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://jamesjoyce.ie/

https://patrickkavanaghcentre.com/

Additional Links

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5i7vAJseR-/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DMdPds7qH/?hl=en

https://chaptersbookstore.com/products/running-full-circle-the-curious-course-of-a-man-obsessed-with-running

Photo: Richie McCann

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