Gay McIntyre's mic was "a gift to the people of Derry" - Derry Now

Contents:

• THE BEST DERRY GAY CLUBS & BARSSEE ALL THGS TO DOGAY CLUBS & BARS DERRY
• “IT IS JT WONRFUL HOW TIM HAVE CHANGED” - DERRY GAY RIGHTS MPAIGNER
• GAY MCINTYRE'S MIC WAS "A GIFT TO THE PEOPLE OF DERRY"
• MARK H DURKAN 'BLOWN AWAY' BY PHOTOGRAPH OF SISTER, GAY
• NFL ASSISTANT ACH OUT AS GAY

THE BEST DERRY GAY CLUBS & BARSSEE ALL THGS TO DOGAY CLUBS & BARS DERRY

Btlg streets were packed everywhere, not jt wh gay people but wh straight people jog as well, the whole wir muny, everybody. Mayor Graham Warke has led the tribut paid to Derry jazz legend Gay McIntyre who died the early hours of Wednday morng aged 88.

Nat Kg Cole, Acker Bilk and Louis Stewart were some of the big nam of jazz that Gay bbed shoulrs wh and his mic and style of playg won him many fans wh the jazz scene. Mayor Warke, who two weeks ago met wh Gay to announce that next year's Cy of Derry Big Band & Jazz ftival would be a regnn of his ntributn to mic, said that Gay's mic was a gift to the people of Derry and an spiratn to a younger generatn of micians.

“IT IS JT WONRFUL HOW TIM HAVE CHANGED” - DERRY GAY RIGHTS MPAIGNER

He said: “Gay was an immense talent who played wh some of the greatt nam jazz cludg Nat Kg Cole and Acker Bilk. Gay McIntyre and Mike Nielsen perform "Danny Boy" which opened Derry's "Virtual Jazz Ftival" last year. "At a time when jazz wasn't wily accsible Gay brought the mic to new dienc and he will no doubt ntue to spire new generatns.

“I am lighted that plans are already place to honour Gay at next year's ftival, which he has been an tegral part of for so many years. “I had the real pleasure of meetg Gay at his home wh his fay recently, and I want to extend my ept ndolenc today to all who knew and loved him.

The SDLP MP for Foyle, Colum Eastwood also paid tribute to Gay sayg: “I’m eply sadned to hear of the passg of Gay McIntyre and know that sentiment will be shared across Derry and on both sis of the borr.

GAY MCINTYRE'S MIC WAS "A GIFT TO THE PEOPLE OF DERRY"

“Gay was also a fantastic ambassador for this area, he toured the world and played wh some of the biggt nam Jazz mic, but never fot his roots or his home Derry. “Our cy’s Jazz Ftival, at which Gay was a regular performer, will ntue on as a ttament to his memory and the mil fluence he had on Derry. Sn Fé MLA for Foyle, Ciara Fergon add: “I was sadned to hear of the ath of lol mician, Gay McIntyre.

DUP MLA for Foyle, Gary Middleton exprsed his ndolenc sayg: “The passg of Gay McIntyre is a very sad day for our mic scene. Gay's fellow Derry mic legend, Phil Coulter tweeted: “So sad to hear of the passg of the great Gay McIntyre. Derry-born lear of the Sn Fe group Lisburn & Castlereagh Cy Council, Ryan Carl posted on Twter: “Sad to hear of the ath of Gay McIntyre.

“When my granda died, Gay played amazg grace at his funeral & my mother passed his old Claret on to Gay.

MARK H DURKAN 'BLOWN AWAY' BY PHOTOGRAPH OF SISTER, GAY

The management of the Hidn Cy Cafe Derry also paid tribute on Twter to Gay who had played at the venue. They tweeted: “RIP to the legend that is Gay McIntyre Sympathi his wife, Pl, all his fay, iends & Jazz muny. Gay McIntyre and his son Pl play a jazz ssn together at the Hidn Cy Cafe Derry.

Gay McIntyre was born Ballbofey Co. In an terview 2014 wh Culture Northern Ireland, Gay said: “When I heard that rerd I got very emotnal. Gay said: “At the terval two guys me and said to me, 'Mr Cole would like to see you'.

Gay was a mastay on televisn wh regular appearanc on both UTV and RTE as well as a performer playg at jazz ftivals at Derry and Cork across Europe.

NFL ASSISTANT ACH OUT AS GAY

Gay McIntyre and Johnny Quigley team up a performance on RTE's "The Late, Late Show" March 1985.

Haton an terview wh the BBC said of Gay: “Whenever he plays, you're gettg, you're gettg everythg that he feels, as a person, everythg that he's seen, that's ma him angry, that's ma him lm or that's ma him love.

Gay ntued to play ftivals and a regular slot at Bennigan's Jazz Club Derry. Durg the 2022 Jazz Ftival, the outdoor stage Guildhall Square will be named the Gay McIntyre Stage and the openg event of the 2022 ftival on Thursday, April 28, 2022, will be known as the Gay McIntyre and Lol Legends of Jazz.