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THE LYRIC FEATURE – When the war is over

WK43 LYRIC FEATURE Francis Ledwidge Image Name: WK43 LYRIC FEATURE Francis Ledwidge Description: WK43 LYRIC FEATURE Francis Ledwidge

When the war is over marks the centenary of the death of the poet Francis Ledwidge, on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres on 31 July 1917, just weeks before his 30th birthday. He has left a rich legacy of nature poetry, love poetry and war poetry, and a sense of the loss of so much more that he might have achieved, had he not died in the horror of World War I. This programme tells the story of his life and his poetry, illustrated with readings of his work by actor Bryn Coldrick. We also hear musical settings of Ledwidge’s work, which continues to inspire composers right up to the present day.

Contributors include Rosemary Yore, Chair of the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee, Liam O’Meara, co-founder of the Inchicore Ledwidge Society and author of a biography and play on Francis Ledwidge, Piet Chielens, Director of the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, Belgium, and poet Gerald Dawe.

Produced by Claire Cunningham.

Sound supervision by Tinpot Productions.

A Rockfinch production for RTÉ lyric fm funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.

(First broadcast June 23rd 2017)

RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 22nd October, 6pm-7pm