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2024-07-05 Sugababes - Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

I've been a Sugababes fan since I first heard Overload way back in 2000.  It was, and still is, a pop classic.  Over the years, I managed to catch them live a couple of times.   The first time I caught Sugababes live was way back at Creamfields 2002.  Unfortunately Siobhan had left the band by then and been replaced by Heidi, so I never got to see the original lineup.  Did it matter much at the time to me?  No, not at all, I was just their to party!  As a side note, post Sugababes, Siobhan went on to release two solo albums, Revolution in Me in 2003 and Ghosts in 2007. The next time I saw them was at Oxegen 2008, and by then Mutya had left the band and was replaced by Amelle, leaving Keisha as the only remaining original member.  It was a tad strange seeing the band with only one remaining member, but again, it was a festival and all we were looking for was a good time, which we definitely got! Another side note, just like Siobhan, Mutya went on to release her own solo work, a gr

2023-04-24 Concert for Ukraine - Vicar Street, Dublin

I got a message from Hally 4 days before this gig was due to take place wondering if I'd like to shoot it.  The details were scant, but it was a charity gig and a few names were mentioned.

Well, I obviously said yes and so set in 4 days of panic and self doubt!  I was going to be the only one photographing the show.  What if they don't like my style?  What if my photos are out of focus?  What if?  What if?  What if?  Self doubt, it's an absolute bastard!

Roll on the Monday of the show.  I took time off from the day job and was in Vicar Street for 2:00pm.  A few introductions later and I went off to wander around the venue, see where I might get some good shots from.

As I was doing that, everyone else was doing their soundchecks, so every so often, I'd sit down and watch them do their thing.  I knew a few of the performers onstage, so thankfully after a few chats, the nerves started to fade.

7:30 came, doors were opened, stage lights went on and the show kicked off and the next few hours are just a blur of music and poetry from both Ukrainian and Irish artists, so it's lucky I had the camera, otherwise I'd remember nothing.

There were plenty of stand out moments, but for me, personally, the conversations I had back stage with some of the the Ukraine performers were heart-breaking and will stay with me for ever.  Stories of their former lives and what they are doing now... Stories of towns and villages destroyed during the war... Stories of family and friends lost in the war...  Just heart-breaking, yet told with such poise and grace, I couldn't help but admire these women.

As the Temptations once sang, "War is something that I despise, for it means destruction of innocent lives..."

Will this concert change anything?  Cynics will say no, but I have hope that the funds raised for the Irish Red Cross and Ukrainian Action will save at least one life.  I have hope that our friends in Ukraine will fell the love and support of the Irish people.  After that...

Anyway... It's taken me a week to go through the photos and to try and put what I felt in to words.  Are the words any good?  Probably not,  but I'm proud of some of these photos.  So, in no particular order:

Glen Hansard

Cathy Davey

Mariia Yaremak

Olesya Zdorovetska

Anna Krys

Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Hally, Colm Quearney, Robbie Malone

Richie Buckley

Graham Hopkins

Megan O'Neill

Megan O'Neill, Maria Kazatkova

Cathy Davey

Roddy Doyle

Mariia Yaremak

Olesya Zdorovetska

Cathy Davey

Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi

Maria Kazatkova

Paul Muldoon

Victoria Amelina

Glen Hansard

Colm Mac Con Iomaire

Everyone!




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