Bono and Hozier among stars lined up for new album of Patrick Kavanagh poems

Liam Neeson, Michael D Higgins, Christy Moore and Imelda May also feature on double LP, along with recordings of poet himself

Patrick Kavanagh, who died in 1967, is regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century. Photograph: The Wiltshire Collection/National Library of Ireland
Patrick Kavanagh, who died in 1967, is regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century. Photograph: The Wiltshire Collection/National Library of Ireland

Bono and Hozier are among a number of stars who have participated in recording poems of Patrick Kavanagh for an upcoming LP.

Kavanagh is best known for works including On Raglan Road, which was later sung by artists such as Luke Kelly and Sinéad O’Connor.

Other famous works include his poem The Great Hunger and the novel Tarry Flynn.

The Monaghan writer is regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century. He died in 1967.

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Since then there have been plaques dedicated to him on Raglan Road and Pembroke Road in Dublin, as well as a statue on the city’s Grand Canal.

Bono will read one of Kavanagh's best-known poems, On Raglan Road. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Bono will read one of Kavanagh's best-known poems, On Raglan Road. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Now, a new LP featuring a reading of On Raglan Road by Bono, Stony Grey Soil, read by President Michael D Higgins, and Memory of My Father, read by actor Liam Neeson, has been produced and will be released by Claddagh Records next month.

The double album also features the only recording of the revered Irish poet reading his most celebrated poems.

The recordings of Kavanagh’s readings were originally released on Claddagh Records in 1964.

Now remastered and reimagined, the new two-part album features the original recordings and Kavanagh’s poetry read by some 15 Irish stars including Imelda May, Christy Moore and Aisling Bea.

The physical formats of the album include a booklet containing all the poetry heard on the album.

The work will be available on vinyl, CD and other formats and will be released on September 23rd.

Jade Wilson

Jade Wilson

Jade Wilson is a reporter for The Irish Times