Today I found out that Cathal Coughlan – the musician I’ve been most fiercely devoted to over the past few years, rivalled only by Suede – died at the too young age of 61. No musician’s death has affected me as much as this and I have floated through the afternoon and evening in a daze.

It was thanks to Harvey Williams that I bought a ticket in late 2017 to the Microdisney reunion show at the Barbican for June 2018, mere weeks after Ireland repealed the 8th. Ticket bought too late in untypical Jennifer style, I was stuck somewhere in the middle right of the vast hall. When this band and THAT singer – Cathal – came on stage and performed, I was shaken. They were perfect, marrying elegant guitars with ferocious and articulate storytelling with a soaring voice like no other. They were MINE. Where had this band been all my life? They’d only reunited for an awards performance in Dublin a few weeks prior.

I remember walking from the Barbican to the west end that hot June evening, het up and fizzing. I became obsessed immediately and drowned myself in everything Microdisney had ever recorded.

Soon after, the band announced their final 2 reunion shows, to be held in Dublin and Cork in February 2019. My best girl Anastasiya joined me for these. I remember shaking with nerves before the Vicar Street show but calmed down when I got to the centre barrier. “Good evening, we are Meecro-disney”, said Cathal when he came to the stage. I had a feeling he lurked on the Tricks For The Barmaid – A Microdisney Group fan forum and that statement confirmed it for me.

Hanging out in the bar after, I hoped the band would come out though they must have been inundated with well wishers. I met Eileen Gogan who was singing with the band and she was grateful to see a woman down the front! So many delightful and gregarious people I met that night, all glowing and enthusiastic, including Ciarán, who I later found out was not only an early photographer extraordinaire of all bands Corkonian, but also had led the band Cypress, Mine!

Heading down to the city that birthed Microdisney the next day, Anastasiya and I sat next to a sort of alternative couple on the train from Dublin. Later at the bar at Cyprus Avenue, the woman from the train pair came up to me in the bar to say hello. The venue was intimate and packed with Cathal and Cork alumni all full of love for this band. I was interviewed by the female filmmakers of the Microdisney documentary. I finally worked up the courage to go speak to Cathal. Once I was in his eyesight, he locked onto me and never wavered, despite so many fans and well-wishers wanting his attention. I will never forget that intensity of our first chat.

Soon, a solo show was to come in Dublin in May at the Sugar Club where he sang some of his songs but mainly Gustav Mahler songs in German with a small orchestra. Anastasiya wished him well on the way back from the loo. I was nervous but he was, as always, in his own performance league – we just wanted to hear that voice.

A new identity emerged – Co-Aklan. Cathal was going to play 2 nights in the small city of Kilkenny at their arts festival at an even smaller venue, the John Cleere pub. Here I felt like part of a sort of Cathal community, and also like the belle of the ball, even being spotted on the street (Thanks, John!). It was rare to find a young-ish female Cathal obsessive! I met so many charming fans and had memorable conversations before and after both shows, including with Ronan, with whom I had ice cream and went wandering around this cathedral town.

August 2019 – Cathal plays in Dublin at the NCH for a night devoted to the songs of Brel. I miss it as I’m in Lisbon for my birthday.

November 2019 – Cathal’s Microdisney bandmate Sean O’Hagan has released a new solo album and Sean is playing a show at Cafe Oto. I cross everything Cathal will be there and go to the show. He is there (thank you, Brian). Cathal sings a few backing vocals for Sean. After, when speaking to Cathal, I remember a conversation about Greyhound bus journeys in the US and the fact that ‘Blixa Bargeld just does not give a fuck’ (re: the Brecht concert above). This is the last time I will see Cathal in person.

There are fabulously interactive Twitter listening parties for Microdisney’s ‘The Clock Comes Down the Stairs’ and The Fatima Mansions’ ‘Viva Dead Ponies’. Last year, Cathal releases a stunning solo album, ‘Song of Co-Aklan’ that reveals something new to me each time I listen to it. I’m desperate to hear it live and various interviews indicate he seems to be planning to play some shows.

This really fantastic sounding night at the Barbican, ‘Songs in the Key of London’ is announced at the end of 2021 and I buy a ticket immediately because Cathal is to be one of the singers singing songs about London. Finally, I’m going to see this beautiful person sing live again in March 2022. I will gaze up from the front row.

Cathal gets together with his old Irish comrade Jacknife Lee and they record a wonderfullyl strange synth pop album ‘a hAon’ under the name Telefís. I like the album though I don’t love it like I did his solo album from last year. Still, I have the Barbican show to look forward to…until Cathal pulls out just weeks prior due to personal and unforeseen circumstances. I am worried.

And so here we are, a world without future Cathal music, opinions, humour, ferocity, vision. Somehow I found a new community among Microdisney and Cathal fans, and I am grateful for them.

Death is inevitable but he had lots more for us, I had hoped, particularly the release of the Microdisney documentary (and a dreamed-for quiet reunion again). As Cathal sang, “people die, so will I”. All the love to Cathal’s family, friends and fans.

——— Jennifer Reiter, May 23 2022