April 2024 Tour

Hello friends! Just a quick message to say hello and let you know that I’ll be touring the East Coast of the USA for a couple weeks in April! More details to come very soon - don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list to be the first to know! Check out the ‘Subscribe’ tab on my website to sign up.

Cheers,

Neil

Áthas in the New Year!

A very Happy New Year to you all! I recorded a small gift as a thank you to everyone that has been so supportive to both me and my family throughout the last year.  Hope to see you soon along the way. Cheers to 2024 and good times ahead!

xx Neil

An Interview with Bedford County Chamber of Commerce!

Tickets for the June 18th show in Clearville, PA show can be purchased at the link here!

Solo Music/Tour Info!

I've always been excited and stimulated by new projects. Composing music around compelling stories and colouring them with music is a pure joy for me.  I will be releasing my new compositions very soon alongside some live showcases.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did writing them. 

-Neil

Life and Website Updates

Hi everyone,

A lot of time has passed and a whole lot has happened since I have updated my website. My daughter, Fleur, coming into my life in December 2019 is certainly at the top of the list and now baby Byrne #2 is due December 2021. There has been lots of adjusting, lifestyle changes, nappy changes and not forgetting constant personal developments to become the best Dad that I can possibly be. 

I have enjoyed the challenges of numerous things over the last two years such as hosting episodes along with my CT comrades for the “Home Series”.  I thought I’d be completely lost without performing live music but something quite positive came out of something negative…. hosting, researching, writing and arranging music for each episode was one of the most enjoyable journeys I’ve ever taken. I guess I would call it a ‘saving grace’.  It has brought me life changing values and a love within a whole new venture. 

This new venture has sparked many ideas and interesting subjects to write new compositions upon… both personal and non-personal.  In the past, researching for interesting subjects to write about was my plan of attack.  In more recent times, I find it so much more stimulating, provocative and fulfilling when it finds me.  I guess my aim is to write music that moves me without trying to conquer the universe as an end result. The quest for that perfect song has always been a healthy mind set.

With regard to compositions, some of the best songwriters are not always instrumentalists and because of this they require somebody to dress their compositions up in new clothes in order for them to showcase their music to the powers to be. I really enjoy the creative side in putting the best foot forward for that writer.  Each arrangement is always a school day and a learning curve.

Another part of my daily routine needs to be personal fitness.  And at my age it’s all about keeping the wolf from the door.  I do enjoy the exercise, especially when it’s over and feeling a little better about myself.  Online classes have been a life saver for me over the last few years while every other day I enjoy changing up the routine with cycling or running.  This combination helps to keep me fresh. 

Looking to the future is getting back out on the road, meeting people and doing what I have done since I was a much, much younger version of myself.  Playing to live audience seems like a lifetime ago and the thoughts of live stage shows brings me home in many ways. 

Having said that, it’s going to be very different this time. Over the last 14 years I have had my best friend, partner and better half beside me on stage and off stage. For the last two years I have been with my daughter, Fleur, morning noon and night.  My second child is on the way, ‘please God’ and even the thoughts of driving to Dublin airport to fly away for a number of months is beyond a tough prospect if I am to be honest.  At the same time, I’m incredibly lucky to pursue my career and making a living from it. 

Christmas Time 1983

On the 7th of May, 2018 my best friend passed away from Dementia. Eddie Byrne was also my father and the kindest, most loving man I have ever known. Dad was one of 55,000 people living with Dementia in Ireland and sadly, these numbers are growing.

Dad’s illness got to a stage where he could not manage to perform any daily tasks for himself. This had quickly become 24 hour care and something that had become too hard to handle by ourselves and needed urgent help from professionals. We reached out to our local care centre in Bray, Co Wicklow and even though in many ways they were stretched beyond their means, they managed to have carer’s call to our home on a daily basis. These volunteers were some of the kindest, selfless people I had ever met in my life. They made my dad as comfortable as possible. They became friendly faces for dad to interact with and were so professional, sensitive and caring when it came to personal care. My family and I will always be beyond grateful to these loving people and the organizations that provides us with this respite, love and empathy.

 The number of people with dementia in Ireland is expected to more than double from 55,000 today to 141,200 in 2050. This is a frightening reality and one that needs more support as this awful disease takes a stronger hold. More people needing care and health workers, volunteers, and support agencies finding it harder to keep up with people’s needs.

I am only one person among millions that have experienced the care that a loved one needs when living with Alzhiemers/Dementia. I am a musician, as was my father. Music was the one thing that he could relate to even when everything else became a blur. Through this experience I have learned of how music has been both a common stimulant and relaxant to the many people that have lived or are living with this disease.

Since my dad’s passing, each year I wanted to do my little bit to raise funds for these wonderful organizations. This year and with Christmas upon us I felt that I could write a Christmas song that reflects on the past. In my case, I am blessed to say that I had a very happy up bringing by two very loving parents, with so many happy memories of when my dad was a fit and well man.  And as the song goes – ‘here’s to the joy that surrounded me at Christmas time 1983’.

Hopefully through our story, together we will help others find the peace and connection music can bring to those that have been deprived of their faculties.  100% of all proceeds will go to Wicklow Dementia Support. If you wish to make an additional donation, you can do so directly at the link here. Thank you!