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Cassidy wins the Australian Danny Boy Championship!
Cassidy did her Irish heritage proud at the recent Koroit Irish Festival (Australia) when she became co-winner of the 2008 Danny Boy National Championship.
The competition required contestants to sing ‘a cappella’ (unaccompanied by music) four verses of the notoriously difficult song, ‘Danny Boy’. The event saw over 30 hopefuls singing their hearts out in the heats throughout the day, with 8 finalists competing in the evening for the much revered title. Competition was so fierce that the panel of judges could not split the top two performers, declaring 16 year old Cassidy and Geelong resident, David Cummings joint champions. The two split the $1000 prize money and will share a plaque on the perpetual trophy, displayed in Mickey Bourke’s hotel in Koroit, Victoria, Australia.
The hauntingly beautiful song dates back centuries, set to a tune originally known as 'Londonderry Air’, referring to the city of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The exact origins of the tune are unknown, but there is evidence that the original was written by a blind Irish harpist named Rory Dall O'Cahan who lived sometime between 1560 and 1660. The first recorded version in 1913 was by Australian composer, Percy Grainger. The lyrics were added in 1913 by Frederic Weatherley.
The Irish/Australian connection makes Cassidy’s win all the more interesting, as her mother, Catriona was born not far from Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The pull of the ‘motherland’ is strong for Cassidy, who is beguiled by all things Irish and plans to study music in Ireland within the next couple of years.
Cassidy plans to continue her music studies in Ireland, preferably majoring in harp at Trinity College in Dublin. She'd also like to study Irish Gaelic, perhaps within a double major.
Cassidy is undecided what to spend her $500 prize money on at this stage, but it will either go towards an upgraded harp or into her savings for her airfare to Ireland.
Click the link below to listen to Cassidy singing her winning rendition of "Danny Boy".
