Fragments 19-05-2005

John McCormack was resented by Athlone. Son of a Scottish "blow-in" and a mere workman at that. Hardly commemorated in his home town. In this, the 60th anniversary of his death there is little sense Athlone appreciates the extraordinary talent that rose among them.

Enrico Caruso, perhaps the greatest tenor ever, regarded John McCormack as the greatest tenor ever. That faultless lyric voice, with extraordinary range, accompanied by astonishing breath control and perfect diction. Without the power and volume of Pavarotti, but more magical, engrossing and wonderful.

He was born in what is now a Chinese restaurant in the Bawn, Athlone, on 14 June 1884. Fourth of eleven children only six of whom survived into middle childhood. His father, Andrew and mother Hannah had come over from Scotland, first to Lisburn and then to Athlone to work in the huge woolen mills, along with 500 others. He went to school to the Marist Brothers in a building that now accommodates the RTÉ Athlone studio. He sang on several occasions in the town's Fr Mathew Hall, which is now threatened with demolition. One of his last signing engagements was in the town's St Mary's Church, where he sang in a Gregorian Mass with the Spanish soprano Lucrezia Bori.

He became fabulously wealthy and fabulously famous, especially in America, and yet never forgot Athlone.

There is a bust of Count John McCormack on the promenade in Athlone, the local museum features some of his memorabilia. A local man, Gearoid O Brien, has written a pamphlet "John McCormack and Athlone" but there is no sense of recognition in Athlone of his greatness or genius.

^A model town

Athlone is thriving nonetheless. Along the river site where the old woolen mills used to be there is a fine hotel, the Radisson, and modern apartments. Another striking apartment complex on the bridge and a spectacular contemporary civil centre in the middle of the town, designed by London firm, Keith Williams Architects, with a paved front area with concrete benches, topped by teak. It contains the town council offices, a public library, a council chamber, a crèche and a three-storey atrium.

^A golden island

Athlone is likely to feature in the enquiries of the Planning Tribunal soon (that is if the Planning Tribunal is not wound up before then). It is set to examine a decision taken by Bertie Ahern, a few days before Fianna Fáil left office in 1994, to afford a significant tax break to Cork developer, Owen O'Callaghan, in connection with a €25m development at Golden Island, Athlone. Mr O'Callaghan had given a generous donation to Fianna Fáil around that time. However, it is worth noting that previous allegations made concerning Owen O'Callaghan, by another property developer, Tom Gilmartin, proved entirely unfounded.

^Moulding modern thought

What we think about politics and society is determined largely by what the media filters to us, and two media in particular have special influence in Irish life, RTÉ and the Irish Times. RTÉ because of its ubiquity and the authority derived from its monopoly status for so long.

The Irish Times because of the unique status won for it by successive editors, notably Douglas Gageby and Conor Brady and continued by the present editor, Geraldine Kennedy. Little attention is accorded the agenda these set, but in subtle ways they convey messages on what is and is not important.

On Tuesday, 17 May, last the Irish Times led with a report that the outgoing CEO of AIB, Michael Buckley, had recommended to the board that it be taken over by an American bank. Note, it was not that the bank was being taken over by an American bank, merely that this was a recommendation, never acted upon, by the outgoing CEO.

The message this conveys is that the musings of "important" people in "important" institutions is important news, such as to lead the most authoritative newspaper in the country and presented with more prominence than any other story in years. Another story of that day, one related to the miserable economic conditions in which many lone parents reside, got meager treatment on an inside page.