Hey, that's no way to say goodbye - Cohen signs off with a mystery
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Leonard Cohen has left a million happy memories behind in Sligo in the wake of his unforgettable Lissadell concerts --but he's also left an intriguing mystery as to whether he actually signed the visitors' book at Drumcliffe graveyard when he visited the grave of W. B. Yeats.
The visitors' book contains two signatures purporting to be those of the legendary Canadian singer/songwriter, but doubts have emerged about their authenticity.
The rector of Drumcliffe group of parishes, Revd. Ian Linton, has now shelved plans to put on public display the entry in the visitors book which he believed was Cohen's authentic signature until such time as the confusion is clarified.
Some light may be shed on the mystery later today (Wednesday) when Mr. Mike Purcell of the Leonard Cohen Forum is due to travel from Carlow to view both signatures.
He has already spoken to Mr. Cohen's manager in an attempt to ascertain when the singer actually visited Drumcliffe Church and graveyard, as the visitors' book was signed on two separate dates.The first entry, signed L. Cohen, Montreal, is dated Friday, July 30th, which was the opening day of the Lissadell festival. The second signature is Leonard Cohen, and the word 'sublime' is written in the column reserved for comments. This entry is dated August 1st, the final day of the Lissadell shows.
"We believe the chances are that one of them is authentic," Revd. Linton told THE SLIGO CHAMPION, " but the problem is which one.
Revealing that it was he who had torn the page with the L. Cohen's signature from the visitors' book in order to protect it from vandalism, he said they had planned to frame it and put it on public display in the adjoining tea house. They still hoped to display the authenticated signature.
"We are certain that Leonard Cohen visited the graveyard and church, so hopefully, somebody will be able to tell us definitively which one is his correct signature, because it would be lovely to be able to display it."
Adding to the confusion is that the August 1st entry is also signed by 'Jes' Leonard, but according to Mr. Purcell, nobody of that name accompanied Mr. Leonard to Sligo.
"We are aware that Leonard's daughter, Lorca, was in Sligo, and there is a woman called Jes in the family, but she was not in Sligo. I would say one of the signatures is definitely a forgery, but hopefully we can authenticate the other one, because we believe Leonard did visit the graveyard and the likelihood is that he would have signed the book," Mr. Purcell added.
- JIM GRAY
