'On Raglan Road' was written by Patrick Kavanagh in 1946. The poem was originally published as 'Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away'.
'On Raglan Road' was written by Patrick Kavanagh in 1946. The poem was originally published as 'Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away' and was written about his unrequited love for Hilda Moriarty. The poem has been recorded in song by many artists including Luke Kelly, Van Morrison and Sinéad O'Connor.
Benedict Kiely recalls Patrick Kavanagh first showing him the words of 'On Raglan Road' and trying out how it would sound sung to the air of 'The Dawning of the Day'.
Learn moreWriter Benedict Kiely tells Ciarán Mac Mathúna how he thinks he was the first person to see the words of 'Raglan Road' written out.
Learn moreLuke Kelly explains how he met Patrick Kavanagh in The Bailey pub in Dublin. During this encounter Kavanagh told him he had a song for him.
Learn morePatrick Kavanagh met Hilda Moriarty in 1944. She was a 22-year-old medical student at University College Dublin. Kavanagh, who was 20 years older, became obsessed with Hilda Moriarty.
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