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2014 Leonard Cohen Event in Dublin Booklet LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 Photo ©Albert Noonan LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 1 Leonard is with us LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 in Spirit. LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 Jarkko JarkkoDear Friends, A lot has happened since we met last time two years ago in Madison. Leonard Leonard Cohen’s music and poetry have concluded his critically acclaimed Old brought us from all over the world to Ideas World Tour in December 2013. Dearthe summery Friends, city of Dublin. Here we Since his amazing return to the stage are going to celebrate and enjoy Our in 2008, his tours have resulted in Man’s work and spend some memorable phenomenal publicity and appreciation Leonardmoments together. Cohen’s This music is the 9th and poetry everywhere,have Aand lot crowds has happenedin the sold-out since we met last time broughtinternational us Leonard from allCohen over Event. the Many world venuesto the were two ecstatic years about ago the inenergy Madison. Leonard summeryof us have participated city of Dublin. in one or Heremore of we areand going strength concludedof his performances. his critically acclaimed Old the previous get-togethers, since 1998, in Ideas World Tour in August 2013. Since his toLincoln celebrate UK, Montreal, and Hydra,enjoy New Our York, Man’s workOur members had several get-togethers andBerlin, spend Edmonton, some Krakow, memorable and Madison moments before and afteramazing Leonard’s return concerts; to thethe stage in 2008, his together.in Wisconsin. This A special is the welcome 9th international to those biggest happeningtours was have in Pula, resulted Croatia, in in phenomenal Leonardwho now join Cohen us for theEvent. first time! Many of us haveAugust 2013. publicityMany of us alsoand participated appreciation everywhere, participated in one or more of the and crowds in the sold-out venues were previous get-togethers, since 1998, in ecstatic about the energy and strength of 2 Lincoln UK, Montreal, Hydra, New York, his performances. Berlin, Edmonton, Krakow, and Madison in Wisconsin. A special welcome to those who now join us for the first time! in the sixth biennial meetup on the Greek The 20th anniversary of The Leonard island of Hydra in June 2013, or in a new Cohen Files will come in September 2015; activity, the Leonard Cohen Walking and we are still going strong. Plans for Weekend, organized for the third time last our next gatherings are already in September in Galway, Ireland. progress. In June 2015, we will have our traditional Hydra meetup; and in 2016, In many ways 2014, is proving to be the 10th Leonard Cohen Event – actually a jubilee year. Leonard will be 80 in two of them. There will be a North September. Publishing houses have American Event in Edmonton; and a announced at least 10 new books about European Event in Amsterdam. The dates Leonard, his life and his work, all due out will not be overlapping, so people will be this year. The number of cover versions able to attend both of them if they like! released by various artists and bands is skyrocketing, and tribute albums, At our Event here in Dublin Leonard is concerts, and theatre plays based on with us in spirit. He has always been very Leonard’s songs have been reported from generous to his fans. He sends us his all over the world. kindhearted greetings and is looking forward to seeing many of us somewhere Members of the Leonard Cohen Forum are along the way! LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 going to commemorate Our Man’s special birthday by donating a stone bench to Leonard has kindly given us permission to the inhabitants and visitors of Hydra. The privately screen the last concert of his 2008- bench will be planned and custom made 2013 Tours at our Event in Dublin. It was by Greek artisans, respecting the local filmed on December 21st 2013 in Auckland, traditions of this important historical site. New Zealand. Our thanks also go to “Greece is a good place to look at the Leonard’s producer, Ed Sanders, who has moon,” Leonard once wrote, and soon prepared for us the unpublished concert we will have a special place to follow footage from the tour archives for us. his guidance. Our on-line fund raising campaign is now underway and you may On behalf of The Leonard Cohen Files and also contribute to the project, here in The Leonard Cohen Forum, and all Dublin at the registration desk. participants now gathered here in Dublin, I’d like to thank Paula McCann and her The near future holds many exciting effective Event team, Sheila O’Mahony, things for us to look forward to. We will Marie Nolan and Albert Noonan, for their soon be spoiled with no fewer than two magnificent work to make this Event in releases. Leonard has worked hard on Ireland a reality. his next studio album of entirely new songs. He asked me to let you know that Let’s spend a memorable weekend “Popular Problems” will be out at the together, surrounded by the magic of end of September, shortly after his 80th Leonard Cohen’s music and poetry! birthday. He also has a live DVD/Bluray/ CD in the works. Jarkko 3 Welcome from Paula Dear Friends, in Dublin again in 1976 & 1979. During the 1980s Leonard graced us with his presence on several It is a great honour and delight to welcome of his tours, and John MacKenna recorded his you all to Dublin’s fair city for this 9th Leonard award-winning series of interviews, “How the Cohen Event: the biennial gathering of fans Heart Approaches What It Yearns.” that congregate in different cities on both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate the music, poetry, The Dublin Theatre Festival in 2006 showcased songs and art of Our Man. It is fitting, as a the Came So Far for Beauty tribute to Leonard UNESCO City of Literature, that Dublin joins Cohen. Unbeknownst to many who attended Montreal, Hydra, New York, Berlin, Edmonton, those concerts in Dublin’s Point theatre we Krakow and Madison to host this prestigious, were destined to meet each other again as our international event. paths would cross in different parts of the world as we followed Our Man. Leonard’s links to Ireland go back to his LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 childhood: his nanny was Irish and introduced 2008 was the year of magical concerts: him to Irish poets and writers. He has said many Leonard’s return to Dublin to play the Royal of the voices that nourished and guided him Hospital Kilmainham, where he told us, “It is were Irish such as Joyce and Yeats. a privilege to say a poem to you in this city of poets and singers.” For many of us, this was The light of evening, Lissadell, the beginning of a 5 year musical odyssey. We Great windows open to the south, traversed the world with him from Dublin to Two girls in silk kimonos, both Nashville, Las Vegas and many other cities in Beautiful, one a gazelle. between and back to Dublin again. Lifelong friendships have been formed as we met each “I learned those verses over 50 years ago in other before and after concerts, on walking my hometown of Montreal, which is covered in weekends, on the beautiful island of Hydra and snow six months of the year. I never thought my at these Leonard Cohen fan events. path would lead me here, to be sheltered in the spirit of the master whose lines I’ve just quoted. The Celts believed that one forms an Anam We’re privileged to be in such an elegant Cara friendship – with a soul friend, where you place.” experience the joy of others through connecting Leonard Cohen, Lissadell, Sligo, July 31st 2010 and bonding. This is what we experience through our love and appreciation of Leonard Throughout his long career, Ireland – and Cohen. “And say my glory was I had such Dublin in particular – has been very fortunate in friends” W.B. Yeats. playing host to Leonard and his bands. It began with just a few hundred fans in the National On behalf of the organising committee I wish Stadium in March 1972, where Kevin Barry was you all a happy and inspiring Event – among the fourth song on the set list: “I’ve waited all your soul friends. my life to sing this song in Ireland.” He also Let the music, songs and poetry keep our spirits recited Yeats that night. The River Club (long high. since demolished) on Bachelors Walk just down the quay from Liberty Hall, was the venue for Paula McCann another concert on 18th March 1972. He sang Chair, Leonard Cohen Event Dublin 2014 4 Best Wishes from the Canadian Ambassador LEONARD COHEN EVENT DUBLIN AUGUST 7-10TH 2014 On behalf of the Government of Canada, the 2008 event in Edmonton, and we’re I’m delighted to send my greetings delighted that Edmonton will once again and sincere best wishes to everyone welcome fans from around the world in attending the 9th biennial Leonard Cohen 2016. But as one who has been pleased to Event. represent my country in Ireland, I can assure everyone that Dublin – the city of Canadians are very proud of Leonard artists, poets and musicians – will provide Cohen. Over the years, we have honoured a magnificent venue to celebrate Cohen’s him in many ways, including the Governor life and work.
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