How it’s New York: Written by Big Apple-based Irish writer Michael Fitzpatrick.
How it’s Irish: About Bob Geldof, one of Dublin’s most outspoken occasional rock stars.
Irish political activist and occasional singer/songwriter Bob Geldof, is reported to have claimed that he has no problem with the first day of the week, despite writing the hit song ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ back in the late 1970s. Mr. Geldof, who fronted Dublin rock band The Boomtown Rats during the ’70s and early ’80s, was talking to BBC News recently, most likely about Band Aid or some political thing , when we’re nearly sure he said something about the whole ‘Monday’ scenario.
If the allegation is indeed true, it will surely pull into questioning the ethics and morals of an entire generation of Irish songwriters, who may well have been lying to decent, hard-working record-buyers for years. “I Don’t Like Mondays,” was a Number 1 hit for The Boomtown Rats in Ireland and the UK in 1979, which was a tumultuous year for Ireland, including as it did, the visit of Pope John Paul II, Charles Haughey being elected as head of the Irish Government and Shane something, the lead singer of boyband Westlife, being born.
One man we interviewed, Benny McCarthy from County Cork said;
“What next, Bono claiming that all isn’t quiet on New Year’s Day, that it might have been a bit noisy? Sinead O’Connor stating that some things do actually compare to you? Phil Lynott’s boys not being back in town, deciding to stay away for another evening? Johnny Logan em, well, I can’t think of one of his songs but imagine him doing something not like the song said. I mean, it’s bullshit, boy.”
It is not the first time a singer/songwriter from Ireland has fallen on controversial times. In the early ’70s rumors circulated that Red Hurley’s natural hair color was charcoal gray, while ‘Westmeath Bachelor’ Joe Dolan was reputed to be a proud father of nine, and cousin of fourteen, from South Armagh. A neighbor of Mr. Geldof’s, Lord Edmondsbury, the 18th Duke of Wellington, who asked not to be named, has since said:
“I done a bunk down the boozer on Tuesday lunchtime, where I seen Bob. Told me Monday was in his top five days of the week, innit.”
