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Music

26th Mar 2016

‘Ger loved Killorglin, and Killorglin loved him back’: The story behind the Mr. Brightside video

Tony Cuddihy

It is, arguably, the greatest Irish viral video we’ve ever shared on JOE.ie.

Falvey’s Bar in Killorglin was absolutely hopping last Thursday night as the County Kerry got together for the wake of local legend Ger ‘Farmer’ Foley.

Brian O’Sullivan’s performance of The Killers’ Mr. Brightside in front of a captive audience will go down as an emotional, cathartic and mesmerising tribute to 45-year-old Ger, who passed away after living with Cystic Fibrosis.

Ger was husband to Gráinne and father to both Isobel and Peter.

Incredible Mr. Brightside tribute at Irish wake

'Ger loved Killorglin and Killorglin loved him back.'The full story behind this emotional video is here – http://bit.ly/1TaXFPvHis family and friends would now like to invite Brandon Flowers to Killorglin to do a set in aid of Cystic Fibrosis research. Brandon has to see this. Video credit: Tim Clifford.

Posted by JOE.ie on Saturday, 26 March 2016

Ger’s close friend Shane McElroy told JOE that the people of Killorglin would happily welcome Brandon Flowers of The Killers to the town for an extra special live performance of the hit song.

“That song in Falvey’s Bar is sung every New Year’s Eve, and it was appropriate to do it for Ger,” he said.

“Brandon Flowers has given us some happy times in there so we’d be delighted if he saw it, and even happier again if he ever wanted to visit us in Killorglin to help the fight against Cystic Fibrosis.”

Tim Clifford, who filmed the clip, spoke of Ger’s love for music and his home town.

“Ger loved Killorglin, and Killorglin loved him back,” he said.

“As can be seen by the passion in the video, that was all for Ger. Not one for the limelight but he would get a kick out of how his wake has captured the attention of people, and would smile at the thought of Brandon Flowers seeing Brian O’Sullivan on top of the counter in Falveys Bar, belting out Mr Brightside.”

The pair worked together on Killorglin’s annual K-Fest, which celebrates the best arts talent from the area.