Overview

When The Hennessys were formed in the mid-sixties they soon realised they had an identity problem. The trio assumed they were an Irish band who happened to live in Cardiff. Then, at the end of a session in Cork City, someone asked why they weren't singing Welsh songs? -- Books Council of Wales

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9781845279905

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Reviews

This is, simply put, a turning point in the history of the band. They came to the attention of pioneers who were well versed in the Welsh folk world, and who were influential in the media – Meredydd Evans, Rhydderch Jones and Ruth Price. This is the story from the standpoint of Dave Burns, and the part he played in enriching the folk singing scene in Wales and beyond. It's also the story of the Irish community in Cardiff, from a personal perspective that is often absent from our history books. This is a story brimming with delight and song, and with a delightful mix of zest and craic. First published in Welsh as 'Yr Hewl a'i Hwyl'. -- Publisher: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch After visiting Dave Burns in health and in sickness, I came away always having learned something new about the man and his sense of place. During our time together, we laughed a lot, listened to music and after leaving, I felt so much better for being in his company. Those elements are, I think, well-illustrated in his book which is a fascinating and personal insight into his upbringing and the formation of the Hennessys, one of Cardiff and Wales’ best-loved folk groups, and the story behind some of the songs that influenced them along the way. Dave lived long enough to see the publication of a Welsh-language version of his work, but thanks to some diligent, lovingly researched work by his wife Clare and son Daniel, this English edition contains a whole new additional chapter based around interviews he gave to the Cardiff Story Museum. He tells of his immense pride of having been brought up in Newtown, an area of Cardiff known as ‘Little Ireland’ on account of the large Irish community who had settled there in the mid-1800s. Most of the men in those six streets that made up Newtown worked on the docks and despite the fact that times were hard, Dave’s love of the place and the sense of a community pulling together in times of adversity shines through the pages. Cardiff Central Boys Club played a huge part in his early life. It was here that he met Frank Hennessy, his lifelong pal and fellow group member; and Paul Powell, a very talented singer, banjo player and weightlifter! As the three, now known as The Hennessys, were performing a number of Irish songs in pubs and clubs in and around Cardiff, it seemed a natural but nevertheless a very big step to give up their jobs to go and play professionally in Ireland, which they did in 1968. Eventually they returned to Wales, now having learned to sing some songs in the Welsh language to add to their ever increasing repertoire. For the next few years they appeared regularly on television and played in concerts all over Britain and overseas. The book recalls some of those memorable appearances, the underlying sense of mischief and fun very apparent in the telling. Fully illustrated, it contains a wealth of evocative black and white and colour pictures of The Hennessys, Ar Log (the folk group David helped form in the 1970s), together with photographs of other performers, sportsmen, politicians, churches and pubs! It also includes some fascinating press cuttings which he had kept over the years. Dave Burns was a musician committed to social justice. As a natural storyteller and author, he brought to life the family and friends that formed the Cardiff of his youth, recalling some of the songs he sang and the stories behind them in a most engaging, humorous and readable way. His book is a loving legacy. -- Geraint Evans @ www.gwales.com

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