Eternal Lanes of Joy

Written & Directed by Pat Collins

Eternal Lanes of Joy recreates Patrick Kavanagh's epic journey on foot from his home in County Monaghan to Dublin, in the year 1931. This was a pilgrimage of sorts - a symbolic journey that would affirm his idea of himself as a poet.

When he reached Dublin, he went directly to the house of George Russell, or AE, as he was known. Russell had already published some of Kavanagh’s poems in 'The Irish Statesman’, and would become one of Kavanagh’s guiding lights. He gave the visiting poet an anthology of Japanese poetry as well as books by Dostoevsky, Melville and James Stephens, among others.

Eternal Lanes of Joy weaves together Kavanagh's writings, dramatised scenes, new writing, archive sources, and a rich soundtrack - of footsteps, nature and all that we imagine Kavanagh may have heard along the way.

We begin in the year 1962 - in a TV studio in RTÉ when Kavanagh - then in his late fifties - is speaking to camera for the Self Portrait series.

Mikel Murfi plays Patrick Kavanagh, both as the poet on the road and the older Kavanagh looking back.

Credits

Written and Directed by Pat Collins.

Cast

Mikel Murfi (Patrick Kavanagh)

Catherine Walsh (Mrs Kavanagh)

Rosaleen Linehan (Old Woman)

John McArdle (The Farmer)

John Connors (The Blacksmith)

Charlene McKenna (Young Woman)

Eamonn Owens (Young Man)

Eamonn Hunt (Librarian)

The play also features the voices of Tristan Rosenstock & Sinéad Ní Uallacháin

Special thanks to:

Darren McCreesh, Manager of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre;

to the Centre’s staff and community;

to Joe Callan, Shaun O’Byrne, Art Agnew, and Una Agnew

- all who gave expert guidance on recording locations and the path taken by Patrick Kavanagh in 1931. The Patrick Kavanagh Centre also supported a research period for Pat Collins for the writing of the script.

Recordings were made on location at Chantinee Farm with the kind permission of Darren McCreesh.

Special thanks to Joanne Brennan

Special thanks also to Liz Treacy, Catherine Manning, Elga Hick and Miriam Donoghue of RTE Costume Department, for finding the perfect pair of hobnail boots for our location recordings!

Sound Recordings: Damian Chennells and Tom Norton

Wildlife recordings: Chris Watson

Additional recordings: Mike McCartney

Sound Design: Damian Chennells & Chris Watson

Composer: Irene Buckley

Eternal Lanes of Joy by Pat Collins was produced by Kevin Brew

The Series Producer of Drama On One is Kevin Reynolds

Extra production support was by Gorretti Slavin.

For permission to cite the words of Patrick Kavanagh, we are grateful for the kind permission of the Trustees of the Estate of the late Katherine B. Kavanagh, through the Jonathan Williams Literary Agency.

Research for Eternal Lanes of Joy was funded by Creative Monaghan.

The programme was funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.

See also:

The Lyric Feature: Until a World Comes to Life

https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/clips/22492835/

The Lyric Feature: Lament for Art O’Leary (Composed by Irene Buckley)

https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/clips/22472692/