On Raglan Road
Encyclopedia
"On Raglan Road" is a well-known Irish song
from a poem written by Irish
poet
Patrick Kavanagh
named after Raglan Road in Ballsbridge
, Dublin. In the poem the poet, walking on a "quiet street", recalls a love affair he had with a young woman. He knew he would risk being hurt if he initiated a relationship, but went ahead anyway.
It was first published as a poem in the Irish Press
on 3 October 1946 under the title "Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away." Peter Kavanagh, Patrick's brother, said that "it was written about Patrick's girlfriend Hilda but to avoid embarrassment he used the name of my girlfriend in the title." Her real name was Dr. Hilda Moriarty who later married Donogh O'Malley, the Irish Minister for Health. Her son is the actor Daragh O'Malley
.
In 1987, Hilda Moriarty was interviewed by the Irish TV station RTE
for a documentary about Kavanagh called Gentle Tiger. In the interview, she said one of the main reasons for the failure of their relationship was that there was an wide age gap between them. She was only 22 whereas he was 40.
Dr. Moriarty also described how Raglan Road came to be written. Kavanagh had described himself as the peasant poet but she was not impressed and teased him for writing about mundane things such as vegetables. She said he should write about something else so he agreed to do so.
According to Dr. Moriarty, he then went away and wrote Raglan Road.
The poem was put to music when the poet met Luke Kelly
of the well-known Irish
band The Dubliners
in a pub in Dublin called The Bailey. It was set to the music of the traditional song "The Dawning of the Day
" (Fáinne Geal an Lae). An Irish-language song with this name (Fáinne Geal an Lae) was published by Edward Walsh (1805-1850) in 1847 in Irish Popular Songs, and later translated into English as The Dawning of the Day, published by Patrick Weston Joyce
in 1873.
The song, often known simply as "Raglan Road", has since been sung by the Dubliners
, the Young Dubliners, Van Morrison
, Sinéad O'Connor
, Mark Knopfler
, Billy Bragg
, Roger Daltrey
, Loreena McKennitt
, Joan Osborne
, Orla Fallon
, and Nyle Wolfe
among others.
The Luke Kelly version was also featured in a poignant scene in the 2008 film, In Bruges
.
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
from a poem written by Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
named after Raglan Road in Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr...
, Dublin. In the poem the poet, walking on a "quiet street", recalls a love affair he had with a young woman. He knew he would risk being hurt if he initiated a relationship, but went ahead anyway.
It was first published as a poem in the Irish Press
The Irish Press
The Irish Press was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.-Foundation:...
on 3 October 1946 under the title "Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away." Peter Kavanagh, Patrick's brother, said that "it was written about Patrick's girlfriend Hilda but to avoid embarrassment he used the name of my girlfriend in the title." Her real name was Dr. Hilda Moriarty who later married Donogh O'Malley, the Irish Minister for Health. Her son is the actor Daragh O'Malley
Daragh O'Malley
Daragh O'Malley is an Irish film, theatre and television actor, best known for his portrayal of the much loved and ever faithful but rather fearsome Patrick Harper in the legendary Sharpe TV series along side Sean Bean...
.
In 1987, Hilda Moriarty was interviewed by the Irish TV station RTE
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
for a documentary about Kavanagh called Gentle Tiger. In the interview, she said one of the main reasons for the failure of their relationship was that there was an wide age gap between them. She was only 22 whereas he was 40.
Dr. Moriarty also described how Raglan Road came to be written. Kavanagh had described himself as the peasant poet but she was not impressed and teased him for writing about mundane things such as vegetables. She said he should write about something else so he agreed to do so.
According to Dr. Moriarty, he then went away and wrote Raglan Road.
The poem was put to music when the poet met Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly was an Irish singer and folk musician from Dublin, Ireland, notable as a founding member of the band The Dubliners.-Early life:...
of the well-known Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
band The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
in a pub in Dublin called The Bailey. It was set to the music of the traditional song "The Dawning of the Day
The Dawning of the Day
The Dawning of the Day is an old Irish air composed by the blind harpist Thomas Connellan in the 17th Century. An Irish-language song with this name was published by Edward Walsh in 1847 in Irish Popular Songs and later translated into English as The Dawning of the Day...
" (Fáinne Geal an Lae). An Irish-language song with this name (Fáinne Geal an Lae) was published by Edward Walsh (1805-1850) in 1847 in Irish Popular Songs, and later translated into English as The Dawning of the Day, published by Patrick Weston Joyce
Patrick Weston Joyce
Patrick Weston Joyce was an Irish historian, writer and music collector, known particularly for his research in local place names of Ireland.-Biography:...
in 1873.
The song, often known simply as "Raglan Road", has since been sung by the Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, the Young Dubliners, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
, Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
, Joan Osborne
Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "One of Us". She has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown.-Biography:Originally from Anchorage, Kentucky, a suburb...
, Orla Fallon
Órla Fallon
Órlagh Fallon , professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish soloist, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna.- Life and career :...
, and Nyle Wolfe
Nyle Wolfe
Nyle Wolfe , trained as a singer at the Cork School of Music and the Leinster school of Music & Drama Dublin. He graduated from The Royal Academy of Music London with the conservatory's highest academic award and won a scholarship to complete his studies at the Zurich Opera House...
among others.
The Luke Kelly version was also featured in a poignant scene in the 2008 film, In Bruges
In Bruges
In Bruges is a 2008 black comedy crime film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their gangster boss. The film takes place—and was filmed—within the Belgian city of Bruges. In Bruges was...
.