Joining Mario for this week`s rather festive Story Behind The Song was Úna Molloy who is the booker for Dublin's newest music venue, Lost Lane, which has quickly established itself as the go-to venue for both live music and clubbing - with the likes of Mother DJs, Nialler9, Donal Dineen and our own Kelly-Anne Byrne all DJing there on a regular basis.  

 As if that wasn't enough - Úna also runs the music agency Turning Pirate, and has worked with artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Booka Brass Band, Bell X1, Cathy Davey and more.

Úna picked an absolute classic for us with the "Fairytale of New York" wriiten by Jem Finer and Shane McGowan featuring Kirsty MacColl on vocals. It was originally released as a single in 1987 and later featured on the Pogues 1988 album "If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Originally begun in 1985, the song had a troubled two-year development history, undergoing rewrites and aborted attempts at recording, and losing its original female vocalist along the way, before finally being completed in 1987. Although the single never reached the coveted UK Christmas number one, being kept at number two on its original release in 1987 by the Pet Shop Boys' cover version of "Always on My Mind", it has proved enduringly popular with both music critics and the public.

 

Check out the the full chat by pressing the play/listen button on screen.