‘His name will go down with the greats of Ireland’
Cork poet Daragh Fleming performed his poem on the Late Late Show(Image: RTÉ)
Cork poet and writer Daragh Fleming enchanted TV viewers last night as he performed a beautiful poem about St Patrick’s Day. The specially commissioned poem focused on the importance of community, love and Irish pride.
The award-winning mental health advocate and talented wordsmith performed his piece on RTÉ’s Late Late Show, as a background screen played nostalgic clips of St Patrick’s Day celebrations from past and present. He spoke to the background music of the poignant fiddle tune “Alistrum’s March” by Irish/American music supergroup The Gloaming.
It was a lovely segment ahead of our patron saint’s day, and the poem blew many viewers away and even brought a tear to eyes across the country. Fans raced to social media to commend Daragh on his touching words and performance, including one proud Irishman who said: “We’re a great frigging nation, aren’t we? Brings a tear to the eye that one.”
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One commenter described it as “Absolutely gorgeous,” while another said they were looking forward to the performance. They said: “Couldn’t wait for the late late tonight to hear Daragh.. such a gifted poet.”
Another viewer said: “I love this! I’d give anything to hear him say, “this our land, this is Ireland.” A fourth added: “A gifted poet and absolute legend.”
One person said Daragh is “a brilliant Poet! His name will go down with the greats of Ireland and all around the world.”
And another who spotted a clip of themselves as a tot in the background montage of St Patrick’s Day parades rushed to point out: “That’s me as a baby sitting on the ground waving the flag at 9 seconds in! Thanks @latelaterte, it was such a surprise to see it pop up on the TV !!”
Click here to watch the performance on the Late Late Show’s Instagram.