Does anyone know the truth about this harper? I have read Brian Keenan’s book, and feel he was more in his element as a goal-keeper than a novelist. Or was that Keegan?
Anyway, in the absence of some genuine history we should make some up, so here goes for starters.
Carolan and W.B. Yeats were walking in Phoenix Park one day, when Yeats made a wager that Turlough couldn’t play the streetside railings. “Yerrah, lad, that Oi will” responded the afflicted musician, in a fine parody of Bing Crosby as that priest feller. “I’ll give ye a burst of an oul’ reel that’ll soften your cough!” and without further ado Carolan crouched on the verge and started to play Vivaldi’s “L’Invierno” on the cast iron park rails. Sadly a passing lorry sprayed muddy water on the railings, and Carolan became enraged and stalked off, bumping into trees etc. Yeats merely chuckled and observed drily “So that’s how he Handel’s Water Music!”
Your turn.
Patrick of the Many Sorrows. 