When the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society commissioned Brigid O’Neill to compose words and music that captured the essence of Belfast’s special, unique buildings, it was as if all her Christmasses had come at once – a perfect gift for the talented musician and writer.
Like a magic tree, the project grew and grew to incorporate collaborations with other musicians and composers – Duke Special, Anthony Toner, Gareth Dunlop, The 4 Of Us, and Elma Orkestra, with additional support from the British Council.
The roots spread too – beyond the Belfast city limits to Derry and Armagh – and the outcome, is twelve unique compositions that don’t just tell stories but seep far more than a sense of place, beyond bricks and mortar, to chronicle in the most poetic and personal manner, the social history of these buildings, the shadows of the souls once caught within their walls – the blood, sweat and tears – the joy and laughter – the bundles of emotion weaving their spirals in sound.
This is the type of project that musicians dream of – the opportunity for unbridled exploration, immersion, and discovery. The intrepid explorer that is Brigid O’Neill threw herself body, mind and soul, into the challenge – with a little help from her friends.
The overall outcome – called ‘Heritage in Song’ is a special musical creation that will live on long after we are all gone but with the protection of the UAHS, the essence of these beautiful, landmark buildings will live on in song.
Brigid’s EP from the project, titled ‘Intangible Heritage’ was released in January 2022 – simply three beautiful songs that record and recognise three special buildings – Armagh Gaol (‘Sisters Born Here’),‘Belfast Angel’ (the iconic art deco Bank of Ireland on Royal Avenue) and ‘Window Seat’ (Austins, Derry/Londonderry).
‘Sisters Born Here’ was initially released as a single in November last year, the first in the trilogy recorded live in studio with local stalwarts Linley Hamilton on trumpet, John McCullough on keys and Cian McGrory on the eloquent, haunting Uillean pipes. It’s an exceptionally beautiful song – with a gentle, melodic piano intro, it steers you in to the walls of Armagh gaol – an important, historic building that captures the heritage of one of the ecclesiastical city’s most important landmarks. Armagh is one of Ireland’s oldest settlements going back millennia, but the gaol became infamous in more recent times as the women’s prison during Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles.’ The sisters, born in a place called ‘here’, incarcerated within the thick grey bricks, had stories and backgrounds from both sides of ‘the divide.’
Brigid explains that the song was inspired by a conversation she was fortunate to have with a woman who had spent time there. She told me how the women shared so much and became so close and used to sing to each other at night to keep in contact. As part of the project, Brigid was privileged to spend time in the historic building, in the name of art, sensing its past, its secrets, its silence – but it was the light that captured her muse.
I was pretty affected by the skylight in the prison itself when I was lucky enough to get a chance to be shown around. While the song talks about the experiences of the women, ultimately it speaks of the amazing resilience and hope that the women held on to.
The strength of this EP is that each song is completely different – echoing times past. I don’t know how she has managed to write songs that seep into the very walls and bring to life how it felt to be part of those past times, whether a goal, a bank or a department store.
‘Belfast Angel’ gets to grips with the art deco era. I can almost feel the smoky ambiance of Belfast nightlife in the 1930s – jazz-infused, the thoroughly modern bright young things of a city alive – far from the Hollywood Hills but still punching that glamorous vibe.
Belfast city centre has some of the most beautiful architecture to rival any European city – it really is remarkable yet taken for granted and often goes unnoticed – just because it’s there. It’s only when these buildings are gone that people realise what they’ve lost. They must be protected – thankfully the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society has stepped in and saved many of our iconic buildings from the bulldozers in recent decades. The Bank of Ireland building was under threat in recent times – thankfully it’s been saved too – imagine what Royal Avenue would have lost if that first-class example of art deco architecture had been lost! Now, the essence of the era has been captured in this stylish and intelligent song, ‘Belfast Angel’.
The early decades of the 20th century saw Belfast’s fashionable credentials take shape with the rise of the department stores – Anderson & McAuley, Robinson & Cleaver, Brands & Norman, the Co-op – sadly all since gone, but in Derry/Londonderry, it was Austin’s of the Diamond that was the jewel in the crown there a beautiful baroque building that is thankfully still there, even though the department store within has since gone. In fact, dating from 1830 until 2016, Austin’s remained standing as the world’s oldest independent department store.
The third song on the EP, ‘Window Seat’ softly brings to mind the magic of that department store, the joys of meeting there, the old fashioned lifts, the sanctity of some quiet time at the window seat – how something so simple and pure can become captured in song – I’ve no idea how she does it, but Brigid O’Neill has totally fulfilled the brief of the UAHS commission – these songs really reflect the architectural beauty of these buildings, and the people who once walked within their walls.
Recent years have seen Brigid O’Neill come into herself – finally gaining a deserved reputation as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters. Like her namesake, the goddess Briga, her songs are fearless, impassioned, courageous yet kind and compassionate.
She is not afraid to tackle tough themes such as domestic abuse (‘Leaving’), or to let her sense of humour through. She is a strong, gifted and talented woman poised and ready to soar – given the chance. Intangible Heritage is set to guide her on that path.
‘Intangible Heritage’ is available now on all streaming platforms. The launch gig will take place on Saturday 7th May as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.