About

This is a short story I wrote and recorded about…God, I’d say it must be about 5 years ago now. Gave it a re-listen and I reckon it still holds up. So I thought I’d drop it on the old pod. It’s about me meeting a 17th-century, Irish king at the top of a hill. We chat about home, football and emigration before he flies off on a large, wooden goose. ლ(ಠ_ಠლ) References Looking back over it, I realised the episode is reference-heavy, so I’ve included a list of explainer footnotes for you to browse. James Wood’s (singular, not the alt-right actor) wonderful, deep essay and talk On Not Going Home. Can’t say I got all the literary references but it has many, many excellent analogies to mull over. That simile between the unresolved musical cadence and a non-returning emigrant is just perfect. Rudhraigh Ó’Domhnail was the last King of Tír Chonaill (now mostly Donegal) and fled along with the Earl of Tyrone when the British set out to arrest them. Rudhraigh did indeed take off from Swilly, stopping in Flanders along the way and saw out his days in Rome. He’s now buried in the church of San Pietro Montorio. McKenna’s Guest House was a real place and the lady who runs is indeed very sound. She’s called Hedda and this whole story was inspired by visiting her down in Manorhamilton, Leitrim and taking a stroll up to O’Donnell’s Rock, which is just outside the town. The goose is a nod to the Flight of the Wild Geese. The Aye We Can t-shirt was one proudly wore for the 2012 All-Ireland football final. “When this big ole goose gets up into the skies…” - this is adapted from a line in Brian Friel’s, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, which is probably one of my favourite things in any form. It’s about (yet another) O’Donnell emigrating from Donegal. The repeated fist-passing in the football commentary comes from Donegal’s somewhat turgid (but highly successful) style of play during the McGuinness era. “Sam’s For the Hills!” – a common refrain among Donegal supporters. “We’re in our first All-Ireland…” – from the chorus of Margo’s “Walking Tall in Donegal”. This song is burned in my brain ever since the run-up to the 1992 All-Ireland final. “’Tight’ is it? Aw, wild tight I bet. Wild tight and…” – this is just a string of Donegal-isms. Pronunciation of “á” still a source of much controversy down here in the lower-25 counties. “Due bicchieri…” – it was a lot of fun to try and speak Italian in a heavy Donegal accent. St. Bridget’s cross is sort of a reference to the cross in the O’Donnell crest. “In this sign you’ll conquer” – English translation of the O’Donnell motto “In hoc signo vinces”. Tír Chonaill Abú!