BOY: An unforgettable life in words and music

The Linen Hall is proud to present the Northern Ireland premiere of a ground-breaking new piece of work:

B  O  Y
An unforgettable life in words and music
A HAWK’S WELL THEATRE PRODUCTION

GERARD GORMAN is the person who named Malachy Finegan, the most prolific paedophile priest known about in the history of the Catholic Church in Ireland. In doing so, and in his subsequent struggle for justice for himself and others, he has inspired many men to come forward and speak their (difficult) truths. ‘Though it might seem odd language to use, his story has been a blessing to me,’ as one man puts it.

In B O Y two Irish artists will present the heart of that nationally-significant story on stage for the first time: LEONARD BARRY, a renowned uileann piper resident in Sligo; and DAMIAN GORMAN, one of the country’s most respected poets and playwrights.

Damian is Gerard Gorman’s brother.

The intention of this hour-long performance is that these two artists will use their instruments – the lyric poem and the uileann pipes – to support Gerard in his own intention: that the clear and truthful telling of the story might save someone, anyone, from harm. It is to amplify his voice artistically; to extend its reach; to put words into the heart of his mouth, so to speak.

The purpose of the whole endeavour, its ambition, is not to devastate people, to wreck them. What would be the point in that? Though it has devastating experience at its core – and that will not be shied away from – the desire is not to leave people in pieces. But to leave them, in some way, ‘bigger’; to hold two strands of a story together at the one time: devastation in one hand; redemption in the other.

As maybe only music and poetry truly can.

The performance will be followed by a discussion with Leonard and Damian.

LEONARD BARRY, one of Ireland’s master musicians, is an uileann piper living in Sligo. His latest album Littoral has garnered rave reviews from critics and fellow musicians alike.

DAMIAN GORMAN is a poet and playwright whose work has earned many, diverse awards – from a Better Ireland Award to an MBE. He is Gerard Gorman’s brother. His telling of Gerard’s story, SO YOUNG – The Taking of My Life by the Catholic Church, led the Irish Times to say, ‘courageous and unflinching, words cannot do this story justice.