Mike Garry: Manchester poet on Cork connections, Blindboy, and mentoring Morrissey 

Mike Garry is on his way back to Cork with a string quartet  

Manchester poet Mike Garry performs in the Crane Lane in Cork, and Levis in Ballydehob. 

Spoken word poet Mike Garry’s connection with Cork goes back a long way. He’s performed in the city many times over the years. Of all his gigs around the globe, he singles out a night at the Cork Singers Club as a favourite.

“It was upstairs in a pub,” remembers Garry. “There was a ringleader telling stories. Then he’d break off and go, ‘Margaret, sing us The Fields of Athenry.’ Margaret would get up and sing The Fields of Athenry. Then halfway through the gig, the guy goes, ‘We've got a very special guest from Manchester, England here, Mr Michael Garry.’ I had to stand up and do a piece.