Memories and other stuff compiled in Joe Connolly's cocoon
Joe is the author of Pure Drama from Behind the Spotlight, Musical Theatre from Behind the Spotlight, and Musicals and Drama from Behind the Spotlight. Respectively they represent deep histories of the Kildare Drama Festival, musical societies from the 1920s to today, and 75 years of student productions in Newbridge College.
The sudden onset of Covid-19 restrictions and what he admits was a 'frightening' series of messages for over-70s to 'stay at home' and 'cocoon', triggered him to gather together a number of pieces which he'd had published online and in print down the years, and release them in the compendium A Grief that Convulsed the Nation and other Memoirs, Family Recollections and Short Stories.
While cocooning he added photographs and illustrations associated with the various pieces and compiled them in one book. "They recalled many happy memories from my life," he says. "I had them stored away, hoping, sometime in the future somebody would re-read them. Wakening up on the morning of March 25th 2020 I found myself in the most surreal period of my life and in total contrast to what I had written. Radio and newspaper reports were very stark: 'Covid-19 Ten further deaths, 255 new cases in Ireland'. I decided to revamp my work ... whatever the outcome of this pandemic, I wish to leave my memories from better days."
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