He was touched by the gesture.
Rod Stewart got visibly emotional after Ryan Tubridy presented him with a first edition book of poetry written by 1916 revolutionary Joseph Mary Plunkett.
The interview was conducted this week in RTÉ and will air on tonight’s episode of The Late Late Show.
The singer has a famous cover of ‘Grace’, a song depicts the life and tragic romance between Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett and Joseph Plunkett.
“We were trying to think of something as a present we could give to you because we like what you’ve done with that story,” Tubridy said.
“So we’ve found a collection of poetry by Joseph Mary Plunkett and it was published in 1916, it’s a first edition and it’s our gift from us to you.”
The singer was visibly emotional as he received the gift and said, “That is truly amazing, thank you so much.”
Clip via RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA
Previously, during an interview with Billboard, Stewart said that he wasn’t allowed to perform ‘Grace’ during an appearance on BBC our to the anti-English overtones in the song.
“Also, they won’t let me sing ‘Grace’ because of its Irish, anti-English overtones in the song,” Stewart said.
“Forget about it, it’s one of the greatest love songs ever written.
“The guy goes to his death 15 minutes the next morning after he’s been married and I can’t sing that one either.”
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