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The ambassador as poet
Irish Ambassador Philip McDonagh launched Memories of an Ionian Diplomat, his book of poems.
On Thursday, a day after the Bloomsday Centenary, Irish Ambassador Philip McDonagh launched Memories of an Ionian Diplomat, his book of poems, at Dublin, Maurya Sheraton.
Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor was the guest of honour and the list of ambassadors at the do included those from Spain, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary. Also spotted: WHO senior advisor Tufail K Haider, politician KC Pant and Pakistani High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan.
The guests included senior journalist Mark Tully and poet KK Daruwalla.
The evening began with cocktails and was followed by a poetry recitation by McDonagh. “I began in my university days and have been writing ever since,” said the Ambassador. “Poetry is all about feelings and emotions. It has to come from within,” he added. Concurred Tully, “Poetry is about depth. It does something for you, which is beyond reason. It is like music which takes you to a higher plane and acts as a great escape from the mundane rut of life.”
The themes of the poems ranged from the mermaid statue in Copenhagen to the grave of James Joyce in Switzerland and the Silver Jail in Andaman Islands. The simplicity of language, innocence of thought and the vividness of description marked most of the poems. They were an account of the Ambassador’s experiences in different places and countries he had visited and lived in. The poem Kala Paani, about the silver jail ,was particularly moving.
“We have been family friends and he is a good poet,” said Shashi Kapoor one of the very few actors in the film industry who takes a keen interest in poetry and literature and makes a special effort to keep in touch with authors and poets.
Says publisher Ravi Dayal, “I am very selective in publishing books. I publish what I like and I fell in love with his poetry.” With his tenure at its fag end, the Ambassador is gearing up for his next posting to the Vatican. He agrees that India would always be a part of him as his wife is from Bombay and they have two adopted daughters from South India.
