Tom Duffy, a shoe merchant from Dublin, packed his last pair of shoes in 1875. For some reason, he moved to Dunmanway, County Cork, and set himself up as the Duffy Circus. It soon became the largest in the country, and Tom himself was known as a great man on the acrobatic rings.
After a bad fall however, he had to retire from the ring. But by that time, he had started the circus that is still touring today. The circus my mother was born into.

Label : Team for Action / L'Oz Production
Release date : 1999
Genres : Pop, Celtic

Buy it online : Out of stock.

Looking over these photos, I realise how little I know about the lives of these people. But performance and a sense of community are what drove them.

It is hardly a coincidence that my mother married Eddie Rose, himself from Belgium's Cirque de Jonge. And the ceremony was a show in itself as her cousin Annie married a French trapeze artist, and another cousin, John-James married a Hungarian acrobat at the same time.

As Marion & Eddie Rose, they travelled with other circuses around the world - from Sweden to Australia.
By the time I was born, my parents had more or less left the circus, appearing more often as part of variety shows. This brought them into contact with other stars of the time such as Jacques Brel.
I have had the impression of closing the cycle two times. Once, when I played at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels were they had appeared over 20 years ago. And once again when I visit the Duffy Circus two generations later."

Their example has always been an inspiration for me. Even though I chose music - my cousins are taking good care of Duffy Circus - I am continuing the family tradition. I'm entertaining an audience, bringing them with me on a trip to the heart of my Irish roots. It's kinda like my private circus, a Celtic Circus."

Perry Rose, 1999

     


Musiciens :
Brian O'Donnelly : Vocal
Perry Rose : Lead and backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, tambourine,
mandoline,  piano, triangle, bodhran, accordion
Juan Arcas Flores : Bass
Frankie Rose : acoustic & electric guitars
Yves Baibay : Drums
Marka : Backing vocals
Kieran Fahy : Violin
Rudy Sybertz : Keyboards, programmation, bass
Vincent Los : Tambourine
Werner : Shoe
Jean-Pierre Catoul : Violin & keyboards
Paul Curtiz : Acoustic guitars, keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals
Michel Moliterno : Drums
Frank Michiels : Percussions
Gwenaël Micault : Accordion
Patrick « Patch » Hannan : Drums
Nick Hannan : Bass, percussions, electric guitar
Kevin Jamieson : Banjo, electric guitar, piano, backing vocals
Eric Drabs : Electric guitars, backing vocals
Nils Decaster : Violin, backing vocals, lapsteel, bouzouki, mandoline
Didier Fontaine : Drums, percussions
Thierry Rombaux : Bass
Vinças Bundza : Accordion
Michael Horgan: Ulyan pipe, tin whistle
Chris Tombling : Violin