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Finbar Furey and Christy Dignam wowed audiences last night with a stunning duet

The pair sang Green Fields of France.

furey dignam Furey (l) and Dignam (r) sang a fantastic rendition of Green Fields of France RTÉ RTÉ

FINBAR FUREY AND Christy Dignam have received a great deal of praise, following their stunning duet of the song Green Fields of France on the Late Late Show last night.

The pair were on the show to celebrate Furey’s 70th birthday, and were joined by Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, musician Sharon Shannon and actor Patrick Bergin to celebrate Furey’s career.

Dignam described how Furey had helped him when he was suffering from cancer and had become wheelchair-bound.

Furey had picked him up by coming over to his house with a banjo and they played songs together.

It wasn’t long before a banjo was then produced on the show and they launched into the song Green Fields of France, with the audience giving them a rousing reception afterwards.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

Praise for the performance was widespread afterwards on social media.

Read: From lamb carousel to Katie Hopkins: 8 times the Late Late Show had people talking this year

Read: The Late Late Show is looking for single people for its infamous Valentine’s special

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25 Comments
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    Mute Padraic McHugh
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:24 AM

    Never heard either of them sounding so good and great to see Christy looking so well.Brilliant performance of a brilliant song,can’t wait for the album

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:02 AM

    Great Stuff.

    Interestingly the song was written by a Scottish Australian Eric Bogle and was called “No Mans Land” before it became a huge hit for the Furey’s as “The Green Fields of France”. The identity of Willie McBride has never been known, but there were 9 Willie Mcbrides listed as having died in the Great War.

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:44 AM

    @Paul Fahey: they did a fantastic version last night. I always thought that Eric Bogles version was more bitter than Finbarr Furey’s. Furey changed the lyrics a little and softened them a bit. There’s little bits of irony in Bogles version like ‘when you joined the glorious fallen’ rather that ‘great fallen’. Over the years Bogle has changed the way he performs it to make it more like Furey though I think. Boyle has said Willie McBride isn’t an individual he’s an Everyman. The idea is that he’s just one of thousand’s and thousands of identical white gravestones picked at random. There’s a link to a great performance of it by Bogle here https://youtu.be/vt-1efVkDfE . Boggle also wrote the other famous anti-war song ‘and the band played Waltzing Matilda’.

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Jan 21st 2017, 11:33 AM

    There’s a great RTE radio documentary (Doc on 1) that traces the most likely Willie McBride. Look it up…

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jan 21st 2017, 3:49 PM

    O Reilly – will do, thank you.

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    Mute Denis Moynihan
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    Jan 21st 2017, 5:49 PM

    @Paul Fahey: Not to be forgotten either is Bogle’s autobiographical “Leaving Nancy,” also covered by the Furey’s.

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    Mute John Barry
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    Jan 21st 2017, 7:49 PM

    There is a William McBride buried in Authuille Military Cemetery, Somme who may have inspired the song.

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    Mute tony galvin
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:36 AM

    What a fantastic rendition, great to see Christy looking well I wish him all the best. Finbars voice is amazing.

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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Jan 21st 2017, 10:50 AM

    What a moving performance, I’d nearly go out and a buy a TV licence!

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    Mute Penelope
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:29 AM

    Beautiful performance I had tears in my eyes, simply magical

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jan 21st 2017, 11:05 AM

    It always amazes me how such a song can reach out through time to people still affected by the affects of the Great War in one form or another as many of us lost a generation of family members.
    In the small town where I live there were over forty local men killed in WW1 and there is little interest locally in remembering them in any shape or form.

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    Mute Scundered
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:46 AM

    Very moving performance, especially given the obvious health problems. Fantastic.

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    Mute James Harbourne
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    Jan 21st 2017, 10:25 AM

    @latelateshow Is it not you “could “hear a pin drop

    54
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Jan 21st 2017, 3:35 PM

    I’d say the boys were singing too loudly for you to be able to hear a pin drop. Everybody else was pretty quiet though.

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    Mute Alan Harris
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    Jan 21st 2017, 10:33 AM

    Absolutely loved every second of the performance … well done guys

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    Mute Doug barking
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    Jan 21st 2017, 11:57 AM

    I was enamoured by and feel privileged to have witnessed that heartfelt rendition of the song coupled with the obvious bromance & mutual respect between two living Irish legends.

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    Mute Val Martin
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    Jan 21st 2017, 9:10 AM

    Pity it clashed with Trump’s balls, lovely duet and lovely American government, life is good

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    Mute James Darby
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    Jan 21st 2017, 12:06 PM

    No contest Val. Who wants to see Trump’s balls.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Jan 21st 2017, 3:32 PM

    Well I hope it all works out best for the maximum number of human beings, Val

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    Mute Eamonn Duggan
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    Jan 21st 2017, 12:10 PM

    Wise after the event I know, but what an appropriate song for both Irelands to have taken to France last summer.One hundred years on, shedding sweat instead of blood on the green fields of France.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 21st 2017, 6:06 PM

    Without music the world would be a sadder place. It seems to bring people together. Peace.

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    Mute Robin Basstard
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    Jan 21st 2017, 10:30 AM

    What topic did the late late have in the misery porn section last night?

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    Mute Ken Adams
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    Jan 21st 2017, 6:28 PM

    Had tears in the eyes watching it last night.two genuine Irish music legends.would love an album from the two of m

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