Two of the greats of Irish music joined forces to pay tribute to another legend Paddy Moloney after he passed away.
The Chieftains founder sadly died on October 12th 2021, leading to an outpouring of tributes from various Irish people including President Higgins.
Moloney’s influence on Irish music is immeasurable and he inspired countless young musicians throughout his long and successful career.
Irish chat king Ryan Tubridy felt it necessary to mark the occasion on the first Late Late Show after Moloney’s death and invited on Dubliners legend John Sheahan and folk icon Finbar Furey.
The pair performed an unrehearsed rendition of the beautiful Irish folk song Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí (For Ireland, I’d Not Tell Her Name).
It was a moving performance and the studio audience sat in silence as the poignancy of the moment was clear for all to see.
The two legends were given a rapturous applause and standing ovation at the end of their performance.
Sheahan and Furey would have spent many a happy hour playing and socialising with Moloney, and the two stars were visibly emotional.
Tubridy recognised this and thanked them for the performance. He said: “I got the sense listening to that music that you were saying goodbye to a fallen comrade in the field.
“For you two esteemed musicians to play so beautifully and movingly, it was like your way of saying goodbye.”
Both men agreed and Sheahan added that Moloney was “not just a star but a supernova after burning out and we’re left here in the shadows, lingering”.
Take a look at the beautiful performance below.
John Sheahan and @finbarfurey perform a very moving rendition of 'Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí' in tribute to their friend, Paddy Moloney .#LateLate pic.twitter.com/8b8w6cCBDe
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) October 15, 2021