The Story of "On Raglan Road" - Lyrics written by Patrick Kavanagh, Performed by Luke Kelly [1978]

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Edited together from various sources by "Music Video Archive" in 2025

“On Raglan Road” was first published as a poem in The Irish Press on 3 October 1946 under the title "Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away". It was written about Dr. Hilda Moriarty, then a medical student from County Kerry. Though she regarded Kavanagh as a friend, her feelings were not romantic, and in 1947, she married Donogh O'Malley.

Kavanagh had lived in Pembroke Road in Dublin, but as he could not afford the rent he sublet the flat. He then moved into Mrs. Kenny's boarding house on Raglan Road which cost 10 shillings a week full board. The house is presently the Mexican embassy.

Moriarty was also staying on Raglan Road. Kavanagh observed her coming and going from Raglan Road to University daily, and as an excuse to meet with her in the Country Shop on St Stephen's Green or Mitchell's on Dawson Street, he often asked Moriarty to critique his work.

Kavanagh described himself as a peasant poet, but Moriarty was not that impressed and teased him, "Can you not, then, write about anything other than stony grey soil and bogs, Paddy?" Kavanagh said, "I will immortalize you in poetry, Hilda."

According to Moriarty, he went away and wrote the poem. The poem was put to music when the poet met Luke Kelly of the Irish band The Dubliners in a pub in Dublin called The Bailey. It was set to the music of the traditional song "The Dawning of the Day". Indeed, a recording was broadcast of Kavanagh singing "On Raglan Road" to the tune on Irish television, Benedict Kiely recalled in an interview for RTÉ of Kavanagh trying out the paired verse and tune for him soon after its writing. Kelly himself acknowledges that song was given to him that evening at The Bailey.

Performance from - The Humours of Donnybrook
RTÉ Dublin studio, 30 June 1978
Vocals & Banjo by Luke Kelly with Al O'Donnell on guitar.
Song: On Raglan Road
(words Patrick Kavanagh)

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Video edited and posted without any intention to cause any copyright issues.