Phil Coulter: 'This is not a Hollywood story; it is a Waterford story'

Music legend Phil Coulter and Cork folksinger Roy Buckley have paid a visit to Waterford.

The pair have recorded a song about the Collins brothers, six Waterford men who fought for the British Army in WW1.

Mr Coulter said he heard the story recently where six brothers went to war and only one returned, and saw it as a “real-life Saving Private Ryan.” 

The song, For Another King and Country, is sung by Mr Buckley, and the pair came to Waterford to speak to some of the Collins family still living in Waterford today and see the plaque dedicated to the brothers on Philip Street.

Mr Coulter told the Waterford News and Star that it was a privilege to speak with the family.

Just about an hour ago, we met some of the Collins family, grandsons of the original Collins, and that was very moving, really very moving.

“And to hear the stories, particularly what I found very sad was that up until about ten years ago, there was very little talk about what the Collins family had done because there was a still a certain overhang of embarrassment of people coming back having served in the first world war with the British army,” said Mr Coulter.

During WW1, jobs were scarce in Ireland, and men were encouraged to join the British Army.

The leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, John Redmond, promoted the idea that service would lead to Home Rule.

Six Collins brothers signed up. 

Four died in the battles of Flanders and the Somme, and another died later of his wounds.

The last brother, William, was also wounded, but survived and came home.

But by the end of the war, things in Ireland had changed.

“That embarrassment, they didn’t want to talk about it. So it was kind of swept under the carpet. 

"So, for us to get the chance to record what is a very important part of Waterford history, a very important part of Irish history and record that in a song, and just to meet the families is a privilege, said Mr Coulter.

Following the 1916 Rising and the subsequent executions, the political relationship between Britain and Ireland had deteriorated.   

Far from being hailed as heroes, the men who returned from the war were seen as traitors.

“Hopefully, a lot more people will be aware of the Collins family and the Collins brothers and of the sacrifice that the mother, the sacrifice she made to wave six sons off to war.

"That is exceptional. And this is not a Hollywood story, it is a Waterford story,” said Mr Coulter.

Mr Buckley, who sings the song, echoed its writer’s sentiments.

“Sure, it was a real honour to meet all the family and to get the inside stories from them and just to share the sadness and heartache of it all.

“For Phil to put it into words and then to get the call to sing it and try and deliver it as best we could. 

"I mean it’s a real uplifting experience in such a sad time and such a powerful song that the people of Waterford and the family are getting something from it, and it makes us glad to do it,” said Mr Buckley.

The visit started out with a trip to WLR and from there on to Philip Street.

There, Mr Coulter and Mr Buckley were greeted by members of the Waterford Civic Trust.

Trust member Eugene Broderick explained the context of the Collins brothers’ story and some stories from post WW1.

One such story was of an extreme measure taken by those who, after the war, wore a poppy to commemorate the time.

But, as tensions were still high, some folks would forcibly remove the poppy from the wearer, leading them to incorporate razor blades into the back of the flower.

Mr Coulter said that showed Waterford could be “pretty gritty.” 

“Waterford people don’t mess around,” said Mr Coulter.   

The single For Another King and Country is out July 30.

Watch the video below of the two musicians promoting the new single in Waterford.