Did you know the latest episode of Patricia Killeen’s Turning Points was born because of a World Radio Paris episode?
Following the death of Shane MacGowan (1957-2023), Pogues frontman and renowned lyricist, Robert Quinn dedicated an episode of ‘Left of the Dial’ to the singer. This caught the attention Marcolino da Costa, sparking a special event at O’Sullivan’s Franklin D. Roosevelt pub, Paris, where the Cercle Littéraire Irlandais (CLI) gathered to pay homage to the artist.
Marcolino was invited as the keynote speaker and vocalist at the CLI event, as the man behind the popular Facebook page ‘Shane MacGowan is a Fantastic Poet’, created in 2008. His presentation highlighted Shane’s impact on folk music and his voice for emigrants, with readings and songs woven together under the theme ‘Looking for Shane’.
Other performances included Paris-based singer Niall Regan, who opened the event alongside flautist Susan McCarthy with a poignant rendition of ‘Fairytale of New York’. This was followed by Stéphanie Nic Cárthaigh’s performance of ‘Kitty’, and readings from Dr Virginie Roche-Tiengo and artist Alma Fakhr. Novelist Maria D’Arcy concluded the tribute with her epitaph, ‘Shane McGowan Sails on to Heaven’s Shore’.
This recording includes excerpts from the final rehearsal at O’Sullivan’s pub before the audience arrived.
Listen to TURNING POINTS here.
Photo credits: Seamas McSwiney