Dear Reader –
This week’s letter brings us from the local all the way to Goran Ivanisevic and Maura O’Connell. But first, news on the first Teenage Theme Night of the new school year.
**All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
It was the first selfie I ever saw being taken. A new phenomenon (to me anyway) in 2014, I watched as Joe Gorman (centre, below) gathered a gang of fellow performers around him and took a photo of them all with his phone. Teenage Theme Night #1 had just ended, and the post-show buzz is evident in the facial expressions below.
More than eight years later, and the 27th in the series of these shows takes place this weekend. Joe is back to perform in one of our graduate slots, as are Mia O’Regan (2021) and Eoin McDermott (2019). But the real stars (sorry guys!) will be the current crop of teenage musicians.
Over 70 of them will take part, so for the first time since before the pandemic we have had to put on three shows to cater for the demand to perform. And already in rehearsals I can see the familiar patterns. The 6th Years whose new status as the leaders in the show has enabled confidence to blossom seemingly overnight. Meeting the new participants - some immediately ready for the stage, others needing a bit more encouragement. And the surprises that will no doubt be revealed over the weekend - those who come alive on stage, those who reveal character you hadn’t seen before, and those who will surprise even themselves. I can’t wait.
Teenage Theme Night #27. The Model. Fri 28th, Sat 29th and Sun 30th Oct 2022. Tickets still available here.
Where else but Sligo?
I wouldn’t have known that Joe was around for this weekend’s show only that I met him in the foyer of the Hawk’s Well last Sunday at a Sligo Live event to mark the launch of his father’s book.
Tommie Gorman needs no introduction to Sligo people (and lots more beyond). He is a kind of hero to many in this part of the world, not just for his distinguished career as a journalist and broadcaster, but for his generosity of spirit and positive influence on countless Sligo people and institutions over the years. There was huge warmth in the room for him on Sunday.
Tommie thanked us for coming at the start of the show and said that he hoped we would take something away with us from the afternoon’s events. And so I did.
We were treated to wonderful new writing by his brother Michael and our neighbour Maura Gilligan. Regular readers of this letter will know of how much I love Michael Rooney’s music, and so I was thrilled when he and his wife June emerged to play a set of tunes.
And then there was the interview itself, conducted by Ocean FM’s Niall Delaney (who was recognised in turn by Tommie for being the great broadcaster that he is). Insightful questions, impeccable pacing and leaving space for his guest’s personality, stories and values. And if I’m honest, these were my favourite parts of the whole day - hearing Tommie speak so eloquently about reconciliation, love of people and love of place.
What’s New?
BREE’S RESIDENCY: Our Monday night residency in Bree’s is up and running as of last night. Thanks to the many letter readers (and others) who came, and I look forward to seeing more of you there over the coming weeks.
RESIDENCY CLARIFICATION: Last week’s letter listed some of my previous musical residencies in Sligo. It was not - I repeat not - a list of current residencies (some of you were kind enough last week to congratulate me on my many gigs) - I’m not sure it would be humanly possible to play all those gigs every week - one takes enough out of me!
SLIGO LIVE: 2019 Teenage Theme Night graduate Paddy Keyes plays as part of Sligo Live this coming weekend. I enjoyed the below positioning of his gig in the event programme. It reminds me of a July 2001 edition of the Sunday Times, where at the top of the sport section the two lead pictures were of Goran Ivanisevic (in white, about to win Wimbledon the following day) and my good friend and former teammate John McPartland (in black, after we had beaten Kildare in Croke Park the previous day). Best of luck Paddy!
Finally…
Not only did Joe Gorman introduce me to selfies, but also to this beautiful Thom Moore song. He performed it with Nell Kelly at a Teenage Theme Night once upon a time, and it’s sung here by the great Maura O’Connell.
Till next time - Kieran.
