Reflecting on ‘Hand of Love’: A Tribute to Christy Dignam

Music has an uncanny way of evolving with time, deepening in meaning as the world changes around it. For us at Arracht, few songs embody this transformative power quite like “Hand of Love.” Originally released in 1990 by Conor Goff and Christy Dignam, the song has been part of the Irish musical landscape for decades. Christy, best known for his work with Aslan, had already solidified himself as a master songwriter, crafting songs that resonated deeply with people from all walks of life.

But “Hand of Love” took on a whole new life for us in 2022 when Christy announced he was receiving palliative care. The news was heartbreaking, as it marked the end of an extraordinary journey for a man whose music had touched so many. For Christy, the song became a meditation on life and loss, reflecting on “people I’ve loved and people I’ve lost, and those I never need to know.” That sentiment transformed “Hand of Love” into something more—a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of goodbye. It became a song about farewells, the kind you may or may not be ready for.

We had known the song for more than thirty years, but its emotional depth only truly matured as time passed. As the weight of Christy’s situation settled in, the lyrics resonated on a deeper level, and the melody itself seemed to carry more tension, more reflection. In that moment, it felt like the right time for us to pay tribute by offering our own interpretation of this timeless piece.

Our cover of “Hand of Love” was more than just a musical exercise; it was an opportunity to honour a man whose work had inspired us for so long. Though we never met Christy personally, his music had become part of our world. It was a gift we wanted to acknowledge and celebrate in the best way we knew how—through music. We approached the cover thoughtfully, working with Switch’s arrangement to add a larger musical arrangement that felt appropriate for the weight of the song. The structure of “Hand of Love” always invited more instrumentation, and we leaned into that, allowing the song to swell and grow in the way it always seemed to be asking for.

Yet, even as we made these changes, we felt it was essential to stay true to the heart of the song as Christy intended it. We kept the original arc of the melody intact, letting the interplay of our vocals bring something new while respecting the spirit of the original. For us, it wasn’t about reinventing the wheel, but rather, enhancing it—bringing the emotional weight of our own experience into harmony with what Christy and Conor Goff had already created.

In many ways, the process of recording this cover became a way to process our own reflections on life, loss, and legacy. “Hand of Love” is about more than just personal farewells; it’s about the broader connections we make throughout our lives, those we hold dear, and the ones we never got to know. Christy’s situation made this theme all the more poignant, as we thought of him—a fellow artist, a man who, though we didn’t know him, had made an indelible mark on our lives through his work. It was an emotional journey, knowing he was fighting to live on while receiving end-of-life treatment.

Christy Dignam’s passing in 2023 marked the end of an era for Irish music, but his legacy lives on through his songs, “Hand of Love” being one of the most touching examples. Our cover is just one way of honouring that legacy, a way of saying thank you for the music and the memories.

To Christy: though we never met, your music found its way into our lives. And for that, we are forever grateful.

— Arracht