16 Mar 2005 - BBC1

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HE MAY be on the other side of the world at the minute, but Brian Kennedy is making sure Northern Ireland gets in the mood for St Patrick's Day with a one-hour TV special on Wednesday evening.

...on Wednesday night, he'll be treating BBC1 NI viewers to a musical history lesson, in Brian Kennedy In New York - an enjoyable and educational look at how music from the north of Ireland has, for centuries, had a huge impact on America.

The programme really does make fascinating viewing. Assisted by contributions from, among others, Michael Ball, Shane MacGowan, Liam Clancy and clips of Bob Dylan, Brian tells the story of musical heroes, including Co Cork descendant George M Cohan - regarded as the man who owned Broadway and Beautiful Dreamer composer, Stephen Foster - described as the 'trunk of American music' - whose father emigrated from Co Derry, in 1725.