Fairy tale of New York may be a rather unorthodox Christmas song, but it has become hugely popular in Ireland, the UK and the USA. It’s about an Irish couple whose love and dreams are shattered as they try to build a new life in New York. We will learn a few interesting things about the protaganists.
Interviews
Gaelic footballer Alisha Jordan came to New York to play football aged 17 from County Meath in Ireland. Despite being dazzled by the glamour and pace of New York City, she missed her family and friends and stencilled the words ‘Fairytale of New York’ on her apartment wall as an affirmation of her determination to make the most of her new life in the city. When she was later attacked on the street by a stranger, the words came to signify her battle to recover and not to let the horrific facial injuries she suffered defeat her or her ambition to captain her Football team.
Kevin McCarthy is a retired New York City police detective and a member of the NYPD Emerald Society Bagpipe, Pipes and Drums, who appeared in the video clip that went with the song. He talks about how he experienced the day they filmed the band in a park in New York City.
The American actor Kiefer Sutherland tells an anecdote of how he met Shane MacGowan, the (in)famous singer of The Pogues. MacGowan had a terrible reputation, but, as we will see, he made a big impression on the actor when he met him in a hotel bar.