A NEW eight-part documentary series exploring the life and times of Dublin singer, storyteller and social historian Luke Cheevers is being broadcast on Dublin South 93.9fm.
The Raytown Rhymer that explores various aspects of Dublin’s social history as well as local singing traditions goes out every Tuesday at 2pm.
Born in Ringsend, a place of which he is extremely proud, Luke is widely acknowledged as the quintessential Dublin singer and has a wide and eclectic repertoire, as well as a unique performance style.
A stalwart of the renowned GóilÃn singers club in Dublin, he is also a champion of the art of recitation and is well known for his inimitable performance skills.
An avid reader and book collector, Luke is encyclopedic in his knowledge of a wide range of subjects of which Dublin’s social and literary history is an obvious one.
But there is also maritime history, the song tradition, boxing, piracy, Napoleon, and poetry.
Luke’s love of poetry is very evident, and he is likely to break into either song or a rendition of John Betjeman, Pablo Neruda or Seamus Heaney at the drop of a hat.
“Luke really is unique, there’s nobody quite like him,
? said Nicholas Carolan, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin’s Merrion Square.
Singer Niamh Parsons agrees.
“Luke is such a fun person to be around,
? she said.
“His knowledge of, and commitment to, the song tradition is unequalled.
“He is a real character, and always includes and encourages young singers.”
As well as featuring Luke as a singer and a champion of the dying art of recitation, the series also explores his very extensive knowledge of Dublin’ s social history by taking a walking tour of various parts of the city that he knows like the back of his hand.
There is Grafton Street, where he has worked as a window cleaner for the past 50 years, his native Ringsend, where he recalls the vivid and colourful community in which he grew up and the Great South Wall leading out to the Poolbeg lighthouse, where he spent much time as a boy.
The programme also features what can only be described as a sitting tour of Bewleys in Grafton Street, a place where Luke worked for many years.
In this programme he remembers the many colourful characters who worked there and those who frequented this crucial social hub at the centre of the city.
Other themes explored in the series include the history of cinema in Dublin, musical life over the decades, working class history in the city, Dublin’s literary heritage and, of course, its song tradition.
The Raytown Rhymer on Dublin South fm (93.9fm) continues for the following eight weeks.
The Raytown Rhymer is produced for Dublin South fm by Sound Woman Productions and made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound & Vision scheme.