Episode 45 is a conversation largely framed around the poetry of James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Kennelly with singer and raconteur Noel O’Grady.
Conversation includes: introductions; Noel’s 35 years in the army; President Michael D. Higgins; Bloomsday; John McCormack; W.B.Yeats; James Joyce’s singing voice; Eileen Joyce; \"the tyranny of the metronome\"; Con Houlihan who spoke “English on a Gaelic loom”; the prose of Joyce; how Joyce placed music in his writings; Bellini’s bel canto ‘La sonnambula’ placed in Sirens in Joyce’s Ulysses; Christy Moore asking Noel how did he know which note to start on; adrenaline and performance; Noel’s close shaves in the army; Roger Casement; ‘The Island’ by Paul Brady; Úna Bhán; ‘Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away’; Peter Kavanagh; Hilda Moriarty; Noel’s brief analysis of the poem ‘On Raglan Road’ by Patrick Kavanagh; Lord Dunsany; Francis Ledwidge; County Kerry; Ben Kiely; Brendan Kennelly; Noel’s motivation to give Brendan Kennelly the celebration that he deserved with guests including the President, John Sheahan and Mary Black; “The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away, ” Pablo Picasso; memories of Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew and John Sheahan of The Dubliners; Luke Kelly; Frank Greally and his brother Tom from Ballyhaunis; Irish Runner; Noel’s insight into President Michael D. Higgins; the President’s intimate insight of ‘Mo Ghile Mear’; Sabina Higgins; Nora Barnacle’s ex boyfriend Michael ‘Sonny’ Bodkin; ‘The Dead’ by James Joyce in his book ‘Dubliners’; an old African adage; Brendan Kennelly’s improvised poem; Noel’s one-man show ‘Ode To James Joyce: Portrait Of A Tenor’; Carl Jung and Lucia Joyce; Noel’s one man show ‘Remembering Brendan Kennelly; Bono as a writer; Raglan Lane by Brendan Kennelly; Irish people being storytellers; Noel performing ’On Raglan Road’, and other topics.
Recorded in Dublin overlooking Christ Church on Saturday night on 5 April 2024, the 12th anniversary of Barney McKenna.
Relevant Links
https://www.youtube.com/user/leonairs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enchanted-Way-Tribute-Patrick-Kavanagh/dp/B001VGDA6I
https://poetryarchive.org/poet/brendan-kennelly/
https://patrickkavanaghcentre.com/
Additional Links
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5i7vAJseR-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DMdPds7qH/?hl=en
Photo: Richie McCann
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