MANCHESTER POET TONY WALSH PENS ‘WE ARE MANCHESTER’ TRIBUTE FOR ARENA’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Manchester poet Tony Walsh - aka Longfella - has penned a tribute to his hometown arena as part of the venue’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
The poem, titled ‘We Are Manchester’, was commissioned by Arena bosses to mark 20 years of bringing the biggest names from the world of live entertainment to the city.
Speaking at the launch of the poem, Prestwich-based poet Tony Walsh said: “I’ve been to Manchester Arena many times over the last 20 years - from music gigs, comedy nights, family shows and sporting occasions.
“When I sat down to write the poem I wanted to capture the diversity of what happens there but also the vast number of people who have shared glorious moments there that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives”.
James Allen, Manchester Arena General Manager, added: “One of the many reasons international artists love playing the Arena is for the reception they get from the local fans. No other city can compete with the emotion and intensity of a Manchester crowd, which Tony perfectly captures in his line “Ask Manchester to party and the Mancs can party hard!”
“Tony’s poem encapsulates everything that the Arena, and Manchester, stands for and we’re particularly proud to have worked with such a talented local artist on our anniversary tribute.”
To watch ‘We Are Manchester’ click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aed2CDTX4x4
Verses from Tony’s poem have also been displayed around the venue’s main public and backstage spaces.