O Searchaigh and the Moral Majority

national | arts and media | opinion/analysis Wednesday March 12, 2008 10:54 by C Murray

Norris defends the Poet

The issue of the RTE 'Documentary'- 'Fairytale of Kathmandu', (which I must confess to
have not seen) is rolling on with questions in the Seanad , with fattening well-budgetted
disc-jockeys allowing hysterical women in rollers Tut! over homosexuality and the sexual
activity of a splendid poet. Interesting letter in the Times today by a regular contributor
to indymedia as well. I shall publish an extract in a minute.

Cathal O Searchaigh, Poet.

Firstly Senator Norris asked that the film be examined until there was a full investigation
by those qualified in the analysis of the film 'had established the truth or falsehood of the
techniques used in it's production and the conclusion reached'.

This was rejected in the Senate as not fitting for the Oireachtas to 'engage with RTE'
as to what they air:

'I have great sympathy with Senator Norris but it is not appropriate for this house or a
committee of the Oireachtas should determine what RTE broadcasts. That would be
a step too far'.

The irony of the above statement should not really be lost on those of us who have read
of multiple government objections to the broadcasting authority, and of course senior cabinet
members holding convouluted and protracted meetings with amongst others 'Independent
Newspapers' in the run-up to the General Election. To claim that RTE represent independent
ethical broadcasting in a week where David Irving was paid to defend free speech on
national television, and a one-sided documentary which results in destruction of reputation
of a poet is risible- if it were not so serious.

RTE are guided quite simply by advertising Revenue and Budgetary Concerns,
their unbending desire to tailor documentary to satisfy what they perceive their target
audience to be says how little they respect the intelligence of people who are
quite frankly revolted at what they have done to O Searchaigh.

I recommend anyone who likes Irish language Poetry to read 'an Bhealach na Bhaile'
published by Clo Iar-Chonnachta, and to rightfully reserve judgement on the documentary
which brings a new meaning to the operating term 'gutter -press'

'Lasmuigh Ta an oiche ag seideadh is ag siabadh
timpeall an ti, ag cleatarail ag na fuinneoga
ag beicil is ag bragart tri pholl na heochradh'

and..

'Ag breith barroige ort, teann mo lamha i ngreim
i do chneas, ag teannadh is ag teannadh. teas
is teas, scarann do bheola ag suil le poga'

(Didean, le Cathal O Searcaigh, 'An Bhealach na Bhaile')

This is an extract from a letter published in Today's Times:

'Madam,
as a writer I am disturbed and disappointed, to read
a group of fellow writers *(March 11th) unashamedly
playing the gay card in an effort to traduce RTE
and the makers of the documentary
'Fairytale of Kathmandu'.

(*the writers were all members of Aosdana, icnl, Maire Mhac an Tsaoi)

The rest of the letter may be read in full on page 15 of the Times.
I find it very hard to accept that a writer/artist would automatically
give the benefit of the doubt to the programme-makers without questioning the
veracity of the slant they took.