Sharon Shannon Big Band, featuring Jack Maher & Carol Keogh, have come together to release a very poignant, reflective song “Written In the Stars” as part of Irish Hospice Foundation “Time to Reflect” awareness campaign on the evening of November 1st, All Souls’ Night.
“Written In the Stars” is out now on all streaming services.
Irish Hospice Foundation “Time to Reflect” is calling on people to take a moment between 5-6pm on November 1st to join colleagues, family or friends or sit alone and take time to commemorate the lives of those we have loved and lost through the power of music and “Written in the Stars”. They are also inviting people across Ireland to share their experiences and views about dying, death and bereavement during the pandemic.
When IHF were putting the “Time to Reflect” campaign together they approached Sharon to be part of it. Through a series of serendipitous events, “Written in the Stars” was created over a period of a few weeks. First of all, Alan Connor had a tune, on which Sharon and himself were working together over the phone making various changes. Then, while on tour in Europe during the Summer, band member Jack Maher and Sharon were walking around a beautiful town in Normandy. Jack pointed out some rare lilies which were his Mother’s favourite flower, and it so happened that this day was his Mother’s anniversary. The last time Jack had seen those rare lilies was also on his mother’s anniversary a few years previously. Finally, on that same day Sharon’s manager received the request for Sharon to work on a song for Irish Hospice Foundation, and Sharon felt stars were aligning perfectly for Jack to be brought on board to write lyrics for the new melody which was already there…after a few weeks “Written in the Stars” was born.
Sharon’s support for the work of Hospice foundation started with the release in 2018 of “The Secret Sessions” with the Henshaw Family. In 2020 Sharon released the album “Songs for Leo” in aid of Rosabel’s Rooms, it was after this she was asked to be their Ambassador. Rosabel’s Rooms is part of the Irish Hospice Foundation.
For further information on the Irish Hospice Foundation “Time to Reflect” campaign please visit www.hospicefoundation.ie/timetoreflect
