TOMMY’S TUNES
“It was very hard for us to write to our sponsorship partners, Milligan Court, the Glasshouse, The Sligo Park and having to pull the beds, we know they’re having a hard time. It was really really hard to do that.”
Going on further to explain the importance of the School on the local economy, Susan says many older students attending would tend to spend locally giving another boost to smaller businesses.
“They buy nice meals and they buy nice gifts to bring back,” says the director, adding that many others in Sligo and beyond see the School as the ‘pattern of their year’.
“We know we’re part of the structure that supports businesses, every little helps, so for us not to be able to add our little bit, that’s why it was with a heavy heart, but it just wasn’t viable.”
Not a decision taken lightly, the three branches involved in running the School consulted before reaching any decision, after the Yeats Society closed its office on March 13th last, following the Taoiseach’s decision to close all third level institutions the previous day.
Susan told The Sligo Champion that at that point she began to fear what was the inevitable.
“I thought it is surely going to spread to America and by the end of March it became readily apparent”.
After the Summer School directors met with Susan and it was discussed with the board, and the academic committee, the difficult decision was made.
While the School was never run to make money, as Ms O’Keeffe highlights, the School running this year would have given the Yeats Society an income to keep it afloat.
Since the announcement of the cancellation, Ms O’Keeffe says while people and businesses have been ‘ hugely disappointed’ they have been incredibly understanding.
Asked if it was ever considered to postpone the School to a later date in the year, the director says while it was considered there was simply no other time it could be held with the same academics, lecturers and students available to attend.
“It’s an immersive experience and that’s what the founding group said about it, it was about being here, it is unlikely people will sign up for online lectures, if they’re not here they’re more than likely doing something else.
“The authentic experience is to be here, to immerse yourself in Sligo in the place that was special to Yeats and his family, you cannot do that online.”
Now, all involved are focusing on what can be done to make next year’s School a success, but, also how to mark other events this year while adhering to HSE and Government guidelines.
Poetry Day Ireland will be marked on April 30 th and the Yeats Society takes part by naming their new poet in residence.
For the last two years Alison Lyons has been the poet in residence. Alison and guest speaker, poet Elaine Feeney will be doing readings which will be live streamed from 7pm.
On Yeats Day, June 13th the Society still hopes there will be some surprises and that Mr Yeats can make an appearance.
“He’s up quite high so he will be socially distancing from a height,” adds the director.
Plans are also being made for some type of event to mark what would have been the opening of this year’s Summer School on July 30 th.
“If it has to be a digital event, so be it. By then we may be able to have a small event, even if it’s every third chair or something, that we could have an audience, for that continuity, but we will be keeping an eye on all guidelines that are issued closer to that time.”
WITH musicians and singers now at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, with gigs and tours postponed, many are staying in tune with their fans online.
With his usual upbeat attitude, Tommy Fleming is uploading a song every day to his Facebook page of him singing a song, accompaniedc by his two furry friends Teddy and Jodie, as he trtravels the roads close to his west Sligo home.
Titled Tommy’s Jeep Tunes, it first began three weeks ago with The Voyage and the response has been huge, with thousasands of views and comments from people all over the world.
With a big repertoire ranging from the likes of The West’s AwAwake, Hero, Bring Him Home and Sonny, Tommy has been brbringing a bit of much needed light hearted entertainment duduring this crisis.
He said he never really thought the reaction was going to be as big.
He told The Sligo Champion: “The reaction was not what I hahad intended at all, I was clearing out the office as many of us arare doing in these times and I said I’d do a song, then when it gogot great attraction I said I’d continue it every day.”
Living close to the beach near Enniscrone, Tommy goes for a run every day and records the song on his way to the coast.
“I have a little talk with people first and introduce the song, it’s great. Sure it’s a bit of a laugh and upbeat, I try not to be serious, it’s about raising spirits.
“I have my two dogs with me, Teddy and Jodie, in the back of the jeep, it’s all a bit of craic.”
In terms of staying at home during the coronavirus, the singer admits he’s liking taking a breather.
“I hate to say it but I am enjoying it, I’m getting so much done around the house.
“I am usually on the road touring constantly, so it’s nice to have a break.
“I’m gardening, painting, getting a vegetable garden done and so forth so it’s all go!”.
One downside he jokes is the hair. “I wish I could get my hair cut but I can’t, the last time I had long hair was when I was 22! “My wife Tina tells me I should let it grow,” he laughed. “But I am finding so much to do in the house and so much to get sorted.”
Unfortunately, Tommy was due to begin his UK tour last week in Scotland.
“It’s not happening now, but what can you do,” he added. “There’s a lot more than me in the same position. The way I look at it is we just have to get on with it.”
He said working from home has also been a positive. “I’m doing conference calls to Australia every three days, it will be a long time before I go to a meeting in Dublin again. I think after this, people will want to work from home if they can.”
With wife Tina his manager in Ireland and Europe, Tommy also has another manager in Australia. His upbeat attitude is definitely rubbing off on his fans, with lots commenting and thanking him for staying connected through song every day.