A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.
He attended Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and did a postgraduate in teaching at Moray House in Edinburgh. He first saw Runrig play in 1973 and was approached one year later to become a member of the band. He later disagreed with his bandmates over several issues, including politics; Pete Wishart later became a Scottish National Party Member of Parliament.
Munro was elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh in 1991, a position he held until 1994. He contested the Scottish Parliament seat of Ross, Skye and Inverness West at the 1999 election for Labour, but was defeated by Liberal Democrat John Farquhar Munro. This necessitated leaving the band, which he did in 1997, by which time it was well known that he intended to stand for election. In 2001, it was mischievously pointed out in the media that he had lost the race for the title of 'first member of Runrig to be elected to parliament', after Peter Wishart became an SNP MP at Westminster.
In 1996 he gave the prestigious Sabhal Mòr Lecture.
In 1998 Munro was elected as the first rector of the UHI Millennium Institute, a post that lasted 3 years.
Munro now enjoys a successful solo career, as well as working as the director of development at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a college on Skye. Munro was sacked by the Scottish Football Association from his role of singing the National Anthem following complaints from fans that due to his Unionist political leanings he refused to sing a verse of Flower of Scotland about rising up and being a nation again.
Official website www.donniemunro.co.uk
Irene
Donnie Munro Lyrics
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Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
With the girls in the afternoon
But they all knew when you left the room
That your heart was free
In your heart was Ireland's fields
On your lips was Athenrye
In the warmth of a long afternoon
The summer of hope and your last goodbye
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Light the rain on Causewayside
Sweet the breeze on an Edinburgh sky
If I'd only known when you walked by
That your time was near
In hopes we shared our dreams
Small moments, no great schemes
For all the small things we need and feel
Are tied up here in our field of dreams
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Light moves across this world of change
Like glass in a crystal glaze
We come together to find our way
Through the warmth of friendship in our lasting days
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Irene will you look out for me
Down the road we knew
Irene will you look out for me
The song “Irene” by Donnie Munro is a tribute to a woman named Irene who has passed away. Donnie sings about memories associated with Irene and shares his thoughts and feelings about her loss. The lyrics are set against an Edinburgh backdrop of Braid Hills and St. Mary’s Place, which adds to the nostalgic tone of the song. Donnie asks Irene if she will look out for him in the future, even though he acknowledges that their shared experience is now just a memory.
In the first verse, Donnie reminisces about spending time with Irene and the girls in the afternoon. Although their time together seems to have been happy, he also notes that the “hand of friendship” was “broken too soon.” Despite this, Irene remained true to herself, and everyone who knew her recognized that her “heart was free.” Donnie also acknowledges that Ireland played a significant role in Irene’s life, as evidenced by her love for “Ireland's fields” and the town of Athenrye.
The chorus repeats the line “Irene will you look out for me, down the road we knew” three times, with subtle variations each time. Donnie’s tone is both wistful and hopeful, as he wants to believe that Irene’s presence will continue to guide him as he moves forward. The final verse is about the ebb and flow of life, how people come and go, and how relationships can give us hope and comfort. Donnie sings, “We come together to find our way through the warmth of friendship in our lasting days,” a reminder that although life may be fleeting, our relationships and the memories we share stay with us.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the Braid Hills they watch over me
Donnie is reminiscing about his hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, and how the Braid Hills always loomed protectively over him.
St Mary's Place runs to the sea
The street Donnie grew up on, St Mary's Place, leads straight towards the ocean.
Irene will you look out for me
Donnie is speaking to his friend Irene, asking her to watch over him while he goes down memory lane.
Down the road we knew
Referring to a familiar part of town, where Donnie and Irene shared memories together.
With the girls in the afternoon
Donnie recalls spending time with female friends during the daytime.
The hand of friendship broken too soon
Donnie laments the lost connections he had with former friends.
But they all knew when you left the room
Donnie's friends knew that he held an independent spirit within him.
That your heart was free
Donnie's heart was open-minded and unrestrained by societal constraints.
In your heart was Ireland's fields
Donnie expresses his love and connection to the fields of Ireland, which hold a special place in his heart.
On your lips was Athenrye
Donnie remembers the beauty of Athenrye, a small town located in County Galway, Ireland.
In the warmth of a long afternoon
Donnie recalls a relaxing, sun-filled afternoon with friends.
The summer of hope and your last goodbye
Donnie recalls how he bid farewell to a close friend during a hopeful time in the summer.
Light the rain on Causewayside
Donnie reflects on the beauty of the rain on Causewayside, a street in Edinburgh.
Sweet the breeze on an Edinburgh sky
Donnie remembers the gentle breeze that would sweep across his hometown on a clear day.
If I'd only known when you walked by, That your time was near
Donnie now regrets not realizing that someone who was once dear to him was going to leave soon.
In hopes we shared our dreams
Donnie cherished sharing his hopes and dreams with others.
Small moments, no great schemes
Donnie valued small but meaningful moments with friends over grandiose plans.
For all the small things we need and feel
Donnie acknowledges the importance of moments that may seem insignificant, but hold immense value to us.
Are tied up here in our field of dreams
All the memories and emotions shared with friends are woven together in a 'field of dreams'.
Light moves across this world of change, Like glass in a crystal glaze
Donnie reflects on how quickly life moves and how fragile it is, much like glass in a crystal glaze.
We come together to find our way
Donnie believes that people often come together to help each other find direction and purpose in life.
Through the warmth of friendship in our lasting days
Donnie believes that friendships are especially important in the later years of life, as aging can be cold and lonely without the warmth of loved ones.
Irene will you look out for me
Donnie once again asks Irene to look out for him as he navigates through the memories of his past.
Down the road we knew
This familiar road is a metaphor for a shared journey that Donnie and Irene experienced together.
Contributed by Makayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.