Can you discuss your latest book, called ‘Father, Son and Brother Ghost’?
This book is an introspective look at the passing of my beloved brother, touching upon our closely bonded relationship, and lays out my occasionally tumultuous connections with my parents. It also introspects the heart-wrenching deaths of three siblings that were stillborn, contemplating their lasting impact over time.
The book encapsulates substantial grief and heartbreak, but also contains elements of humour and lightness.
Ideally so – without shadow, we fail to appreciate the light.
Have you penned a memoir before?
Yes, I had penned ‘Things You Should Know’, which was a narration around a 40-year-old man’s life experiences. Now, at the age of 71, I understandably have a sharper vision of life.
You were bestowed with the Jacob’s Award for your radio documentary series on Leonard Cohen titled ‘How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns’. You also published a memoir last year titled ‘Absent Friend’ about your three-decade-long friendship. Could you share your association with him?
We had what can be described as a brotherly bond – which Leonard coined as comradeship. His generosity and concern left me greatly humbled.
Michael McGrath once stated, ‘Nothing is truly as it appears. We’ve been blessed with seven children, but we encountered loss along the journey’
What were some memorable moments from your two-decade-long career as an RTÉ radio producer?
Working at RTÉ was truly memorable, surrounded by highly imaginative individuals – even today, the place retains its vibrancy. A brief series,’ Secret Gardens of the Heart’ stands out in particular. Collaborating with the inspiring Jo Walsh, who was tragically nearing the end of her life, for the three programmes of the series was a privileged experience.
You’ve also chronicled the lives of Ernest Shackleton, John Clare and Joseph, Jesus’s father, in your works. What sparks your interest in others’ lives? Any specific reason for choosing these three individuals?
Shackleton’s birthplace is in close proximity to my own, sparking a kind of kinship. I’ve always held a fascination for John Clare, both his life and literary contributions. A sense of profound empathy is stirred within me for the New Testament character, Joseph, whose standout yet subdued role in the biblical narrative of Jesus resonates with me as a stepfather.
I have experimented with different writing formats, ranging from full-fledged novels and brief stories, to plays and verse. I perceive novels as akin to full-length movies whereas short stories are comparable to snapshots, and poetry, a quest to capture memory.
In 2020, I manifested over 80 of my miscellaneous essays for the RTÉ Sunday Miscellany series into a compilation named ‘I Knew This Place’, which includes an audiobook rendition. Participating in Sunday Miscellity, with its opportunity to broadcast writings to the public, has been incredibly gratifying for me, considering the secluded nature of writing. One essay that I hold particularly dear recounts a fourteen-year-old boy from our village who absconded to engage with a carnival – a narrative we idolized as children, entitled ‘Billy-o’.
The Kildare landscape has incessantly coloured my writings and it remains deeply ingrained in me as my home, despite my physical presence elsewhere. In particular, the locale of Castledermot and its surrounding areas.
New Island released my ‘We Seldom Talk About the Past: Selected Short Stories’ compilation in 2021. I noticed a considerable evolution in my storytelling since my initial collection in 1992, with a discernible expansion in scope and context. However, my writing instinctively gravitates towards home ground.
Currently, I am absorbed in two projects. The first involves directing a drama titled ‘The Girls in the Boat’, penned by my wife, Angela Keogh, which delves into a group women and their rowing shared pastime. The second entails a novel inspired by the harsh Kildare winters of 1963 and 2010.
I have embarked on a literary pilgrimage before – specifically to the resting place of John Clare.
The most invaluable piece of advice I’ve garnered about writing is…
The wisdom “I write to discover what I didn’t realise I knew” was shared with me by my friend Richard Ball, originally spoken by Robert Frost. This piece of advice beautifully encapsulates the potentially enlightening process of writing.
When asked who I respect most, my answer is people who persist and persevere despite life’s obstacles. However, if I were to be given absolute power for a day, I would not want it. I’d much rather keep my distance from such authority.
As for my entertainment recommendations, I admit I don’t consume many podcasts. The movie That They May Face the Rising Sun, an ode to memory and nature, greatly appealed to me and I’ve watched it thrice. From the literary sphere, my recommendation would be a classic published in 1973: The Worm Forgives the Plough by John Stewart Collis.
There are daily instances of terror and horror happening in places like Gaza and Sudan, and it deeply affects me. Among all the places I’ve travelled to, Hydra, an island, has left an indelible impression on me.
The chair gifted to me by my spouse is my most prized possession. Describing the most beautiful book I own, a well-read copy of Raymond Carver’s All of Us comes to mind, not because of its exterior, but due to the beauty within its poetry.
A fascinating dinner party would include notable writers such as Paul Durcan; Michael Gorman; HE Bates; Raymond Carver; Naomi Shihab Nye; Stan Barstow; Sylvie Simmons; and Leonard Cohen.
The quote that has touched me deeply is by Leonard Cohen, “Come, my friends, be not afraid, we are so lightly here; it is in love that we are made, in love we disappear”. And one book that never fails to bring me to tears is A Month in the Country by JL Carr.
Father, Son and Brother Ghost has been released by the Harvest Press.