Tenor John McCormack returns to Ireland for brief visit
Dun Laoghaire, 17 September 1922 – The world famous Irish tenor, John McCormack, is back in Ireland.
McCormack arrived in Dun Laoghaire by morning boat on 16 September and went straight to the Royal Marine Hotel.
His intention in returning had been to attend the Tailteann Games. The festival was abandoned however, owing to the ongoing civil strife, which he said he hoped would reach a speedy settlement, thereby restoring peace, freedom and happiness to the country he loves so well.
Mr McCormack voiced approval for the establishment of a government-aided operatic organisation similar to the one in Chicago, and with grants akin to those which were provided for the Tailteann Games.
Mr McCormack is travelling with his wife Lily, son Cyril and daughter Gwen and an extended party that includes Kevin Foley, whose parents lost their lives in the RMS Leinster disaster in October 1918.
After visiting his homeland and meeting up with some of his old friends, Mr McCormack is expected to travel to Scotland and then to Paris, where he will appear as the Duke in the opera, Rigoletto, a part which he has played before.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
