Spent a few hours in New York – went to meet someone for lunch and later decided to go to a Broadway Show. I had never seen Phantom of The Opera and tried to get a good value ticket. Went to the theatre and got one at a good rate and decided to go for it. There was time to kill then so decided to go to the 9/11 memorial and spend some time there. I wanted to remember there, in a special way, Kieran Gorman and his family.
Kieran’s name is on the South Memorial – one of the two memorials that stand on the site of the original towers. They are impressive and the flowing waters remind us of the lives of all whose names are recorded there and the difference they made.
I didn’t go into “Freedom Tower” – there was a long line waiting to do so and, to be honest, having spent a few minutes there and with Kieran having been remembered, I felt I had achieved my aim. The tower is an impressive building and stands tall in world of tall buildings.
Leaving the memorial, I walked to Vesey Street to visit again the Irish Famine Memorial. I hadn’t been there in sometime but wanted to see it again. It’s story, rooted in the Diocese of Achonry and Parish of Attymass, centres around the ruins of an old family house. The house, taken down stone by stone, was transported to New York and rebuilt in its fallen state on the site of the Famine Memorial.
It is a truly amazing piece of work. It makes the point that following the famine and the resulting emigration homes were left to fall in, uncared for and unoccupied. A reminder that people are the true cornerstone of the home and without them the building cannot stand.
I met a man and his wife there. He was taking a picture of a stone from Co. Roscommon because his people came from there. He had never been to Ireland and his wife is Chinese. He was explaining to her the importance of this stone for him. We chatted for a while and I wondered how many people came there to connect with stories they have been told – stories handed through the generations. It is a good connection and good to have a place to make those connections.
The time passed, I came away glad to have re-visited both places and I had the Phantom of The Opera to look forward to …..
“The angel of music ……” maybe that’s another story!
PHANTOM’S VOICE: Brava, brava, bravissima . . .
MEG:
Christine, Christine…
(Phantom: Christine…)
Where in the world
Have you been hiding?
Really, you were perfect!
I only wish
I knew your secret!
Who is your great tutor?
CHRISTINE:
Father once spoke of an angel
I used to dream he’d appear
Now as I sing, I can sense him
And I know he’s here
Here in this room
He calls me softly
Somewhere inside hiding
Somehow I know
He’s always with me
He – the unseen genius
MEG:
Christine, you must have been dreaming, stories like this can’t come true
Christine, you’re talking in riddles, and it’s not like you!
CHRISTINE:
Angel of Music!
Guide and guardian!
Grant to me your glory!
MEG(to herself):
Who is this angel? This…
BOTH:
Angel of Music!
Hide no longer!
Secret and strange angel
CHRISTINE:
He’s with me, even now…
MEG:
Your hands are cold…
CHRISTINE:
All around me…
MEG:
Your face, Christine, it’s white…
CHRISTINE:
It frightens me…
MEG:
Don’t be frightened…