leonardcohenforum.com

carlowmike wrote:

real-alan wrote:
Nah... just restrict it to forum members who live within say 50 miles of Lissadel....

real-alan, I think we can agree to meet you half way and place restriction allowing only Forum members living within a radius of 300 miles of Lissadell ...
( including Hotel and B/B residents )....

Well that doesn't make me feel any better. Maybe I should move to Lissadell in anticipation
Or book a room now.

Extract from recently published book: "Dave Fanning the thing is..."
ISBN: 978-0-00-731076-0. Published 2010. Page 76.
"At the other end of the musical spectrum, I developed an abiding love for Leonard Cohen, just short of the literary, erudite artist who would be shunned by many contemptuous punks.
Cohen played Dublin a dozen times in the 1970s, nearly always at the National Stadium, and I went to every one. Sometimes the ticket demand was so high that he would play a show at 5p.m. and another gig later that evening, and there was no way I would miss either one."

Page 286 of same book :
The real big news came when Leonard Cohen came out of retirement to do a world tour. Cynics were calling it the Bankruptcy Tour because, after Cohen had gone up Mount Baldy in California to be a monk, his accountant had been busy siphoning his money into his own account, leaving the ageing star no choice but to go back on the road.
Every cloud has a silver lining, because although I wouldn't wish embezzlement on anyone, it did mean Cohen was taking his peerless catalogue of songs on the road one more time. His show at Royal Kilmainham Hospital was just stunning and I loved it, which was pretty amazing because he didn't play even one of my Top 20 Leonard Cohen songs.
Admittedly my favourites are all from his first three albums and he was concentrating on more recent material, but it's a testament to his genius that I went home on an absolute high and not feeling cheated.

MaryB wrote:

carlowmike wrote:

real-alan wrote:
Nah... just restrict it to forum members who live within say 50 miles of Lissadel....

real-alan, I think we can agree to meet you half way and place restriction allowing only Forum members living within a radius of 300 miles of Lissadell ...
( including Hotel and B/B residents )....

Well that doesn't make me feel any better. Maybe I should move to Lissadell in anticipation
Or book a room now.

I'm checking out condos already Mary!

Sligo Champion, Nov. 2010 :
Decision on Lissadell case next month

The long-awaited High Court decision on the Lissadell House and Estate dispute with Sligo County Council is due to be published on Tuesday 14th December.
The case was instigated by the owners of the historic north Sligo house, Constance Cassidy and Edward Walsh against Sligo County Council after a row erupted over alleged rights of way imposed by the council through the estate.
The decision follows a mammoth 58 day action involving 52 witnesses.

The owners brought the legal proceedings against the local authority after the council passed a resolution in December 2008 to change the development plan to include the preservation of public rights of way through the estate.
Constance Cassidy and Edward Walsh deny the existence of any rights of way and claim opening the routes to the public would mean they could not operate the estate as a tourist attraction.
Following the legal proceedings, the house was closed to the public in January 2009 but reopened during the summer, partly due to the success of the Leonard Cohen and Westlife concerts on the grounds. It again reopened following the successful concerts until last month, October.
The decision will determine the future of Lissadell. The case has been described as a lose-lose situation for County Sligo as the house could close permanently if the Council wins. If the council loses it faces legal fees in excess of €6m which it can ill afford. The fees could bankrupt the council which is currently tethering on such a possibility.

Hi Mick,

This seems like a simplistic answer but since this could be a lose-lose situation for Sligo, why can't the Sligo County Council approach Constance Cassidy and Edward Walsh and say "we've made a mistake and understand your position", and request that everything be dropped. Surely that might be possible. In these tremulous economic times for Ireland one would think that anything that could increase the income of an area (surely the 3 concerts at Lissadell in the summer proved that) would be welcome. Speaking as an outsider (a very outsider) I tend to be on the side of Cassidy and Walsh. Lissadell is magnificent, not only as a concert venue, but as a place of beauty....the connection to Yeats, the gardens, the beautiful ocean views. It should be preserved as such. Guess I'm just not understanding why the Council is so dead set to allow traffic to pass through the estate. My best wishes for a just decision.

Diana

Sligo County Council are pursuing the case because they know it is the taxpayer who will foot the bill if the case goes against them so it is a matter of indifference to them.

Interesting, Jim. If the Sligo County Council happen to be elected positions, I would hope there would be a turnover of Council members in the next election. We're not much better; but the Lissadell situation is simply a nonsensical issue in the first place, and even worse if the taxpayer ends up being responsible for the right decision by the court. Amazing...

Any chance LC will return to the USA via Sligo?

ladydi wrote:
why can't the Sligo County Council approach Constance Cassidy and Edward Walsh and say "we've made a mistake and understand your position", and request that everything be dropped. Surely that might be possible.
Diana

Sligo Co.Co will still have to pay their legal team...

Snow has fallen and a cold spell has set in. At least we have the warm thoughts of LC in Lissadell to drive out the cold!

jdhayes » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:05 pm
Sligo County Council are pursuing the case because they know it is the taxpayer who will foot the bill if the case goes against them so it is a matter of indifference to them.

The Council pursued the case following legal advice,
it is the legal eagles who will benefit most (we all know "there are none so wise as the Lawyer guys" )

Has anyone any good news for the thread? Any meet-ups over the Christmas period to watch IrishAl's home-made videos?

by jdhayes » Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:14 pm
Has anyone any good news for the thread? Any meet-ups over the Christmas period to watch IrishAl's home-made videos?

not much chance of arranging anything before Christmas but we could aim for a meet-up in early January .

I bet Lissadell is beautiful in snow! I'll keep that happy picture in my mind!

Diana

I think poor LC and the band would freeze to death if they were in Sligo right now. Next year August 1st would be perfect!