Thank You Briege and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin 

Friends from far and near were in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan last Saturday night for a special testimonial event for my old friend and comrade Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Mary Lou McDonald was there to remind us of Caoimhghín’s long and distinguished life of activism for over 40 years. It was also an opportunity to thank Briege. It’s not easy being the partner of an activist but Briege is a Republican in her own right and her family before her. So go raibh maith agat a bheanuasal agus do chlann.

‘The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold.’ 

The event for Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was not my only social outing last week. Shane MacGowan published what some have described as his first ever art book. However that label doesn’t do it justice. It is a wild mixture of over 3,000 poems, photographs, sketches, and paintings. It includes self-portraits and handwritten lyrics of almost two dozen songs, including early versions of lyrics for The Pogues. There are even some of his cocktail recipes.

Alcohol Abuse

Out of my brain

And suddenly my world

Was free of pain

Out of my brain

And I didn’t think

I’d feel that good again

But I could

And I would

And I did