Paul Brady and Kieran Goss have taken folk-influenced music far beyond our shores.
Sounds created by guitars played by stars of the calibre of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and U2 owe much to the outstanding craftsmanship and attention to detail of George Lowden. Lowden continues to craft acoustic guitars and has helped to develop an industry that today includes Avalon Guitars and IBC, both based in Newtownards, Co. Down.
Sporting endeavour
Northern Ireland’s contribution also extends well beyond the arts and entertainment to most fields of sporting endeavour. The Ulster rugby team has won the Heineken European Cup, the Celtic League and the Celtic Cup. The legendary Willie John McBride captained the British Lions to success in South Africa.
The soccer team has reached the final stages of three World Cups. Northern Ireland has produced internationally respected players such as George Best, Pat Jennings, Bertie Peacock, Billy Bingham and Danny Blanchflower. Neill Lennon is captain of Glasgow Celtic. Former international players like Billy Bingham, Martin O’Neill, Ian Dowie, Nigel Worthington and Jim Magilton have reached the top in management in Britain. Northern Ireland is also home to one of the world’s most successful youth soccer tournaments, the Milk Cup.
The names of athlete and Olympic gold medal winner Dame Mary Peters and motorcyclist Joey Dunlop are known worldwide. Golfer Darren Clarke has been a key player in Ryder Cup winning teams and is highly regarded in global golf. Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Denis Taylor have won snooker’s top titles. And Eddie Irvine was a Formula 1 driver with the Ferrari team. Janet Gray is an inspiration for athletes everywhere. She battled back from near-fatal injury to achieve outstanding success in competitive water-skiing for the blind.
And also leading the field in horse racing are jockeys Tony McCoy, now one of the greatest ever riders in National Hunt racing, and Grand National winner Tony Dobbin.
In boxing too, Northern Ireland has produced a string of champions including Rinty Monaghan, Freddie Gilroy, John Caldwell and Wayne McCullough. And Barry McGuigan, one of the most charismatic fighters of his generation, came to regard Belfast as his hometown. Born in Clones, in the Irish Republic, just over the border with Northern Ireland, he chose the King’s Hall in Belfast to defend successfully the WBA Featherweight title he had won in London in 1985.
