Brennan adds another gong to latest song's honours

Offaly musician Wayne Brennan has added another award to the collection for his song "Roots in these Lands". The song was written earlier this year as part of a project commissioned by Offaly County Council. Earlier this summer it won the Sean McCarthy Ballad Contest in Listowel. Now a 2012 RAAP/RTE Breakthrough Bursary has been added to that honour. Wayne's song, which won the traditional Irish/folk category, was one of hundreds entered into the RTE competition. Along with eleven other finalists he performed his song live on John Creedon's radio show last Thursday, September 20, which led to him becoming one of five winners to pick up a cheque for €5,000. The competition's judging panel included musical heavyweights such as Mary Black, Fiachna O'Braonain from the Hothouse Flowers, Ciaran Tourish of Alta, Gerry O'Connor, Eamonn Leniham and Niall Carroll. "Roots in these Lands" was written earlier this year while Wayne travelled on a barge on the Grand Canal in the making of documentary "A Grand Experience". The trip was one of a series of artistic projects by Offaly County Council relating to the canal. Wayne was joined on board by "Eden" writer Eugene O'Brien and photographer Veronica Nicholson. The resulting documentary is due to be screened on RTE later this autumn. "Roots in these Lands" is currently available on iTunes and will shortly be available on CD. It is also set to be included on Wayne's highly anticipated second album, which is due for release in early 2013.