A wonderful and educating production of the life and times of Patrick Kavanagh was presented for one night only at the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal last Tuesday evening by the London Irish Theatre Group from Camden.
By youghalonline.com Arts reporter/ Photo: Michael Hussey  Email: news@youghalonline.com

The London Irish Theatre is run by artistic director John Dunne supported by a dedicated team of actors, writers, directors and associates who tour the UK and Ireland presenting plays on  Irish writiers and poets to the great delight of the public.

Kavanagh is a revised version of Tom O’Brien’s On Raglan Road which played in London two years ago before embarking on a six-week tour of Ireland. This new version of the play focuses on the life and times of Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh and his relationships with family, friends and foes, not to mention his more fractious relationship with his work and the women in his life.?

Narrated by Hilda Moriarty with whom he had a longstanding doomed romance,  the two handed play covered Patrick’s life and journey from the fields of his homeland in Monaghan to the streets of Dublin and beyond. not to mention the many other women in his life.

The play was well enjoyed by the public who came from as far as West Waterford and beyond to see this production.  It was a real eye opener to the great man and poet that he was and and an in-depth view into his life.  This play wasn’t at all heavy going as some might suggest, there was laughter, there was song and there was even a standing ovation for the wonderful cast who performed brilliantly.

Questions were asked on the way out as to Whats next ? and plans are already being made to bring back the group again early next year for their next production.

Watch this space for upcoming events at the Mall Arts Centre…..

Click on image to see The London Irish Theatre Group performers on stage at the Mall Arts Centre, Youghal

Raglan Road
On Raglan Road of an autumn day
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I might one day rue
I saw the danger and I passed
Along the enchanted way
And said let grief be a fallen leaf
At the dawning of the day

On Grafton Street in November
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worth of passion’s pledge
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts
And I not making hay
Oh I loved too much and by such by such
Is happiness thrown away

I gave her gifts of the mind
I gave her the secret signs
Known to the artists who have known
The true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint I did not stint
I gave her poems to say
With her own name there
And her own dark hair
Like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should
A creature made of clay
When the angel woos the clay
He’ll lose his wings at the dawn of day