RTE news : Death announced of writer and poet Michael Coady
Coady was many things but in the context of this forum he was a close friend of the Russells of Doonagore, Doolin and the author of the wonderful 1996 memoir of Packie and Micho Russell, The Well of Spring Water.
Some years ago I was at a talk he gave about his time with the Russells, warm, loving memories without sugarcoating. Unfortunately I can't immediately access the snaps I took on the occasion of him speaking, with a projection of a Packie in the background looking over his shoulder. I can say I was chuffed I got those at the time.
I always thought it a bit of a shame he didn't amend his book with a piece on Gussie, completing the trilogy of essays on the Russell brothers. But perhaps that wasn't on the cards.
Though there are torturers in the world
There are also musicians;
Though at this moment
Men are screaming in prisons,
There are jazzmen raising storms
Of sensuous celebration
And orchestras releasing
Glories of the spirit.
Though the image of God
Is everywhere defiled
A man in west Clare
Is playing the concertina,
The Sistine Choir is levitating
Under the dome of St. Peter's
And a drunk man
On the road
Is singing
For no reason.
Michael Coady
from Two for a woman, Three for a man: Michael Coady , Gallery Press. 1990 ©
