The late Michael Coady leaves behind a 'prodigious literary legacy'

Tributes to Carrick-on-Suir’s great poet Michael Coady have been paid by national and local literary, arts and community organisations since he passed away just over two weeks ago at the age of 84.

Mr Coady’s funeral took place in St Nicholas Church in Carrick on Easter Monday. His rich legacy of poetry and prose writings were celebrated at his Requiem Mass as was his huge contribution to education in his hometown as a teacher at Green School St Mary’s CBS and his love of music.

His breakthrough as a writer came in 1979 when he won the prestigious Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award.
The Gallery Press published his first collection, Two for a Woman, Three for a Man,  the following year and subsequently published five more of his collections Oven Lane and Other Poems (1987), All Souls (1997), One Another (2003), Going by Water (2009) and Given Light (2017).

The Gallery Press tribute

The Gallery Press founder Peter Fallon, who played a key role in bringing his writing to national prominence, said Michael Coady’s “compendiums of poetry, prose and illustration were unique orchestrations, often playing variations on themes of memory and mortality from an intimate anchorage of place.

“He could be playful and profound in his chronicles of community. His many admirers included Ciarán Carson, Bernard O’Donoghue and Seamus Heaney.

“We, at The Gallery Press, will miss him sorely,” Mr Fallon added as he extended deepest sympathy to his wife Martina and children James, Niamh and Lucy.

Other published works by Mr Coady included The Well of Spring Water, a memoir of the Clare musicians Pakie and Micho Russell, that was published in 1996, and Full Tide - A Miscellany, published in 1999 by Relay Books.

Alongside the Patrick Kavanagh Poety Award, he received the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Poetry Award in 2004.
He held the Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University in the US in 2005 and did a writing residency at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris in 2008.

He was elected in 1998 to Aosdána, the Arts Council’s academy of artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland.

Arts Council deeply saddened

Arts Council Deputy Chairperson Philomena Poole said she was deeply saddened by Michael Coady’s passing.

“His contributions to the arts have left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape, enriching our lives with their creativity and insight. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.” 

Ms Poole recalled how music was integral to his life and consistently influenced his art with collaborations with notable composers.

“His memoirs, including reflections on the Irish diaspora, enrich his diverse body of work.

“In Given Light (2017), Coady's poetry, prose, and photographs intertwine to evoke the essence of life, time and memory, rooted deeply in his intimate connection to place,” she added.

Carrick-on-Suir’s arts community paid beautiful tributes to Michael Coady.

Poetry Plus session celebrated his writing and life

The monthly Poetry Plus Open-Mic session where writers recite poetry and prose at Brewery Lane Theatre on Friday, March 29 was devoted entirely to a celebration of Michael Coady’s writings and memories of his life in Carrick-on-Suir.

Brewery Lane Threatre mourns ‘loss of our guiding light’

In an eloquent and moving tribute, Brewery Lane Theatre said it joined the community in mourning “the loss of our guiding light” and added that Michael Coady’s death left a “significant gap in our cultural landscape”.

The tribute posted on Brewery Lane’s Facebook page continued: “Michael came to embody Carrick and helped it to know itself with pride and recognition.

“He absorbed all that richness of local inheritance and reflected it to us. A familiar light we unthinkingly assumed would always be with us. His absence will be deeply felt.

“Once in a generation, a town gives birth to someone special. We took pride in having a published poet living in our midst. So many have taken their talents abroad to enrich other countries. We were fortunate Michael took up a teaching post in his hometown, and as a result, enriched our lives.

“It is important to remember that Michael didn’t just live in Carrick. He was central to the social fabric of the town, and a repository of local lore and history.

“He had an intimate knowledge of Carrick and its families, and his writing celebrates unsung lives.

“To borrow a line from Michael’s prose, ‘The World is built on the sweat of the forgotten’.

“Poet, writer, historian, photographer, genealogist, fisherman, and musician-but above all, he made the music of poetry. He loved the people of Carrick. His love of the river, Old Bridge, street and lane is reflected in his writing.”

The Brewery Lane Theatre tribute also referred to Michael Coady’s interest in the legacy of emigration on his own family and hometown.

“His Use of Memory in his book All Souls chronicles the poignant story of his abandoned grandfather and the dislocation of his great-grandfather through emigration and poverty.

“Michael’s journey to the United States to piece the story together could be the subject of a film.

“He was also inspired by his visits to Newfoundland, France, and his beloved West Clare.

“Many literary awards came his way culminating in his election to Aosdána. Michael left us a prodigious literary legacy. Seven books of poetry and prose and innumerable articles in newspapers and other publications.

“His writing celebrated the mysteries of ordinary life. Michael Coady is held in the highest regard, Nationwide.”

Tudor Artisan Hub said Coady's writing ‘spoke directly to the soul’

The Tudor Artisan Hub Arts Collective, which stocked Michael Coady’s books in its shop, also remembered the writer fondly.

In a statement, published on its Facebook page, the Hub said it was with profound sadness that they learned of the death of Carrick’s renowned poet, writer, historian and mentor and extended condolences to his family and fellow writers.

“We were so fortunate to have had the opportunity to stock Michael’s wonderful poetry books in the Hub since we opened our doors back in 2014. Over the years Michael popped into the Hub to sign books and write special dedications and messages upon request.

“You could reach out to Michael at any time, day or night to help out with a project, big or small and he always so generously gave of his time.

“It was always such a treat to be in Michael’s presence and to listen to him recite his beautiful work, so eloquently.

“Michael could orchestrate a symphony of words with great rhythm that inspired and spoke directly to the soul as he wrote about his immense love, passion, pride in his home town of Carrick-on-Suir and its people.”

Carrick Brass Band’s musical tribute

Carrick-on-Suir Brass Band paid their own special tribute to their former conductor, trombonist and friend by performing at his Requiem Mass in St Nicholas Church.

After the ceremony, the band led the hearse carrying Michael Coady’s remains and funeral cortege in procession through Carrick town centre, playing along the way. The procession finished at the Old Bridge where the band performed a final musical tribute – Duke Ellington’s Take The A Train.

Green School staff and past Pupils remember a '’wonderful teacher’

The huge regard Michael was held in as a primary school teacher was highlighted by the many messages of condolences and tributes his family received from his past pupils at the Green School St Mary’s CBS.

In a tribute posted on its Facebook page, the Green School said “kind, inspirational, friendly considerate, modest and wise” were a few of the many wonderful words shared about Mr Coady by past pupils and fellow teachers in the days following his death.

“He will be fondly remembered in the Green School for his wonderful teaching and for instilling a love of music, history, Irish and poetry in his pupils.

“Mr Coady was a true gentleman who shared his love of Carrick-on-Suir through his teaching. His many poetry and prose books are read regularly to the boys in the Green School. His words will live on forever.

Ní bheidh a leithéad ann arís. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.