Interview - Myles O’Reilly
to go to Cambodia, they have this ancient one-string instrument and there’s only one guy who survived the genocide who knows how to play it. He’s in his 80’s and he’s the master. I want to bring Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, one of Ireland’s best string players, to meet him and see what happens between them.” For a man who cheated death this year, it’s only right that he keeps his dreams in sight. A throat infection that he picked up at last year’s Electric Picnic turned into something far more serious when he tried to fend it off with several types of antibiotics while travelling through India. When he returned home, his immune system completely gave up. The bacteria in his body started multiplying and he was admitted to hospital on Christmas Day, his head swollen to twice its normal size and the skin struggling to contain it. He was operated on twice as the fluid travelled dangerously close to his brain. He was told that he may not survive. “Luckily I came through it suddenly coming out of the coma I’m aware that some of the things I saw were incredible. I’ve taken Issue 03
mushrooms once in a while and it’s an extraordinary experience but nothing compares to what I saw when I was in that coma - hearing full-blown songs, I was talking to people . . . so many stories and adventures. It was like Alice in Wonderland. I’m aware that a lot of it was down to the chemicals, but there were some profoundly beautiful moments where I met relatives who had passed away and who consoled me.”
“I’ve taken mushrooms once in a while and it’s an extraordinary experience but nothing compares to what I saw when I was in that coma.” He was eager to work as soon as he was discharged from hospital and lined up a number of projects - some to pay the bills but he also plans to focus on his passion projects; shining the light on smaller artists who need and deserve recognition. He’s kept pretty busy, but there have been periods of time - from two weeks up to three months - where no jobs
have been coming in, but that’s when he sets himself time to seek out those smaller artists. Those projects aren’t money-makers, but they provide a bigger sense of fulfilment that resonates with any true music fan. At present, the last project he has lined up is with Lisa Hannigan and Aaron Dessner in Lismore Castle this September. “That will be really interesting but that’s the last thing in my calendar, it’s a little bit daunting. I really hope someone gets in contact with me afterwards. I’m pretty confident that they will.” He isn’t driven by commercial success and chooses to live in a world void of sponsorship and royalties. “I’m past the point where I can work with someone else. I’m not this team member anymore. I’m an orphan. I had a career that fell apart; I had to deal with it on my own. I had no one else to help me. I’m not someone who can step into a team role now and order a film crew around and give a producer money to tell me what to do. Part of me wishes that down the line I could have kids and a bigger house but I don’t worry about how that’s going to happen now. I’m just happy being absolutely free”. 11