Davie Furey teams up with Gerry Adams for new single

Davie Furey has announced a new single, 'Donegal/The Swallow's Tail', featuring former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.

The single will release on Friday, April 10. It's available for pre-order now.

Adams, who has never delved into music before, bonded with Furey over their shared sense of national pride. After Adams sent Furey a copy of his poem "Tir Chonaill Thuaith", Furey asked him to collaborate.

On the track, Adams reads stanzas of his poem "Tir Chonaill Thuaith" as Gaeilge. The spoken word segments accompany Furey's soulful vocals to striking effect.

“To work with Gerry and these incredible musicians on this song is one of the highlights of my musical career," Furey wrote in a statement. "I had a vision of how the song and poem would marry but the musicians involved on this tune brought it to another level."

"Gerry has been a good friend over the years. I greatly admire the work he has done in bringing peace to our country and his work in striving for a United Ireland.”

Mike McGoldrick (Mark Knopfler Band), Éanna Ó Cróinin, Kane O’Rourke, and Martin Quinn round out Furey's band on the track. The result is a layered, roots-tinged sound that transports the listener to the sweeping landscapes of the northwest.

"I was very pleased when Davie Furey invited me to record one of my poems," Adams said of 'Donegal/The Swallow's Tail'. "It’s a wonderful song which captures the essence of one of my favourite counties. It was a delight to work with Davie and the musicians.  I am a big admirer of Davie’s music and I wish him well with Donegal."

"Go raibh maith agat.  Bhí mé an-bhródúil gur iarradh orm cur leis an amhrán seo. Maith thú, a Dhavie."

Revisit our 2021 interview with Davie Furey here.