A sculptural installation to mark the centenary of the death of Percy French was unveiled today at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, County Down where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. One of Ireland’s greatest songwriters, composers and entertainers French is best known as writer of humorous songs like Phil The Fluther’s Ball, Slattery’s Mounted Foot, Are You Right There Michael, Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff and, most famously, The Mountains of Mourne.
Commissioned by Hastings Hotels, who own the Slieve Donard Hotel, the installation is designed by Andrew Todd of Tandem Design, who has worked on Titanic Belfast and King John’s Castle in Limerick, and is produced by local craftspeople. It consists of the words of The Mountains of Mourne interwoven in three metal panels.
