Damien Dempsey explains why he named a song after James McClean

It was for a very emotional reason.

Damien Dempsey has opened up to JOE about the emotional reason he named a track on his new album after former Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean.

The Irish singer-songwriter's latest record 'Hold Your Joy' was released last week to rave reviews and next month he will play six nights at Dublin's Vicar Street.

And to mark the album and gigs, JOE caught up with Dempsey and during our chat, we asked about the origins of his song 'James McClean', which is named after the Derry-born Republic of Ireland footballer.

McClean has been a victim of sectarian abuse throughout his career.

He has also been both condemned and supported for his ongoing refusal to wear football shirts bearing the symbol of the Royal British Legion's remembrance poppy.

Speaking about the track, Dempsey said: "It's about sectarianism in all its forms. Just hatred.

"We have this precious life. We haven't got that long on the Earth. And to just be full of hate for the time we're here, what a waste of energy, lifeforce.

"You'll notice on the album, I have 'James McClean' and 'Born to Love'. The next song is just about throwing your life away, being filled with hate."

Speaking about McClean - who he calls a "warrior" - specifically, Dempsey added:

"I just saw him out on his own taking on all this hatred - the hangover of the colonial years of England, all this superiority, this crazy pride of the colonies and slavery and starvation and murdering - and I wanted to give him just a bit of a boost and just tell him: 'We love you and fair play to you.'

"The people in the north, what they had to go through: Marching for their civil rights, beaten off the streets and then shot dead, the brutalisation of our people in the north by the British Army and MI5, the SAS [for] all them years.

"As James said himself, he would wear the poppy for people who died in the First and Second World Wars, no problem. He has respect for them.

"He couldn't wear it because of what was done in the north by the British Army for all them years - the Parachute Regiment, they did awful atrocities, terrible massacres. That's why he couldn't wear it.

"Anyone who doesn't understand that, they can f**k off.

"The British legion even said: 'Nobody has to wear this poppy. That's crazy. We don't want people to think they have to wear it.'

"But all these idiots on the terraces screaming at him, don't listen to the British Legion. They've probably never even been in the army. They're just louts."

And Dempsey also told JOE that McClean responded very positively to the song.

The singer-songwriter was able to send it to the footballer because they have a mutual friend: Kneecap's DJ Próvaí (Dempsey was full of praise for the DJ's band, saying they have made him want to speak more Irish).

On McClean's reaction, Dempsey said: "He loved the song and said: 'Ah no problem. Use that.' He's an inspiration."

You can watch the interview below.