Music and words - the very many talents of Bansha's Billy Morrissey

Son of Jackie and Angela, Billy Morrissey grew up in Rathdermot just outside of Bansha.

From a very musical family, Billy was part of the Morrisseys Folk & Ballad Group, along with his brother Norman and sister Louise.

They disbanded in the late 1980s and each individually went on to pursue different careers in the music industry.

Billy plays the guitar, banjo and mandolin and is also a well-known music promoter. He also supports and performs alongside his wife, Trudi (Lawlor) in shows around the country and they have recorded a number of songs together.

His life has taken him around the world performing Irish Folk and Ballads over the years, but what many people may not know is that Billy is also a published songwriter and poet.

I recently caught up with Billy to talk to him about his interest in writing, a particular poem about Bansha, and his ambitions to write a play and have it performed in Tipperary.

I began by asking Billy about his interest in song lyrics.

“I always had a great interest in song lyrics and I especially love when a song tells a story. I admire the songwriter who can bring emotion and feelings to the words of a song. A few years ago I began trying to write some songs myself.

“Of course at first I was reluctant to let anyone hear the results, but that would be typical of anyone who tries to write for the first time. Eventually I was able to show some of my attempts at songwriting to people I trusted and who would give me a fair opinion, good or bad and maybe some constructive criticism. Luckily, I got very positive responses and I have had lots of well known singers record some of my songs including people such as Daniel O’Donnell, Trudi Lalor, Jimmy Buckley, Paddy O’Brien, Mick Foster, Declan Nerney, Alex Roe and others.

“A couple of years ago I got to meet up with Nashville songwriting legend Max T Barnes. This was amazing for me as he is so highly regarded and he has written many big hit songs for many American Country artists. Max T and I have become good friends and we have co-written some songs which have been picked up by recording artists. We wrote the theme song for the ‘Reach Out Campaign’ which reached No. 1 in the download charts across all genres. That was a very exciting time for us to have a song at the top of the Irish charts.”

Billy then went on to speak about his interest in writing poetry and of his different compositions. “I am also very interested in writing poetry and I have been lucky to have had some of my work published. I tend to write about subjects with which I am familiar, where I grew up, the landscape and the rural life of when I was a child. I don’t do anything very abstract! I especially love to write songs or poems about sporting heroes. I was delighted when Tipperary’s own Rachel Blackmore had tremendous success as a jockey so I had to write something to commemorate her success. That’s where "The Ballad of Rachael Blackmore" came from.

“Mick Foster of ‘Foster and Allen’ fame recorded the song and it proved very popular for him.

“Rachel sent me a lovely note thanking me for writing ‘such a cool song’. I was delighted to receive that and it was so nice of her to take the time to write to me. I also wrote something for the Tipperary Hurling Team after one of their great victories in the All Ireland. It was called ‘Three Cheers for Tipperary.’ When the Tipp footballers (unexpectedly) beat Cork in the Munster final I had to get writing again. This piece was called ‘Tipperary’s Munster Final Win.’ In this poem I managed to name all fifteen men who lined out on that special day. Great memories!

“I have had some articles published in Ireland’s Own magazine over the past few years. When I was a child that was one of my father’s favourite magazines. He loved reading the various stories and articles and it was bought religiously every week in our house. The song words section was particularly popular.

“I recently wrote a piece remembering my father working in the little vegetable garden at the back of our house many years ago. The piece is due to appear in the early August edition of Ireland’s Own,” said Billy.

I was also interested to hear that Billy is a fan of amateur drama and playwriting and I asked him to elaborate on this.

“I love short stories and I have written a few in recent years. My greatest ambition was to write a play. I am a big fan of amateur drama and I particularly love the writing and plays of the late John B Keane. So when the Covid pandemic closed down all the entertainment venues, I decided to use all this spare time to start writing my play. I knew how the play would end. I just had to write a beginning, and a middle! This was a big undertaking, but after many months of writing, rewriting, changing and editing I finally got it finished.

“The two act play is called ‘The Wake of Nobber Kelly.’ It’s a story about a small farmer and former parish hurling great, Nobber Kelly, who has just passed away. His family, neighbours and friends all attend his ‘Wake.’ There is lots of comedy involved and a little sadness too.

“I get great enjoyment from writing. As the years go by I find that writing is becoming more than a hobby for me. It really is one of my favourite things to do. It’s something everyone should try. To quote a line from my song Old Friends are Best - Each has a story to tell,” concluded Billy.