Nenagh link with Clinton campaign

'You Raise Me Up’, by Nenaghsongwriter Brendan Graham and Norwegian composer, Rolf Lovland, has been chosen as the theme song for ‘Shoulders’, a new documentary on Hillary Clinton, the US Democratic Party presidential candidate. ‘Shoulders’ is narrated by triple Academy Award winner, Meryl Streep and focuses on the 250-year journey of American women and their struggle toward equality and social justice. The well-known ballad, which has been covered by Westlife and Josh Groban among others, has been chosen for its powerful message and symbolism, to aid the Clinton campaign in highlighting the importance of women everywhere as a key inspiration in Mrs Clinton’s race to succeed President Barack Obama in the White House. Mrs Clinton stresses the role her own mother Dorothy Roddam played in instilling in her the belief that one day she could become the next President of the United States. The documentary opens with a quote from Meryl Streep that the US presidential candidate follows in the footsteps of many inspirational women including the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, the civil rights activist Rosa Parks and American politician Eleanor Roosevelt and this montage, is accompanied by a rendition of the track ‘You Raise Me Up’. Speaking to the Irish music magazine, Hot Press, the Nenagh-born composer explains that both he and Lovland are very protective as to how ‘You Raise Me Up’, which has clocked up sales in excess of 80 million, is used within the political arena. Mr Graham adds that the film producers were respectful to the song and that their film embodies the message of hope, acknowledgement and gratitude, a theme that is central to ‘You Raise Me Up’ The documentary also contains a segment on the Northern Ireland Peace Process, with Monica McWilliams, leader of Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition saying of Hillary Clinton’s involvement: “She talked about human rights and justice and the really important role that women make to peace-building. It really was setting the floor on which the rest of us could start to walk.” The Kickham Street native, who is a former chairman of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) as well as a novelist, has enjoyed great success as a songwriter. He wrote two Eurovision Song Contest Winners, ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Kids’ (1994) and ‘The Voice’ in 1996 while this year he penned a track, ‘This Mother’s Heart’, which was recorded and performed by the acclaimed Katherine Jenkins at the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II.