End of an era in Dundalk as Mulhern’s prepares to close

It will be the end of an era in Park Street on Saturday when Mulhern’s shoe shop closes its doors.

A shoe shop has been present at the site of Gerald Mulhern’s popular store for around 150 or 160 years having first been known as Murtagh’s.

Anyone who attended the St Malachy’s School, aka The Friary, over the years will have great memories of passing there following the annual sports day when all the prizes were showcased in the windows.

Many generations of people from Dundalk and further afield got their first pair of shoes in Mulhern’s and it will be sad to see it closing.

You still have a chance to make one last purchase though. Call in before close of business on Saturday for one last visit to one of Dundalk’s most iconic shops.

Local singer/songwriters nominated for Best Male Solo Act award

Two local singer/songwriters have been nominated for the Pure M Magazine’s Best Male Solo Act award for 2015.

David Keenan and Finnian (Kelleher) are both in line for the prestigious award.

Keenan shot to public recognition earlier this year with his performance of ‘El Paso’ in the local Maxi Taxi and after landing a record deal has followed it up with tracks such as ‘The Friary’ and ‘The Bike Sheds’.

Finnian, meanwhile, continues to work on a new album having earned a reputation as one of the hardest working singer/songwriters in the North East.

Amongst those David and Finnian will be competing with for the coveted prize are the likes of Gavin Glass, Paddy Casey, Mundy, David Kitt, Duke Special and Gavin James.

All acts nominated will go through a judging process by top Irish industry heads and members of Pure M magazine staff. The nominated list will be shortened down to a finalists list and each finalist will be invited to the live award show.

Check out Finnian performing in Downpatrick above.

David Keenan releases new video for ‘The Friary’

Local singer/songwriter David Keenan has released the video for his new single ‘The Friary’.

Written about Anne Street’s best known location, it is the follow up to the hugely successful ‘El Paso’, which helped Keenan hit the headlines since the turn of the year.

Written during his teenage years, Keenan shot to fame after performing ‘El Paso’ in the local Maxi Taxi, with the video going viral across the internet.

In an interview with The Irish Independent, David also revealed that ‘El Paso’ has also just been accepted for the soundtrack of a film about Frank and Jesse James coming out next year.

We think ‘The Friary’ has potential too and we look forward to seeing David’s continued rise to fame in the months ahead. Check it out above and just because it’s so brilliant, have a listen to ‘El Paso’ again below.