The big news in local entertainment circles at the end of May and early June of 1996 was the appearance of Kris Kristofferson in concert at the Glen Eagle Hotel in Killarney on Saturday, June 8th of that year.
The music and songs of the former US army pilot, with a deep social awareness and conscience, was undergoing a great revival at the time and he was on as close as you’ll get to a world tour. While in Ireland during that time he also played venues as far apart as Donegal and Cork.
The Texas born singer/songwriter, whose songs were mainly autobiographical, had by then become a star of the silver screen with the 1976 remake of A Star is Born in which he played a Golden Globe nominated role opposite Barbara Streisand.
Rang the Glen Eagle
Being a devoted follower of his songs from my time away back amongst Leane’s fields, I thought the opportunity shouldn’t be left slide.
I rang the Glen Eagle Hotel and a very accommodating receptionist put me in touch with one of his people – who was equally gracious in setting up a brief meeting and photographic session with the great man without bother or fuss.
Greeted with a broad, genuine smile, the drawled voice with which I was so familiar and a handshake to match the smile. I looked down at my hand enveloped in his and Kris Kristofferson was standing right there before me.
I came to the hotel with a cassette cover of the February1972 released Border Lord album and asked him if he’d sign it for my sister Kate aka Kath.
Even More Devoted Fan
At my prompting she began listening to his music as a young teenager and became a more devoted fan over the years – even swapping letters and sending gifts to the star on momentous occasions in his life. Because she has so many signatures and souvenirs of the star, she returned the precious cassette tape cover to me a few years ago.
“Hey man I’d far rather scrawl my name there than have my picture taken – but go ahead,” he said and he posed willingly for a few minutes.
The Big News…..
Then another fan, who just happened to be passing that area of the hotel did a double take and pointed in a lost for words kind of way to the star of the moment. He too got the smile and the big handshake and was invited to stand in for the photograph.
The big news in global entertainment circles at the end of September and early October 2024 was the death at 88 years of age of Kris Kristofferson.
He was a good man. May God be good to him.
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