My song 'Darkness Before Dawn' is inspired by the story of the Doran family and the harrowing events that occurred on the 7th of July 1921, in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, during the final days leading up to the Anglo-Irish truce. That night, the IRA targeted the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) on the Moorefield Road, seeking to seize goods from the British military. Bill Doran, the caretaker, lived above the store with his wife, Bridget, their ten-month-old baby, Kathleen and his two sons, William Jnr. and John. As a consequence of this raid, the Doran family were torn apart.
The IRA's intention was to liberate supplies and destroy what they could not take, pouring paraffin over the remaining goods. However, a catastrophic fire broke out, claiming the lives of Bridget and John. Bill and baby Kathleen survived, as did William Jnr., though he suffered severe burns. The tragedy shocked the town and opinions were divided - some sympathised with the IRA, while others criticised the consequences of their actions.
'Darkness Before Dawn' is a ballad that reflects the anguish, sorrow and conflicting emotions that surfaced in the wake of such a heartbreaking tragedy, emphasising the profound cost of war and the enduring impact on a community torn apart by its struggles.
'Darkness' got its first outing in June 2023. I performed it for a few friends from the Red Hot Music Club in the snug in Fallons of Kilcullen. One of these was my good friend Noel Heavey, who is also friends with Christy Moore. Join up the dots! Noel was very taken by the story of the song and asked if he could send it on to Christy.
It's an incredible honour to have Christy Moore record 'Darkness Before Dawn' for his latest album, ‘A Terrible Beauty’. Collaborating with him on this ballad has been incredibly fulfilling, allowing this important story to be heard by a wider audience. As a young fella of 12 or 13, when I first started playing songs to the walls of Sarto Park, Christy Moore was there. This is the stuff of dreams and a significant milestone for me. One of the big moments in all of this was meeting Christy with my wife Pamela at the Killashee hotel after he had performed 'Darkness Before Dawn' for the first time.
A Terrible Beauty by Christy Moore is available on all the usual platforms from Friday November 1st 2024. It's also available on Vinyl or CD from your local record store, including my favourite The Record Rack in Naas, Co. Kildare https://therecordrack.ie/
“We remember the Doran family all these years on
And reflect upon our freedom in the Darkness Before the Dawn”
“Pete Kavanagh from Naas wrote this ballad…when he sang it in The Red Hot Music Club in Kilcullen it was heard by my friend Noel Heavey. Noel tipped me off about this song and I set off in pursuit of Pete Kavanagh. Pete sent me the song and allowed me adjust it to “my fit” …. it’s short and complete and describes a reckless and subsequently disastrous IRA raid on the NAAFI store in my home town of Newbridge…. It would have been a justifiable raid on the English Army of occupation had there not been an innocent civilian family asleep upstairs. This awful event took place 100 yards from our home in Moorefield Terrace. Yet I heard nothing of this tragedy until Pete’s fine song came my way.”
- Christy Moore
Source: https://www.christymoore.com/october-2024/
This story, buried for so long in the past, has resurfaced thanks to the work of James Durney and the Kildare County Archives and Local Studies. Through his detailed research, he has brought the memory of that night back to light, ensuring that the lives of the Doran family and the tragic events on the Moorefield Road are no longer forgotten or written out of history. With 'Darkness Before Dawn', I’ve tried to capture that legacy in song, giving voice to a moment in history that deserves to be remembered.
A special nod of gratitude to Naas playwright and schoolteacher at Naas CBS Tom Noone, who first brought this story to my attention. It all started, as it often does with a conversation…