'Come on Armagh' goes Back to Future'

Reporter:

Steve Malone

Email:

steve.malone@newrydemocrat.com

Wednesday 24 July 2024 0:00

NEWRY’S singing songwriter Damien Quinn has updated his famous ‘Come on Armagh’ song ahead of the All-Ireland Final.

The song captured the imagination of fans in the fever pitch atmosphere of Armagh’s only All-Ireland triumph in 2002 and his latest version is just brilliant with players Rian O’Neill, Aidan Forker, Blaine Hughes and more replacing Paul McGrane, Oisin McConville and Paddy McKeever.

“I wrote the song Come on Armagh in 2002 and it was a big success and when they got into the All-Ireland Final again, the number of messages I got from people all over social media to update the same song because it was so good,” said Damien.

“What I done was come straight home from holidays on Sunday night, spent all day Monday from about 4pm until about 9pm changing the lyrics to update the new players and bring it together and try and get it to rhyme together.

“Luckily enough I got this done and as I already had the tune done for 2002, so it was just the matter of going into the studio on Tuesday and it was ready on Wednesday and it went straight on to Facebook and views have been unbelievable in such a short space of time.

“I was pushed for time. It has only been online an hour and there is nearly 30, 000 views on Facebook, so hopefully it will be a big hit again. All the younger ones who like the music weren’t even born in 2002, so changing the lyrics will give it a new lease of life.”

Proud Newry man Damien has been busy singing his Irish tunes at home and abroad and after he produced such an anthem during Armagh’s only time lifting the Sam Maguire, he was keen to support the Orchard boys ahead of their big game 21-years later.

“So my mum was a Down woman from Newry and my dad was from Whitecross in south Armagh, so we follow both teams, I like to cheer on both counties and when you live in Newry, you have that option,” Damien said.

“I did it all myself, it is a hit and a miss when it comes to writing songs, it could take you weeks to put lyrics together or you could fire one up in a couple of hours, I depends what sort of mood you are in.”

“I was singing in Santa Ponsa last week and the week after the All-Ireland, that Monday, I am singing in Sorrento, Italy, for a week and I was in Lanzarote before that. So, I have six oversea trips which is great because we are not getting a summer here.”

Oh and of course we had to ask the question but Damien said: “I don’t have a ticket but I will take three maybe.”

Sing along to Come on Armagh

I’m and Armagh football fan.

We have lads from Lurgan Town,

From Crossmaglen and Portadown

We’re the Orangemen on the march

With lads like Rian O’Neill

Sure the likes you’ll never see

And Forker leads the way

Come on Armagh

We’re the best team in the land

With the Sam Maguire at hand