Irish teen’s powerful song about global conflict gave us goosebumps

Entertainment

Mar 7, 2017

There are plenty of conflicts going on in the world at the moment, and one singer-songwriter is using her talent to address these issues.

Singer Olivia Burke, who first came to attention at the tender age of 12 after writing a song about missing child Madeline McCann, has scripted a touching hymn about the hardships of the world.

The unsigned singer's new track Beautiful Dream is an amazing example of Irish talent in action, and her message combats violence and discrimination.

Olivia uses the melodic tune and sweet vocals to convey her dismay at the lack of peace in the world.

As the title suggests, the concept of a totally peaceful society is a beautiful dream rather than a reality.

In 2013 her song Stronger Than Words, written about bullying and self harm, was used in schools all over Ireland as part of their Anti Bullying campaigns.

The Offaly teenager has also been nominated in the Best Female category of the Pure M Music Awards.

This girl is seriously talented, and Beautiful Dream literally gave us goosebumps.

Have a little listen for yourself.

Hozier is among the mourners at Berkeley victim’s funeral

Relationships

Jun 24, 2015

by Amber Saunders

The funeral is currently taking place in Foxrock of 21-year-old Olivia Burke.

The J1 visa holder died in Berkeley, California along with five others when a fourth-storey balcony they were standing on collapsed and fell more than 12metres to the ground.

Among the hundreds of mourners to turn out today is Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne, 25, better known to his millions of fans simply as Hozier.

Holding a guitar, he looked drawn and solemn as he arrived at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. He later played an acoustic version of The Work Song for those that had gathered to celebrate the young Foxrock woman's life.

Olivia’s parents, Paul and Paula, and her brother Gavin, were also in attendance.

For the ceremony, a large collage of photographs of Olivia and her friends and family was placed beside the altar.

Father Frank Herron told the congregation: "The thought of six young people dying so far away in such circumstances and the thought of their parents and siblings having to make the long journey to bring them back home has pained us all.

He added: "This week our community of Foxrock has reached out to each other probably as never before. In this building we looked for God and for each other."

Symbols of Olivia’s life were earlier brought to the mass.

These included a Loreto College journal to symbolise her secondary school education; a photo of Olivia and her King Charles Spaniel, Skipper; a Ted Baker bag to symbolise her love of fashion, and a novelty hat which was given to Olivia for her 21st birthday.

After sitting her Leaving Cert in 2012, Olivia had gone on to attend IADT Dun Laoghaire. There, she was studying for a degree in business, entrepreneurship and management, and had just finished her third year exams.

As part of her course, she had also recently completed a five-month work-experience stint with East Coast FM.

Olivia Burke

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