Carry on!

Tommy Sands, folk singer and civil rights activist from Northern Ireland  came back to San Sebastián De Los Reyes and sang to a packed hall in El Caserón on Friday.  Many remember the cultural  exchange trip to his hometown of Rostrevor, County Down where dancers from Sanse participated in the local festival called Fiddlers Green and The Sands family and Irish dancers came to San Sebastián De Los Reyes twenty five years ago.

Los Viernes De La Tradición are organized  by La Universidad Popular in la Plaza De La Constitución. These free concerts are widely acknowledged in the music world as a precious  gem.

Friday was no exception. Tommy and his wife Catherine, who acted as his interpreter, explained each song and its context in the troubled history of Northern Ireland.

Alone on the stage with his guitar and tin whistle, he was never alone because he brought us  friends, children, politicians, family, cats and dogs, TV news, dark country roads and lashing rain through his stories and songs.

Persistently pushing politicians through his music to use their power to bring peace to the people and the persistent belief that peace is possible, when it seemed impossible, the Good Friday agreement was signed twenty years ago.  His message to them now is the same as twenty years ago.

CARRY ON!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94RgWPUCdBM&feature=share