President Higgins to Release Debut Spoken Word Album
President Michael D Higgins will release his first spoken word album, Against All Certainty, on 5th September. The collection features ten original poems by the President, set to music composed by Myles O’Reilly.
The album, recorded in Áras an Uachtaráin and issued by Claddagh Records, marks Higgins’ first recorded spoken word poetry project. He has previously published four collections – The Betrayal, The Season of Fire, An Arid Season and New and Selected Poems.
According to those involved, listeners can expect to be fully transposed into the incredibly interesting life and times of the poet before he became Ireland’s President, from childhood to adulthood. The project will also be accompanied by a series of videos exploring aspects of the President’s early life.
Against All Certainty will be available in multiple formats, including CD and vinyl. The first 600 copies purchased will include a poem signed by President Higgins, with a maximum of two copies per order on the Golden Discs website..
The release coincides with a sold-out event at the National Concert Hall on the evening of 5th September, titled “Against All Certainty – A Celebration of Michael D. Higgins”. The programme will place the President’s poems at its centre, read by poet Paula Meehan, novelist Sebastian Barry, rapper God Knows, singer and poet Imelda May, broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, performer Panti Bliss and actor Olwen Fouéré. They will be accompanied by O’Reilly and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
The concert will also feature performances by Imelda May, Martin Hayes, Paul Brady, Mary Coughlan, Andy Irvine, Myles O’Reilly with Ronan Ó Snodaigh, as well as emerging artists Niamh Bury, Muireann Bradley, Brían Mac Gloinn and Seán Boylan.
