Grace - Jim McCann, 1985

A song about the marriage of Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett just hours before his execution at Kilmainham Gaol in 1916.
Jim McCann joins The Dubliners on stage at the National Stadium for a performance of the song ‘Grace’.
The song was written in 1985 by brothers Frank and Seán O’Meara and is about artist Grace Gifford who married Joseph Mary Plunkett in the chapel at Kilmainham Gaol just hours before he was executed by a firing squad in 1916.
Frank and Seán O’Meara are in attendance at the National Stadium.
Introducing the song, Jim McCann describes it as,
"A good new song about an old subject."
The lyrics of the song tell the story of their marriage and the impending death of Joseph Mary Plunkett.
"Oh Grace just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die
With all my love I place this wedding ring upon your finger
There won’t be time to share our love for we must say goodbye."
The song has been recorded by many artists including Rod Stewart.
This episode of ‘Festival Folk: The Dubliners and Friends’ was broadcast on 2 December 1985.
‘Festival Folk’ is a six part series featuring The Dubliners, with special guests Jim McCann and Paddy Reilly recorded in the concert at the National Stadium, Dublin.

[@bigbadredsox]

Will never get old, 2024 is coming.

[@travel-warrior]

our most revealing moment was to find out about this amazing and heartfelt story about Grace Gifford and Plunkett in later years, We first heard it performed in a small pub in Canberra in Australia and it moved me

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Some songs, some words tell the story in pictures, they have the power to bring your right to the moment life long past, Like history those most brilliant songs will last forevermore

[@benji.B-side]

Great comment. I say when you listen to old songs in your life, it is like looking through a photograph album, The pictures in your head, you look back upon.

[@patriciawilliams-pn7kz]

Fantastic song pure love 💓

[@t0mogrady-ni5mi]

Jim mc Cann, simply beautiful

[@rickster101]

Beautifully sung as a Scotsman I truly appreciate music like this god bless X

[@trevorheaslip7038]

Jim mc cann was an Irish singer he died in 2015

[@stephencronin1080]

​@@trevorheaslip7038 he means he, the person writing the comment, is Scottish

[@chulainn32]

God bless you Jim X

[@user-dd7cf5rh8n]

Seen jim live a good few times over the years always a great entertainer singer and story teller. Legend sadly missed

[@sineadconran4964]

This is some song🥰😍

[@mickeyh53]

If at all you’ve got an ounce of Celtic blood flowing through your veins..this song will surely tug at one’s heart strings..it always gets to me.

[@lukeneylon6471]

Oh yes always resonates with me very powerful piece of music

[@exboss1]

A good song, performed by an im-/expressive voice ...

[@danbreen6946]

I've heard this beautiful ballad so many times and still can't decide between Tommy Byrne or Jim McCann

[@criostoirnott3733]

Jim McCann all the way. Tommy does it justice, but Jim sang the definitive version. Both singers - great voices. Jim's treatment of the song has pure and sweet vocals and is that bit better.

[@normaturner327]

Jim McCann is better

[@kevinyoung4616]

I always feel sorry for other singers that sing this song , as they will always be compared to the great version by Jim McCann .

[@karinmccann8701]

Fantastic seriously ❤

[@jameshlee17]

This must be an unused clip from the RTE Festival of Folk concert. Recorded but not added to the set list. Another rare find!

[@christinamcilwaine350]

💚🙏💚

[@AnnDonegan-oo9sp]

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

[@michellesuter9259]

😢😢😢

[@paulfrancis8764]

🇵🇸✊🇮🇪❤

[@sentimentaloldme]

Lovely ballad.Great singer...This I think was the original video of the song....th-cam.com/video/EZthe2jCdaQ/w-d-xo.html