Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has made his music debut with a new song featuring him reading one of his poems.
Meath musician Davie Furey teamed up with the former politician for the track Donegal/The Swallow's Tail, which features Adams reading his verse Tir Chonaill Thuaith from his anthology Poems for Hard Times.
The song is the product of Furey’s long-time "collaborative friendship" with Adams, and also features musicians Mike McGoldrick of the Mark Knopfler Band, Éanna Ó Cróinin, Kane O’Rourke and Martin Quinn.
Furey said he and Adams "were united by their strong sense of national identity and their love of music and poetry".
"To work with Gerry and these incredible musicians on this song is one of the highlights of my musical career," said Furey.
"I had a vision of how the song and poem would marry, but the musicians involved on this tune brought it to another level. Gerry has been a good friend over the years.
"I greatly admire the work he has done in bringing peace to our country and his work in striving for a United Ireland."
Adams added: "I was very pleased when Davie Furey invited me to record one of my poems for his song Donegal.
"It's a wonderful song which captures the essence of one of my favourite counties. It was a delight to work with Davie and the musicians.
"I am a big admirer of Davie's music and I wish him well with Donegal. Go raibh maith agat. Bhí mé an-bhródúil gur iarradh orm cur leis an amhrán seo. Maith thú, a Dhavie."
