Singers raise voices and funds

BY PAT PASTERNAK
STAFF WRITER

Drawing a 28-year tradition to a close, the Wolfe Tones III Farewell Tour concert for the "Doors of Hope" will be held March 4, 7 p.m., at the Empire State Plaza -- the last time the Irish band will play in Albany.

Rev. James Hayes, a retired diocesan priest, noted that the Wolfe Tones III, who hail from Dublin, Ireland, have been making annual trips to Albany since 1972. Funds raised from their performances, which have totaled more than $300,000, have served to support the "Doors of Hope," which helps youth to overcome poverty, ignorance, unemployment and despair.

Father Hayes added that it is rumored the group is breaking up after 40 years of performing traditional Irish music.

Moving on

"It's a passing of the generations, really," Father Hayes said. "Tommy Burns [lead singer for the group] told me that the men just want to spend more time with their families."

Father Hayes, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, said that the Wolfe Tones were always one of his favorite bands. They are renowned for such songs as "Streets of New York," "The Boston Rose" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."

Twenty-eight years ago, the priest took what he called "a great chance" when he approached a woman from Belfast who was trying to raise money to help youth there.

Father Hayes first heard of the fund-raising effort from his friend, Rev. Des Wilson, a priest in Ireland who "told me that a woman named Bridie McGuire in Belfast was trying to raise money to open a youth hostel. I went to Ireland to meet her. I thought that if I could get the Wolfe Tones to do a concert in Albany, we might be able to raise some money to help her effort."

Positive results

Over the years, both the popularity of the Wolfe Tones and the community effort in Belfast grew.

"We were able to help the woman renovate an abandoned house so the youths could have a shelter to go to," Father Hayes recalled. "Later, that home burned down, but we were able to send her enough money to build a community center for the youth."

That center, "Doors of Hope," has expanded to include a number of activities and resources for youth of the area.

As donations have come in, other resources for young people have been added, including summer programs for disadvantaged children and job training.

"Because of the kindness and generosity of people, and the dedication of the Wolfe Tones to perform every year," Father Hayes said, "these facilities in Ireland have helped to decrease poverty, ignorance and unemployment among the youth."

(The Wolfe Tones III have scheduled performances throughout the area during March. See their schedule at www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com. Tickets for the March 4 performance at The Egg are $20 each. Call 355-0199 or 438-8230.)

(2/12/04) [[In-content Ad]]