Bringing the Mersey beat to Croke Park

THE American Richard Rodgers — of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame — wrote over 900 songs for 40 Broadway musicals but he could never have imagined any of his compositions being chorused at a wintry GAA pitch in Carrick-in-Shannon.

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was first aired in the second act of the 1945 musical ‘Carousel’ but it was another 18 years before the Mersey band Gerry and the Pacemakers recorded their version and watched it soar to the top of the charts.

Dozens of other artists, from Frank Sinatra to Alicia Keys, have taken a stab at it since but it is best known on these islands as the de facto anthem for Liverpool FC, even if other clubs such as Celtic and Feyenoord have taken it to their hearts as well.