Leonard Cohen and the magic of Sligo’s hidden gem, Lissadell House
In the vast expanse of green that often sheets major country areas, rarely does a manmade obstruction add to the peace and serenity. The ones that do offer rich histories which hide in plain sight behind the silence of their everyday existence, offering romanticism and poetry that lurks beneath the surface. Leonard Cohen could dream up such a place with words alone, but it exists in Lissadell House, located in the beautiful county of Sligo, Ireland.
The extensive gardens and parklands that surround Lissadell House would provide enough inspiration for any creative mind. One look at the country house speaks to its extensive Irish culture and ties to literature, which continues to become immortalised through various forms of art. William Butler Yeats, for instance, frequently alluded to Lissaddell in his work, most notably in his poem ‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz’ which referenced it in the opening lines: “The light of evening, Lissadell / Great windows open to the south / Two girls in silk kimonos, both / Beautiful, one a gazelle.”
Cohen performed twice at Lissadell House in 2010 to over 20,000 people. According to Constance Cassidy, who owns the country house with her husband, Cohen was rather open about his appreciation for the place, claiming it to be among his top favourite spots to perform, the only other being the Kremlin. Although he delivered a heartfelt performance during the bank holiday, his voice descending upon the historic venue wasn’t the only magic to happen that weekend.
At the time, Cohen also became immersed in Yeats’ artistry, feeling closer to the poet, who shared the same affinity for the house. Yeats frequented the location as a holiday home, which influenced much of his writing, not just ‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz’. The opulent interiors of the mansion provide an immersive glimpse into Ireland’s storied past and vibrant cultural heritage along with Yeat’s sheer artistry – something that Cohen felt he was very much walking in the footsteps of.
In fact, just before he began performing, he recited the first lines of ‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz’, delivering a poignant ode to Lissadell in the presence of the mountains of Benbulben and a captivated audience. Per The Irish Times, there was also a rainbow, which speaks to the organic beauty present in that one fleeting moment – Cohen was a legend himself. Still, the beautiful Sligo surroundings and historic tapestry made it feel like it was all a part of something much bigger.
When Cohen passed away, a part of him became immortalised in the Lissadell grounds. “There is a real sense of sadness in Sligo,” Cassidy said, who, along with many others, had high hopes for the singer’s return to the mansion. “We wanted him to come back to us. We wanted him to feel that magical feeling he felt when he was here,” she said, almost beckoning him home to where he felt the most understood.
Although Cohen made a lasting impact in many ways, there was something in the air that day: a magnetism that couldn’t be put into words even by those who attended. John Reynolds, the concert promoter, put it aptly when he said: “People talk about magic at shows, and it’s an indefinable thing, but those nights in Lissadell had an aura about them that I’ve never experienced before and will likely never experience again.”
