Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
I wonder if anyone knows the name or has any details about L.Cohen's nanny who according to Ira Nadel's biography had a significant influence upon Leonard in his early years?
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
I think her name was Annie Smith.
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Hi Sleep,
Thanks for that. Can you tell me where you sourced that? I read somewhere that her first name was Mary.
Merton.
Thanks for that. Can you tell me where you sourced that? I read somewhere that her first name was Mary.
Merton.
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Hi Merton,
This is something Leonard told me himself, but my memory is not perfect. I'm pretty sure it was Annie Smith. I'm less sure about where she came from but I think it was Dublin? We did talk about her and he really loved her. He said she was very kind to him and when she attended mass on Sundays she sometimes took Leonard with her. I said to him weren't your parents ever bothered by that, and he said they weren't bothered at all.
I found that refreshing, and I remembered it because my sister Moira has never lived down the story about Mrs. Greenberg from across the street calling my mother and asking her to please tell Moira to stop teaching her children the catechism in our garage.
Maybe Dick can ask his friend in NY if they have any further info? After all, Irish nannies deserve their place in history!
sleep
This is something Leonard told me himself, but my memory is not perfect. I'm pretty sure it was Annie Smith. I'm less sure about where she came from but I think it was Dublin? We did talk about her and he really loved her. He said she was very kind to him and when she attended mass on Sundays she sometimes took Leonard with her. I said to him weren't your parents ever bothered by that, and he said they weren't bothered at all.
I found that refreshing, and I remembered it because my sister Moira has never lived down the story about Mrs. Greenberg from across the street calling my mother and asking her to please tell Moira to stop teaching her children the catechism in our garage.
Maybe Dick can ask his friend in NY if they have any further info? After all, Irish nannies deserve their place in history!
sleep
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Hi Sleep,
Fellow traveller. To rescue the the Irish nanny from obscurity - some of us are born to greatness. You are further down the road of this noble cause than I am.
Tell me more. When did you meet Leonard? You more than most will understand the need to unlock the relationship that seems to have existed between nanny and Leonard. Can it say anything about the nature of the man whom we admire and respect today. So many influences.
Regards to Moira.
The cause of the Irish nanny endures, the dream shall never die.
Thanks,
Merton.
Fellow traveller. To rescue the the Irish nanny from obscurity - some of us are born to greatness. You are further down the road of this noble cause than I am.
Tell me more. When did you meet Leonard? You more than most will understand the need to unlock the relationship that seems to have existed between nanny and Leonard. Can it say anything about the nature of the man whom we admire and respect today. So many influences.
Regards to Moira.
The cause of the Irish nanny endures, the dream shall never die.
Thanks,
Merton.
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Page 13 of Jim Devlin's 1996 book "Leonard Cohen; In every style of passion" confirms "nursie" Anne Smith.
Re: Leonard Cohen's Irish Nanny
Many thanks Sleep and Nico Maude. Shame on me. I bought Jim Devlin's book recently though haven't read it yet.
Merton
Merton