Picture: Eamonn Keogh
The death of Aslan frontman Christy Dignam has caused real sadness in Killarney given his close links with the town over many years.
The charismatic, super talented Dub and his band have played to sell-out crowds at the Gleneagle INEC Arena on several occasions but he also enthralled an audience in a packed to capacity chapel in St Brendan’s College when he joined his great pal and fellow performer, Liam O’Connor, in a fundraiser for the school in 2018.
It is remembered as the night the fastest fingers in the world and the most iconic voice in the country shared a special stage – for one night only – in the town.
Even more memorable for many in Killarney was the night Christy and Liam – joined by a number of other musicians – rocked the town centre with a rousing, pop-up, open air gig on Plunkett Street.
Picture: Eamonn Keogh
That magical night of free top class entertainment, in July 2018, caught delighted locals and tourists by surprise and quickly led to a huge audience singing along with great gusto.
Christy gave a powerful three-track performance on that occasion and his version of his smash hit Crazy Word received a rapturous ovation, in particular.
It sparked an electric mid-summer atmosphere in the town centre which will be remembered as one of the most incredible free open air gigs the town has ever seen.
Aslan were due to play in the Gleneagle INEC Arena again last January but the show had to be cancelled due to Christy’s failing health.
In a statement issued at the time, the star’s wife, Kathyrn, daughter Kiera and the extended family updated the public on his condition.
“In July 2022, Christy was admitted to Beaumont Hospital and spent the next six months in the care of the haematology and cardiac care team.
“Since December, Christy has been at home and is being cared for lovingly by family, with the support of a palliative care team,” the devastating statement read.
The brilliant 63-year-old singer grew up in Finglas, on the northside of Dublin, and started playing music in the late 1970s before forming his own band.
Aslan’s debut single, This Is, was an instant hit and they were snapped up by EMI Records. Their debut album, Feel No Shame, rocketed to number one in the Irish charts and Christy Dignam became a household name.
Aslan most famous track, Crazy World, is considered one of the great rock anthems of all time.
Christy’s memorable duet with Finbar Furey on the Late Late Show six years ago, during which they performed a magnificent rendition of The Green Fields of France has been viewed over 17 million times on YouTube (link featured above).
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