Larissa Tormey to release cover of Eddi Reader song

Larissa Tormey has announced that her new single will be her take on Scottish singer songwriter Eddi Reader's heartbreaking song Macushla (My Darling), with the song set to be released on Friday, July 15.

Larissa, based in Kilbeggan since making Ireland her home over 20 years ago, is also a talented singer songwriter and will release a new album of all original contemporary material this autumn. Before that, the established name on the Irish country scene wants to share her version of this song from Reader's 2014 Vagabond album.

As well as simply loving the beauty of the song itself, Larissa also has a much more personal reason for why the Americana, country, and folk flavoured Macushla (My Darling) has come to hold so dear a place in her heart.

Larissa explains: "I was asked to record this song by a very special friend of mine, in dedication to his wife. At first, I thought it was the Irish song Macushla, which has been recorded by the great Irish tenors like John McCormack, Josef Locke, and Frank Patterson. I've heard this song, of course, many, many times since coming to live in Ireland. It has so much emotion in every line. It could be poetry. But it wasn't this song at all, but Eddie Reader's song of almost the same name. And after listening to her song for the first time, it had my heart too!"

Larissa explained how a booking for a house-concert had led to the friendship that eventually brought the request for her to record Macushla (My Darling.)

"The concert was at Christmas some years back, for this gentleman who I had never met before, but he knew my music and loved my voice. So he got in touch and asked me if I would come and sing for him and his wife and some of their family and friends. I did, we had a wonderful evening, and we kind of stayed in touch after that. Macushla (My Darling) is a song that this man's wife used to sing to him, replacing the names of the characters Joe and Meg in the song for their own. So in many ways, this was their song, you could say.

Larissa continued: "Sadly, about three years ago, his wife became very sick and passed away. Because Macushla holds such sentimental memories for him, he asked me if I would consider recording a version of it for them, using his name and his late wife's name, the same way she used to when she sang it to him. Of course I said yes. As you can imagine, this song is something that really means a lot to him now. I'm so glad that Eddie Reader wrote such a beautiful song in the first place, it was a big part of this couple's love story. And I'm also happy to know that my recording of it can bring a little comfort to this man now, and help ease his grief even just a little bit every now and then."

Larissa was so moved by the experience of recording that special version of Macushla (My Darling), that she knew it was a song she wanted to share with the world too, and incorporate into her own set-list. She also recorded a version with Reader's original character's Joe and Meg.

"The version I did for my friends was especially for them. This version is for the world to hopefully enjoy, but I want to dedicate it to my friends also", said Larissa.

In what looks to be a busy second half of 2022 for Larissa, with the planning of her autumn album launch at an advanced stage and a Christmas project in the works, she has also announced that she will be joining the great Irish songwriter P.J. Murrihy as a special guest at his Tuar Ard concert on August 18.

"P.J. is a farmer, like my husband, and a songwriter, like me!", stated Larissa, adding, "And I think that's why we get on so well! We met at a music event and spent most of the night talking about cattle. That night was enough for us to decide to record a duet together, which we did, releasing that lovely Irish song 'I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me' last April. P.J. was also one of the performers at my 'Voices For Peace' concert in April. When he asked me to join him for his own show with Seamus Shannon, I was delighted to say yes."

MACUSHLA (MY DARLING), the new single from Larissa, will be available on all platforms from Friday, July 15. She will be a special guest at the P.J. MURRIHY and Seamus Shannon concert in the Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, on Thursday, August 18. For ticket information, contact 090-648-2042, or 087-688-7480.