Gregory W. Irish


Location: Matawan, NJ

Challenge: Mental Health

Website: www.gregorywirishmusic.com

Gregory was born and raised in the town of Cazenovia, NY, just outside Syracuse, NY, Gregory W. Irish was introduced to music and life from an early age. His whole family (Step-Father, Mother, Brother, 2 Sisters) was into music of some kind and they would often gather around the family's piano and have a sing-along.

He played guitar from a young age (approx. 10 years old), was in the schools chorus and wrote songs for friends. While serving in the US Navy (1980-1984) he played the guitar for fun. He married Sherry Irish in 1983 and wrote a song for their son who had ADHD "Absent Love" and he revised the song in 2011. From High School to 2011, he took about 30 years off from performing for people.

Gregory says "I have experienced a lot of bullying in my life but the worst was when I was in the U.S. Navy. I was stationed on a Navy vessel and soon after arriving I found out that many (if not most) of the crew was involved in drugs and heavy drinking. I wasn’t and this made me stand out to a degree where I think many of my shipmates felt threatened by me (thinking I might turn them in).

Because of this, they would frequently wake me up in the middle of the night (sometimes twice or more) by punching me in the head while I was asleep. I tried to report this to superiors but I started getting threats that if I report the attacks, the next cruise at sea I might not see the next port (meaning I would get thrown overboard one night). I would start sleeping with my hands over my face to protect myself. Some nights I would get night terrors and wake up frightened for no reason. One night waking up like that I cut my eyelid on the bunk light above me. I did everything I could to survive to just make it through my 4-year enlistment and get out with an Honorable Discharge.

To top it off, as if I didn’t have enough problems, during one Mediterranean Cruise our ship (it was a supply ship that carried Ammunition and Explosives for the fleet) caught fire and was burning intensely for many hours until we finally got it under control. We were towed to Souda Bay, Crete where we hooked up the untested emergency electrical supply power and ended up with about 14 electrical fires per day.

To this day I am afraid of ships and will not go on another ship even if you paid me to.

From this and other things I won’t get into I have: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain disease, headaches daily, loss of memory, severe anxiety and depression. Most of these onditions I am learning to deal with through exercise and my music.

Aside from those conditions I also have: two lower back fusions (2 titanium plates on two levels), Arthritis from surgeries in my back and knees, Diabetes Type 2, High Blood Pressure and an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm."

After checking out the local NJ musical scene, his new found friends (also musicians) urged him to start playing and writing again. He came back to music on May 11, 2011 at Espresso Joe’s Open Mic in Keyport, NJ. He now plans on writing more songs and playing in more coffee houses and bars/clubs for exposure. Other than his original music he performs covers in the Folk, Pop and Country genres from the 1960's to the present day. He now has over 30 original songs and he hasn't come close to stopping yet. Life inspires his music.

Gregory is an ASCAP Writer & Publisher Member and he is an ASCAP Plus Award Recipient for 2011. He just finished recording his 1st CD “Touched By Life” and the release was on March 1, 2013 at Espresso Joe’s in Keyport, NJ. Now Gregory is working on his next CD, a collection of his more recent songs.

He says "When you see me standing on a stage all you see is some old guy singing from his music sheets and you may think I am not that good. Next time see me as the guy who is struggling to be good and has managed to make it to the stage, despite the issues that have kept me silent for so long. I am a man who has overcome extreme obstacles."


Gregory W Irish performing at Molly Maguire Open Mic Night