FLYNN musical
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Joe O’Connor, bookwriter and composer of a new musical called FLYNN. This is a work that adapts and draws on certain characters from the novel 'Tarry Flynn' by the late, great Irish poet, Patrick Kavanagh, and incorporates lines and themes from some of his most popular poems, and, several of his poems that I have arranged to song.
The show is very much a tribute to Kavanagh, but it is written in the format of a book driven musical and one need not be aware of his works to enjoy the story, the fine dialogue, music and dance, and the eclectic mix of original songs / poems in song ( check 'Mothers Anthem', which begins at 1 min 30 secs into the video above).
THE GOAL / YOUR SUPPORT:
The 30th of November 2017 is the 50th anniversary of Patrick Kavanagh’s passing and FLYNN is officially down to premiere at the Abbey’s ‘Peacock Theatre’ in Dublin, Ireland, on the 24th & 25th of November 2017, and, on the 30th at the Patrick Kavanagh Resource Centre in Inniskeen (Kavanagh’s home town).
As it stands, we have the great support of the Abbey theatre, but, being a musical, the production costs are many and the essentials list is long; and we've only a small time frame in which to make up the minimum target we've set just to ensure that the show goes on.
We really do need your financial help and any donation, however big or small, will be truly and most gratefully appreciated, and each one will bring us that step closer to staging a fitting celebration for the 50th anniversary of one of Ireland’s finest ever poets in the national theatre and in his home town of Inniskeen...and, hopefully, along the way some new folk will be introduced to and benefit from the wonderful poetry that has given so much joy to me over the years.
Thank you.
Go raibh maith agat.
Joe O'Connor
Please check out, Mothers Anthem, a song from the musical
On Raglan Road: the poem
For the benefit of anyone who may not be aware of Patrick Kavanagh and how his spirit has truly touched the world, I have added below one of his most famous and best loved poems called 'On Raglan Road', a poem that he set to the music of an old traditional, 'The Dawning of the Day' (Fáinne Geal an Lae) and it has been recorded by a host of great artists including Luke Kelly / The Dubliners; Van Morrison w/ The Chieftains; Ed Sheeran; Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits); Sinead O'Connor; Roger Daltry (The Who); Loreena McKennitt and so many more....all these great versions of the poem are available on youtube...here's the links to my favourite ever renditions, the inimitable Luke Kelly, and inimitable Van Morrison w/ The Chieftains live on BBC tv...
https://youtu.be/gYJO5fJgNSQ
https://youtu.be/cLCYH36ahpE
On Raglan Road
On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I 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 the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay -
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. I did not stint for 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 wooed not as I should a creature made of clay When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.
The show is very much a tribute to Kavanagh, but it is written in the format of a book driven musical and one need not be aware of his works to enjoy the story, the fine dialogue, music and dance, and the eclectic mix of original songs / poems in song ( check 'Mothers Anthem', which begins at 1 min 30 secs into the video above).
THE GOAL / YOUR SUPPORT:
The 30th of November 2017 is the 50th anniversary of Patrick Kavanagh’s passing and FLYNN is officially down to premiere at the Abbey’s ‘Peacock Theatre’ in Dublin, Ireland, on the 24th & 25th of November 2017, and, on the 30th at the Patrick Kavanagh Resource Centre in Inniskeen (Kavanagh’s home town).
As it stands, we have the great support of the Abbey theatre, but, being a musical, the production costs are many and the essentials list is long; and we've only a small time frame in which to make up the minimum target we've set just to ensure that the show goes on.
We really do need your financial help and any donation, however big or small, will be truly and most gratefully appreciated, and each one will bring us that step closer to staging a fitting celebration for the 50th anniversary of one of Ireland’s finest ever poets in the national theatre and in his home town of Inniskeen...and, hopefully, along the way some new folk will be introduced to and benefit from the wonderful poetry that has given so much joy to me over the years.
Thank you.
Go raibh maith agat.
Joe O'Connor
Please check out, Mothers Anthem, a song from the musical
On Raglan Road: the poem
For the benefit of anyone who may not be aware of Patrick Kavanagh and how his spirit has truly touched the world, I have added below one of his most famous and best loved poems called 'On Raglan Road', a poem that he set to the music of an old traditional, 'The Dawning of the Day' (Fáinne Geal an Lae) and it has been recorded by a host of great artists including Luke Kelly / The Dubliners; Van Morrison w/ The Chieftains; Ed Sheeran; Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits); Sinead O'Connor; Roger Daltry (The Who); Loreena McKennitt and so many more....all these great versions of the poem are available on youtube...here's the links to my favourite ever renditions, the inimitable Luke Kelly, and inimitable Van Morrison w/ The Chieftains live on BBC tv...
https://youtu.be/gYJO5fJgNSQ
https://youtu.be/cLCYH36ahpE
On Raglan Road
On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,
And I 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 the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay -
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.
I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. I did not stint for 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 wooed not as I should a creature made of clay When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.
Organizer
Joseph Anthony O'Connor
Organizer
Montréal, QC
