Tom Barry

Tom Barry is a Galway based singer songwriter. Tom has been immersed in music and writing from an early age. He is an accomplished piano and guitar player and has sung with acclaimed choirs Galway Baroque Singers, Cois Claddaigh and performed in musicals such as Crazy for You and the Scarlet Pimpernel with Galway Music Society for many years.
During the pandemic Tom undertook several writing workshops hosted by the legendary John Spillane. From these workshops Tom developed and mastered his own style of writing, inspired by simplicity, his experiences in Galway, nature and family.
‘Lighthouse’ is a collection of 9 original tracks and one cover of the iconic folk song ‘Little Musgrave’, made famous by Christy Moore and Planxty. Records of its origin date back to 1670. Tom has given this beautiful drama new life. Piano, electric guitars, bass and synth combine to create a dramatic atmosphere bringing this story to the present day.

‘Lighthouse’, the title track, is dedicated to those in Tom’s life who have guided him and kept him safe throughout his life, “when the raging winds and the rolling seas, come over”.

‘Asteria’ is inspired by Toms love of the sea, moon and stars. Asteria is the goddess of stars, and Tom lies in the Galway Bay water staring at the sky in “awe and wonder”, “waiting for the magic of the stars”.

‘Lord Valentine’ is inspired by the tragic story of Menlo Castle where Lord Valentine returned to his castle on the banks of the Corrib to discover that it had been burnt and his daughter and a maid had perished, his daughter’s body never recovered. It is played on guitar accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jon O’Connell.

‘Pale Moon’ describes the journey to the sea each morning for a swim. How the moon “lead me to the sea…just you and me” where you “dive through the mercury”. Blackrock is an iconic diving tower in Galway where people gather from the early hours to swim in the cold Atlantic waters. It is a pilgrimage for brave souls.

‘Circular Road’ is a story of gratitude for the help and support my wife and I got at a difficult time. We walked from Ballagh Road in Bushypark to Circular Road every day, talking, figuring it out with the support of so many families and friends. That support brought us “too our promise land”.