Soaring Spirits

I am very privileged to have seen my two favourite music acts perform in Dublin within a fortnight. In age, they are separated by nearly half a century. One is an icon for a whole generation. The other is just tapping on the door of wider recognition.

Leonard Cohen exceeded all expectations. The once tortured poet whose droning voice produced an endless eddying flow of spiritual images has once again transformed himself. Instead of the dull throbbing of his early music, he now intertwines his words with beautiful instrumental solos and uplifting backing singers.

The inspiration for his tour was his discovery, on ending a retreat into Buddhism, that his fortune had been pilfered. However, his misfortune has been a great reward for the hundreds of thousands who have flocked to see him all over the world. In his 74th year, he is older and wiser. He exudes a spiritual contentment, meticulously respectful of audience and players. His deep warm tones brought believers and sceptics alike to their feet. At the end of each encore, he skipped across the stage defying his age, as ever “just paying his rent in the Tower of song.

Brandy Carlile was a different story. Seattle, the home of take-out coffee and Microsoft had in my humble opinion another wildfire success on their hands. Her music owes more to her parents who hail from the South. She describes it as having its roots in Bluegrass and Appalachian music which she generously grants as, in turn having its roots in the Irish musical tradition.

Despite having been played as a track on ‘Greys Anatomy’ and more than one appearance on Jools Holland, the crowd in Dublin was small for this special talent. Her love of her craft shone through. Her voice can soar and effortlessly change direction in mid-flight. It left her audience spellbound. When she finally makes her breakthrough, those at this gig in The Academy will feel like the pioneers in the GPO boasting of our early role in the Birth of something great.

A Sad Week

A sad week for Fine Gael as two former colleagues, Joe Doyle and Nuala Fennell, passed away. Their public image was so different, yet more united them than ever divided them. Joe Doyle never strayed far from his beloved Donnybrook Church where he was Sacristan for 29 years before entering politics. Nuala Fennell entered politics through the Women’s Movement, battling against traditional forces of conservatism, not least in the Church. What united them was their respect for people and their concern for struggles of ordinary lives. Through the heady days of Garret’s Constitutional Crusade, they argued from different perspectives but maintained a common sense of purpose as the necessary changes were painstakingly put together and implemented.

Nuala, the first Minister for Women’s Affairs, faced many frustrations as she pursued an agenda of reform. Yet she remained steadfast and good humoured. Joe, the quiet man, a still water that ran deep, too was frustrated in his lifelong ambition to become Lord Mayor of Dublin. When the opportunity seemed to be entirely gone, suddenly like serendipity, a multi-winged coalition appeared to make Joe Lord Mayor in 1998. Joe would allow himself a mischievous smile as he defied the odds and the preconceptions of the Party hierarchy.

Those of us who knew them will miss these two decent and sincere people, inspired by strong values who truly helped shape the modern Ireland.