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IN MAY THIS year, Ireland’s favourite folk song was revealed to be On Raglan Road, made famous by Luke Kelly’s unforgettable rendition.
The song is based on a poem by Patrick Kavanagh, but as with many of the Monaghan writer’s works, he had a tune in mind when composing it – a traditional melody called The Dawning of the Day.
The link between these two was mentioned to Luke Kelly one evening in The Bailey, when Kavanagh gave him permission to perform it.
Cultural resonance
But what is it that makes this song resonate with so many people?
Our image of Kavanagh as the older, bespectacled man is shaped by the RTÉ interviews he gave in the sixties and the statue of him by the Grand Canal.
But in 1936, when the Irish Press announced the publication of his first collection, they described a tall, tanned, dark-haired Ulsterman, still in his twenties (an incorrect detail, possibly of Kavanagh’s own concoction) and well-built from farm work.
The story of the impoverished farm worker with the soul of a writer who walked all the way from Inishkeen to Dublin with his manuscript under his oxter, hell-bent on getting published, resonated widely and established his reputation as an uncompromising man.
Kavanagh in a rut
Despite a flourish of attention upon his arrival on the scene and getting internationally published very quickly, by the early 1940s Kavanagh found himself in a rut.
He was excluded from a major collection of contemporary Irish poetry for his work being “no more Irish than Louis MacNeice or Cecil Day-Lewis”.
He was sued for libel by Oliver St John Gogarty on account of a passage in The Green Fool.
And he was getting better known for his cruelly witty film reviews than for his poetry.
“I saw her first and knew…”
It was around this time that he saw Hilda Moriarty, a medical student from An Daingean.
She was a lover of poetry with a creative streak and had wanted to study literature in college, but her father, a G.P., would not hear of it.
The elder Dr. Moriarty was a serious man with a deep sense of duty, held in the highest regard by his Gaeltacht patients; stories of him risking treacherous waters to attend to sick children on the Blasket were remembered by a community all too used to neglect.
He told his daughter that her intelligence gave her a duty to study something useful to the community, and that he wanted to leave her something more lasting than money.
Moriarty obediently enrolled in UCD but couldn’t abandon her creative urges completely.
She went to auditions, getting called for a screen test in Hollywood but losing out to someone called Maureen O’Hara. She read widely.
And she became the 1940s equivalent to what we now call an influencer, with boutiques around Dublin sending her dresses and jewellery in the expectation that her photograph in the papers would boost their sales.
Meeting to talk about art
So when an established poet and film critic like Kavanagh was interested in meeting her to talk about books and art, she was only delighted.
They met regularly for the chats, with Kavanagh inviting criticism and suggestions from her on his unfinished work.
When he vented to her about his frustrations with publishing, she suggested he consider writing about something other than farms and muck sometime.
That’s when he told her he’d write a poem about her sometime.
Like most polite people, Moriarty mentioned that Kavanagh visit her if he was ever passing through her home town.
Unlike most people, Kavanagh actually took this invitation at face value and turned up in An Daingean one evening.
Unsurprisingly, her father was unimpressed by the impecunious, hard-drinking, confrontational poet and sent him on his way.
Parental disapproval
This parental intervention wasn’t completely contrary to the daughter’s wishes: Hilda Moriarty was very fond of Kavanagh, but just not in that way.
Besides, she had recently attended a Munster rugby game where she caught the eye of one of the star players, who wrote her an eight-page letter in green ink telling her how much he liked her, what a great guy he was, and why they should definitely go out.
His name was Donogh O’Malley. They were married in 1947.
Kavanagh lost out to O’Malley
The final insult for Kavanagh was that O’Malley wasn’t threatened by him in the slightest and thought that it was gas that his wife knew a famous poet.
He even invited Kavanagh out to dinner with them while the heartbroken poet seethed with rage (but not so much rage that he’d turn out some free drinks).
In their conversations, O’Malley was impressed by Kavanagh’s intelligence and moved to think of how unfair it was that children born in the North would have access to free secondary school education but, mere miles across the border, children with his gifts would not.
Years later, in 1967, Donogh O’Malley was the Minister who introduced free secondary school education in the Republic.
He and Kavanagh both died that year.
Widowed with two children, Hilda returned to medicine, specialising in psychiatry where her fascination with the mind dovetailed with her vocation.
Irish poetry is a story often told from the perspective of the unrequited lover, but rarely from one who goes in to the affair knowing it is doomed (“let grief be a fallen leaf”) and leaves with no ill will (“my reason must allow that I…”) for the other.
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Earth Shattering results, 81% say grab your coat Alan.
And by what he is saying he won’t walk himself, he’s trying to wriggle his way out of this one.
Sadly, you are being proven correct.
It,s all fun and games now, but wait until the shat hits the fan later
Hit the fan ?
It will probably knock it over !!
Manuel Shatter: I know nothing.
Could the cabinet meeting not have been held at 6 in the morning in order to have A G there to brief them on such a serious issue ?
Christ if Kenny had said. Yes I told Callinan that he had to cop on or leave and that the latest controversy made him hopping mad and he was disgusted etc etc.
He wouldn’t be on the back foot here. He has no idea how to play this.
Why was yellow belly Kenny not on prime Time or the news ? He is the leader after all (my arse)
john g mcgrath
Clearly it was not serious enough issue to have her attend the cabinet meeting. Says all that needs to be said. So much for an oath to uphold the constitution!
In this country we have lawyers and liers both betray the very citizen in the area of truth, for the truth is not a part of the justice arrangement in this country . Rotten to the core is this arrangement
FG lying about Wind Turbines scrapped too. Green Wichita still calling to local farmers in Meath, offering componsation. They admitting themselves . It’s just on hold for 3 months ? To shut up protesters and try so get a few votes. FF were bad but FG worse. big publicity stunt to get voters onside before elections.
So there is the tinniest possibility that the pervious Government knew about the recordings as well, WOW! Well I never!!!!
There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that.
Dermot Ahern has not mentioned anything about this to date and Micheal Martin would surely have asked him for a briefing on that.
Brian Lenihan has passed away so who knows, there was enough on his plate without investigating to see if such a serious thing was happening.
This story broke first in 2006 in the Morris Tribunal but there was no reason to believe the Guard who mentioned it at the time, don’t think there was any back up so McDowell had no reason to act.
We’ll see all the FG and Labour hacks trying to spread the blame on this one. It is their mess and they can deal with it.
Seanie was Aherne and Martin’s hero, C J Haughey not Taoiseach when the phones were originally tapped back in the early eighties? He has form in these type of matters.
The 80′s was a different time. The subversive threat made the Guards jumpy, in the challenging of that threat to all of us. Sean Doherty made a big mistake and once it was brought up that some people were bugged he resigned from the party and took responsibility for his mistakes.
Seanie if only you had an actual clue. I’m afraid your one of those mouthy ogra FF types. As brainwashed as can be. Love having giggles at your moral outrage.
Did you ever tell us how you got your scars?
Dermot Lane
I recall Dep Commissioner Ainsworth resigned when he gave a tape recorder to McSherry to tape a fellow minister Professor O’Donoghue. Even then…
Seanie you sound like a stupid Shinner when you bring up this nonsense about the past is the past. You only talk about periods that you think suits your point. The past and present are periods that are embarrassing to FF and SF. Both have a lot to be utterly ashamed about.
Pickart,
Every time I see the word “shinmer”, I think of FG trolls. Are you unhappy that the people vote for Sinn Féin, amongst others?
Pickart,
Every time I see the word “shinner”, I think of FG trolls. Are you unhappy that the people vote for Sinn Féin, amongst others?
Apart from a couple of months in 1982 Good old Garrett Fitzgerald was in charge all the way from 81 to 87.. Hardly enough time to get his shit together to organise recording of Garda conversations.. If it was Dail phones I would say yes it was him..
Jumpy ?????……you clown.
You Soldier of destiny troll you…
Oh ..Identify yourself …you Soldier of destiny troll…
“No smugness,” they said.
If he doesn’t?
“Then he’s gone,” they added.
I really hope they mean it , he sud really of gone after leaking Mick Wallaces private info on RTE …Since then he has been tied to the commissioner.
1. Of a numbers of things needs to happen
Shatter resign
Kenny(when he finds his own Spine) sack him
Or LAbour grow a pair and pull out of this Gov ( Fg are a scandal and corrupt ridden party , they’d fitted in well in Colombia during the 80′s).
Although labour, YOUR SILENCE IS CONSENT.
warning…whitewash in progress
As the Minister said to the Commissioner…
Ireland=ballygobackwards
That is the intellect of Our Government “we are were we are”
Shatter/ Callinan and all are ultimately just scapegoats. Real problem is the civil servants in Department of Justice. Nobody is focussing on them and that needs to be done.
Couldn’t agree more, they are of course the common denominator of successive governments. They run the country really, politicians just TRY to set the policy.
Ahippo
No the minister is the responsible state office holder. He is fully accountable. He has lied and has been found out.
Our Attorney-General like so many has let the citizens down again. Just look at who have been AGs’.
Justice officials are frightened of Shatter and any politician with power. They are not nice people.
Why is it called Garda Gate? Water gate happened many moons ago!! So when something of public interest comes up journalist put a “Gate” on the end of it to sound important. ie nurse gate or doctor gate.
Ireland are gate lovers. Have you a problem with that mister???
You’ll start gate gate if yer not careful
Shattergate, Endagate, Fine Gaelgate, Spoofgate, And back to workgate.
Just saying why put a gate on the end of everything. That’s an American term that was used at the water gate scandal. But I I’m not going to get hung about it.
Lou cos it sells papers makes a story sexy and attracts attention. Its a term used to talk about government scandals.
But it does annoy me too.
#annoyedgate
Louise- where does Gateway for here?
What an absolute farce politics in Ireland boil down to. It’s ridiculous
This is policing, not politics.
What a moronic comment ….. its the politics of justice that have led to all these scandals. Do we really need to start explaining the basics to people? I fear that you my friend are the type of person that feels neither shatter nor Callinan should be sacked over the on going scandals ?
No Jonathan,
To think that politics is the issue here, it completely overlooks the issue that the police force here is a politicised institution. An Garda Siochana have serious corruption issues and to blame it on politicians on this occasion is moronic.
Our politicians now have the opportunity to provide us with legislation and regulations that will provide for a competent police force. The political face of this scandal is a mere sideshow. The fact that FG/Lab failed is obvious, and the people will show their appreciation in due course.
But the issue is policing, not politics.
Oh and Jonathan,
Turn down the vitriol. It’s not wise to lash out at people with whom you might later agree.
I blamed politics not politicians your confused….. The politics within garda are the start of there troubles. The office politics of the garda body itself is what I referred to.
Paul – this issue is politics as well as policing when you have elected representatives covering up wrongdoing to save themselves, their party and their “friends”
It’s also politics within garda … The statement ”2 garda out of 13000” spelt it out. Only 2 garda were willing to stand up and say how off things are. And what support did they receive? The country owes them !
So it’s a policing issue then?
This is about policing AND politics, the interface between policing and politics and how each undermines the other.
We need a non political independent police or Garda authority and this should have been introduced many years ago.
We reap what we sow.
Disgusting is what senior Garda management is and even more disgusting are the senior Ministers.
Oh oh…You made look a fool there Paul Roche…too many Red thumbs down..you out of the game my friend…..never mind …you are officially my nominee for “My Journal Arsehole of the week”…and I will fight for your election to that post…and if you don’t win that… I will fight for you in the “Le Journal Ballon d’Or” Tosspot of the week”… a much more coveted award…and believe me that would be some achievement…but you are well worthy of it and have my vote…..oh and well done…..you have my fulsome support in everything you do…
I have no problem when people disagree, John Monahan, and I thank you for the efforts you are making to enhance my public profile. That shirt you are wearing is blue, is it not?
@Michael o Keefe, well said we are where we are sums up the intellectual capacity or these f@ckwits
Shatter epitomises the very culture that has destroyed the politics. Bully boy, egotistical and untouchable politicians that are so out of touch with the people (that have elected them) of this country.
Ireland has gone through the worst 5 years in its history, many of our citizens are in Canada, USA or Australia in search of opportunities/work. Those who are still here are paying for the bank guarantee and struggling to pay bills or feed their families.
The reality is that shatter is so arrogant and out of touch that he doesn’t care about the Irish people.
Politicians should care, that’s why they are elected and they should not forget that.
Enda Kenny should’ve sacked him weeks ago but that’s our fearless leader!
Yeah lets punish him by giving him an early retirement from the dail with all the benefits and a pension. That’ll show him!
Wow …. Callinan pushed he did not walk….M Martin
How many people have lost their job over this entire debacle and yet Shatter steadfastly refuses to step down
1) Garda Whitleblower … John Wilson (Forced to retire due to the bullying he got for raising the issue).
2) Sgt McCabe, still in his job, but told he will never get a promotion
3) Callinan … Took early retirement rather than doing the honorable thing and acknowledging his wrong-doing
4) Indo journalist Gemma O’Doherty sacked for raising the corruption issue to Callinan
5) Attorney General Maire Whelans job is currently on the line due to Shatters inability to read reports sent by her to his office
6) Oliver Connolly sacked for telling the truth about Shatters personal vindictiveness to the Garda whistleblowers
How many people can Shatter take down and scape-goat before he acknowledges either his total incompetence or his total corruption to the Irish people.
He apologized to the Dail for mis-leading them, but he never actually apologized to any of his victims or the whistle-blowers. He said he ‘should apologize’ if there was offense taken, but no actual apology came out from his weasel mouth to them.
Working in the Dept. of Justice must be a bit like working in a Bond villains HQ these days. One never knows when they will become surplus to requirements.
I just hope everybody remember how FG tried to bully it way through this and how labour went to ground
when it come to the local elections WIPE THEM OUT
Oh Pinocchio stop now when you have some chance!
it’s all bullshit!! question everything!!
What you mean by that ) :-) ?
Probably just not on the phone…
Government depts monitor tweets on social sites but Justice does not collect electronic reports from public bodies.
Staff are employed in Justice to gather such report sand they are looked at lest something adverse is made against Justice or any other body.
Pull the other one Shattered & Co.
Shatter had to be more or less dragged kicking and screaming to this point. His apology is too little too late, he still needs to go but this is Ireland and that wont happen. Politicians don’t do resignation in Ireland with the exception of Nulty this week, i could count on one finger the amount who have fallen on their sword.
He should resign. This apology is too little too late!!
I’d love a Journal Mug !
Some day….maybe :)
A forced apology means nothing. It certainly doesn’t change the fact that the administration of justice in Ireland is seriously suffering with Mr Shatter at its head.
Did the Commissioner not record the phone calls from the Minister and vice versa?
Incidentally, and on a serious note, it would be very naive to think that An Garda Siochana surveillance of the non criminal citizenry was and is confined to recording phone calls in and out of Garda stations
Even Garda Sergeants can tell you non criminal related “intelligence” which would astound you.
Keep a healthy distance from An Garda Siochana, tell them little, volunteer nothing and just respect the law.
My late uncle said to me, give An Garda Siochana and the Clergy a wide berth. Treat them with civility but keep your counsel and information to yourself.
Shatter and that whole government need to go!!! Off with their heads!!!
“the North side of Dublin is in many ways a state of mind” WTF is that fat idiot talking about. I am originally from Blackrock but moved many years ago to “de Nortside”. There is nothing wrong with it, apart from decades of infrastructural neglect. What is he suggesting?
All I will say is corrupt corrupt corrupt … The whistle blowers should become Garda commissioners at least we all know they can be trusted well done
Shame on you shatter be gone
Sound to me now like although practice of taping was to have stopped in November that it was somehow perhaps continued in some locations and that Callinan was aware of it. Why else would Enda take the action he did? Obviously AG thought it serious enough to go straight to him and bypass Shatter in case he also knew. Innocent until proven guilty perhaps but they keep referencing a high profile case (anglo perhaps). Any thoughts on this logic ?
Could be the case involving the two garda who were jailed for assault I know one guard called Waterford garda station at the time of the assault that call must have being recorded
The lies, evasiveness and denials continue – even in the midst of this scandal, Shatter and Kenny are still relying on the tactics of misdirection and hollow public blather to deny the fact that they are personally waist-deep in many more such scandals – and are desperately hoping that the public can still be fooled into believing otherwise. Please see short video “Disgusting, Commissioner Callinan?” at http://www.integrityireland.ie
How sad would your life be if you read this Article from start to finish!
What about an Garda Siochana wrongful seizure of the two Roma children, the Results of the Morris and Barron Tribunals and the appalling illegality and stitching up of innocent people not just in Donegal?
Look at the Ian Bailey situation.
Look at the pursuit of Clare Daly and others.
All I will say is corrupt corrupt corrupt … The whistle blowers should become Garda commissioners at least we all know they can be trusted well done
Shame on you shatter !!!!!!
As Micheál Martin pointed out on both Newstalk and Morning Ireland, TheJournal.ie reported on GSOC’s 2013 report which criticised a Waterford station’s practice of recording all incoming and outgoing calls.
The Ombudsman, at the time, noted that it was in breach of statutes governing such procedures.
” On consideration of the ruling of the court the Garda Commissioner may wish to re-evaluate his practice regarding the recording of such calls and the consents required if it is to be permissible to use such recordings in evidence,” it said.
With regard to above comment from GSOC, does anyone note that this prosecution was actually taken by GSOC, and it was GSOC that argued, during the case, for the inclusion of the recordings of phone calls to the Garda Station in question to be admitted and used against the defendants. It was the Judge that ruled them inadmissible. Why did GSOC use the illegal recordings in their prosecution? And now in one leap are onto the moral high ground?
Because they warned about the legality of the practice at the time, and the issue was picked up in discovery by the Ian Bailey legal team. The recordings may be illegal, but they exist. Possession of same may be construed as knowledge of their contents.
Is it not illegal to punish whistleblowers? Has Shatter not therefore broken the law by both punishing them through vilifying them in the Dail and also allowing others to punish them through restricting their careers and hindering their ability to do their jobs? Time he did the “honourable” thing and retired.
When he was running for election years ago, we use to get a tennis ball with his name on it. His slogan was Shatter on the ball. It seems to me he’s dropped the ball big time in this case. I’m sure he would say mass if he thought it might save his job.(Time to say goodbye Alan)
The case that we dare not speak the name should be considered. We the taxpayer are funding a defence of something indefensible. Should we?
Of course it is too little too late. While he was off swanning around at our expense the whistleblowers were still tagged as ‘disgusting’ Hard for families.
Confused why there’s an issue, if you knew a garda , he could help with your penalty points, phones calls were recorded, Companies everywhere do this for ‘training purposes’ of course the opposition is demanding he resign, they are the ‘opposition’. A lot of it seem blown completely out of proportion. As for ‘whistleblowers’ , they seem to be more like attention seekers.
Troll or idiot
Both
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