Last year during Murphy’s 90th birthday, producer Julien Clancy took a journey to the West Coast of Ireland and the islands that inspired and influenced the poets work. The programme was broadcast on New Years Eve last.
This is His Chosen Islands – Richard Murphy in the West.
When Richard Murphy first stepped onboard a pookaun from the quay at Rosroe in 1952, he had no idea where the traditional fishing boat would bring him. A storm was coming that would steer Richard to an Island off the West Coast of Ireland. It was here in Inishbofin that the poet found friends that would mentor him and discovered a sailing life that would inspire him for more than 20 years. Julien Clancy takes us on a voyage of discovery to the West where we visit Inishbofin, Cleggan & High Island to explore the impact these places had on one of Ireland’s greatest poets who celebrated his 90th birthday in August. We hear from Richard’s daughter Emily, Islander John Concannon whose father taught Richard how to sail and poet Gerald Dawe. The programme also features archive recordings of interviews and readings from some of his most celebrated work including, Sailing to an Island, Moonshine & The Battle of Aughrim.
Producer: Julien Clancy.
Executive producer: Claire Cunningham.
A Rockfinch Production (Ireland) for RTÉ lyric fm, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.