Songs were key moments in history of Ireland

TV series delves into secrets of legendary tunes

- CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

A NEW RTE series will delve into the fascinating stories behind some of Ireland's most adored songs.

The four-part programme, Aistear an Amhrain, delves into the meaning of four tracks cemented in Irish history.

This includes the heartbreaking Grace, Cork's favourite song After All by The Frank and Walters, Spandau Ballet's Through the Barricades and Irish-language stomper An Poc Ar Buile.

Singers, songwriters and historians will appear in the series to give an insight into the fascinating tales behind these tracks.

Episode one focuses on one of our most loved and well-known songs - Grace.

Written in 1985 by brothers Frank and Sean O'Meara, the song was inspired by the tragic love story of Grace Gifford, who married Joseph Mary Plunkett in the chapel at Kilmainham Gaol just hours before his execution in 1916.

Appearing in the series, the O'Meara brothers say the song came about after they were asked to write a big hit by a music producer.

As he was driving to Kilmainham in 1984, Sean says one of the most famous lines of the song came to him as he imagined the final words of Ireland's founding fathers.