# Michael Coady - RIP

**URL:** <https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/michael-coady-rip/106491>\
**Category:** Trad Irish Music\
**Created:** [March 26, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/michael-coady-rip/106491 "2024-03-26T18:52:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr.Gumby](https://chiffandfipplewww.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.chiffandfipple.com/mr.gumby/32/5273_2.png) [@Mr.Gumby](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/u/Mr.Gumby)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.chiffandfipple.com/t/michael-coady-rip/106491/1 "2024-03-26T18:52:58Z")

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I just read the writer and poet Michael Coady has died.

[RTE news : Death announced of writer and poet Michael Coady](http://www.rte.ie/culture/2024/0326/1440028-death-announced-of-writer-and-poet-michael-coady/)

Coady was many things but in the context of this forum he was a close friend of the Russells of Doonagore, Doolin and the author of the wonderful 1996 memoir of Packie and Micho Russell, The Well of Spring Water.

Some years ago I was at a talk he gave about his time with the Russells, warm, loving memories without sugarcoating. Unfortunately I can’t immediately access the snaps I took on the occasion of him speaking, with a projection of a Packie in the background looking over his shoulder. I can say I was chuffed I got those at the time.

I always thought it a bit of a shame he didn’t amend his book with a piece on Gussie, completing the trilogy of essays on the Russell brothers. But perhaps that wasn’t on the cards.

> Though there are torturers in the world  
> There are also musicians;  
> Though at this moment  
> Men are screaming in prisons,  
> There are jazzmen raising storms  
> Of sensuous celebration  
> And orchestras releasing  
> Glories of the spirit.
> 
> Though the image of God  
> Is everywhere defiled  
> A man in west Clare  
> Is playing the concertina,  
> The Sistine Choir is levitating  
> Under the dome of St. Peter’s  
> And a drunk man  
> On the road  
> Is singing  
> For no reason.  
>   
>   
>   
> Michael Coady  
>   
>   
>   
> from Two for a woman, Three for a man: Michael Coady , Gallery Press. 1990 ©