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The Kerryman who sang Mr Brightside for his late friend spoke movingly on Ray D'Arcy

“He was Mr Brightside to so many people.”


Tim Clifford / Vimeo

EARLIER THIS WEEK, The Killers praised Brian O’Sullivan for giving a sensational performance of Mr Brightside in Falvey’s Bar in Killorglin, Kerry as a tribute to his late friend Ger ‘Farmer’ Foley.

On the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ One last night, Brian appeared with Ger’s wife Grainne Foley to talk about the whole situation.

And he had lovely things to say about his late friend

RTÉ - IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA / YouTube

“He was Mr Brightside to so many people”

kerry YouTube YouTube

“He was a beautiful man – he had only 45 years on this earth, but they were 45 full years let me tell you that for nothing”

kerry2 YouTube YouTube

“He was one of the co-founders of getting the K-Fest started in Killorglin – and the thought for him that musicians and art people would be coming to Killorglin for future years is an amazing legacy.”

kerry3 RTÉ Player RTÉ Player

Brian spoke about how the famous Mr Brightside performance in Falvey’s came about:

Obviously emotions were running high after a few days of grieving – grieving that’s still continuing on as we speak now. I was only one of many musicians and singers and obviously the night I got up everyone was in good form. Now, I didn’t maybe mean to go as far as taking off my top – my good wife Audrey isn’t too happy about that! But Ger would have loved it.

The Ray D’Arcy Show featured other stories inspired by the fact that Organ Donation Awareness Week in Ireland is coming up – and Ger’s wife Grainne told her story about why organ donation played such an important role in her family’s life:

“I was delighted with what happened in the bar – all we can do is use it and try and talk about organ donation”

grainne RTÉ RTÉ

Grainne told the story of Ger’s lung transplant – at the time only available in England – and how he was “so alive” after it. This led to them travelling the world and having two children:

“He was so proud of the fact that someday Peter and Isabel will walk down the street in Killorglin and people will say ‘that’s Ger Foley’s son or that’s Ger Foley’s daughter’”

grainne2 RTE Player RTE Player

“Becoming a donor is not a difficult decision – you tick a box on your driving license – and you can absolutely change lives”

grainne3 RTE Player RTE Player

The audience at home were in awe of these two

It was a heartwarming segment of the show

Mr Brightside, indeed.

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Written by David Elkin and posted on DailyEdge.ie

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10 Comments
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    Mute Ziggy722
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 1:48 PM

    Whats with all the GIFs?
    They completely distract from the story.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 1:50 PM

    Organ donation should be mandatory with only exceptional opt out. The idea that people die whilst perfectly good organs go un – donated (for whatever reason) is beyond silly, and a wasted opportunity.

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    Mute Richard F
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 1:58 PM

    That’s a ridiculous statement of course people should have a choice whether they donate there organs even though I think everybody should do it as the woman said u only need to tick a box

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    Mute dstaffx
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 3:02 PM

    The problem is a relative can over rule your decision when your dead. So I believe. That’s why it’s important to speak about it before hand with next of kin. So your wishes are granted.

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    Mute Alfie Bonney
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 3:05 PM

    So you think the state should have total control of your body when you die, would this mean they would be responsible for funeral expenses

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    Mute John Moylan
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 3:40 PM

    It’s not the State – where are getting that idea ??

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    Mute Alfie Bonney
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 3:47 PM

    Then who would implement the order to make it mandatory

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    Mute Keith D'Arcy
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 4:18 PM

    I agree organ donation should be opt out rather than opt in.

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    Mute Cally
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 4:04 PM

    Missed this…but fair play to you brian…RIP ger…

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    Mute Derek Hackett
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    Apr 4th 2016, 3:14 AM

    Simple fix instead of signing up to be an organ donor why not change it to sign up not to be

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