General News
3 May, 2024
The luck of the Irish
THE pipes called Camperdown resident Demby McKenzie to the Koroit Irish Festival last Saturday, and his answer resulted a significant win for him.
Mr McKenzie won first place at the Danny Boy singing competition for this year’s festival, joining the 27 other winners since the competition’s inception in 1998.
The popular Irish ballad was originally written in 1910 by British lawyer Frederic Weatherly and has become a staple of Irish culture.
Mr McKenzie said Danny Boy has been a special song to his family for many years.
“I remember my pop teaching it to my brother Toby when I was around six and he was only 12,” he said.
“It was just one that could connect to any kind of audience. Toby would sing it all around, at all the funerals, all the birthdays; he’d sing it everywhere.
“When I was old enough, dad said “alright, it’s your turn; you’d better learn how to sing it.”
“Danny Boy was the first song that I sang in public, and it’s been a real family tradition.”
Mr McKenzie said his family was busy with the Camperdown Theatre Company’s ‘Freaky Friday’ production on the weekend of the Irish festival, and his performance was unexpected.
“I only realised I was performing on the Saturday morning. I entered the competition a couple of weeks ago, but they were full,” he said.
“On Saturday morning, I got a message asking whether I’d be interested in entering the competition. I said “yes, of course”.
“I swanned off and flew out to Koroit while I left everyone home to perform in ‘Freaky Friday’.
“They’re all excited to get the news, and because Danny Boy has been such a big song for us they’ve been very thrilled for me.”
Mr McKenzie said he was proud of his efforts on the day.
“It’s an incredible privilege, because there were some incredible artists on the day, some wonderful singers,” he said.
“I’m very pleasantly surprised and very honoured.
“The Irish festival and the organisers were absolutely incredible.
“The festival itself is a testament to the wonderful small country community, and I can’t wait to go back there every year.”
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