America: July 4th 2026!

 America: July 4th 2026!

Searching for something to mark the occasion of the 4th of July, I settled on the above and its historical significance. Best remembered today for its mention in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1861 poem, 'Paul Revere's Ride' where some of the descriptive text is excellent; though I believe  the poetic license here tends to stray a bit.

The Irish connection to the American revolution is such that it would probably never have succeeded without them. British testimony (AI) estimates it at one - half of the total recruits and you can pick your own percentage. The Gaelic language was as common as the English one according to a number of historians. Washington is reputed to have said that if he had to make a last - stand he would make it with the the Virginia Scots- Irish. Driven from Ulster by the 'Penal Laws' they would help to lay the foundations of the United States of America.

The Catholic population who arrived after the Great Famine of the 1840s and who fought on both sides in the American Civil war of 1861 -1865, though predominantly on the Union side, will list like the Scots - Irish before them as some of the most important names in American history and yet for either there is very little mention of them here today; or commemorations of any sort for that matter and this does not reflect on us well as a people. The figure of those who fought in these conflicts is as great if not greater than in the first world war and there are more than a few commemorations for that. Strange. The above video was posted by 'Ye Old Tavern Tours' and with thanks.   

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure/June 2026!

 An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure.

Greetings, 

A quick reminder that we have our poetry session
today (Tuesday 30th June) at 7.30pm.

The guiding theme: Poetry of WB Yeats. 

(By the way WB Yeats was born on the 13th June 1865)

And we have update on our Poetry Publishing Project. 

Slán go fóill 

Jim.

087 9676728

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ July Meeting 2026!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ July Meeting 2026!

The next meeting of our group takes place this Thursday night coming the 2nd of July in Trim Library, County Meath at 6.15pm and new members are always welcome. Membership is free and the library facilities are excellent so whether your interest is poetry or short stories or novels or music then we'd love to see you there. Hoping to have a book out by the end of the year if possible and that's always something to look forward to. See you there.

The Gift Of The View ~ Orla Fay!

The Gift Of The View ~ Orla Fay!

Orla Fay's second collection is a series of poems where the focus shifts from the everyday to the personal and where the gift is as much the view as of the lens through which she observes the world around her. Everything from the self-observed to remembering friends or those she has known or knows to patterns of war and conflict dipping into myths and mythologies both classical and local where she is as adept with words and references to detail as escape the ordinary. Published by Revival Press it retails at €15 Euro and is available in all good bookshops. One for your bookshelves. 

 

Kris Kristofferson ~ Jody and the Kid!

Kris Kristofferson ~ Jody and the Kid!

Almost slipped by but today is the anniversary of the birth of one of the greats of the American country/folk genre whose lists of accomplishments and achievements are almost impossible to measure. Recorded by just about everyone who was anyone he also starred in a number of films and was an academic by any standard. Loaded by Muos Karaoke and with thanks.

* If you're reading this please type his name into the search box top left for some other great songs.

Kris Kristofferson: June 22 1936 - September 28 2024

 

No Second Troy ~ Read by Sinéad O' Connor.

W.B. Yeats ~ No Second Troy. 

More than a few days late but a fine poem in honour of a fine poet who was a Nobel Prize winner and wrote some of our best remembered poems. Here the singer Sinéad O' Connor recites the poem he wrote about Maud Gonne. A muse perhaps. Loaded by 'National Library Ireland' and with thanks.

W.B. Yeats: 13 June 1865 - Jan 28 1939. 

James Joyce - Ulysses : Molly Bloom' Soliloquy, The Last 50 Lines.

 Bloom's Day: June 16 ~ 2026.

Leading on from Stephen Rea's yes yes yes, here's Angeline Ball in her award winning role. I think the Joycean scholar and Senator, David Norris once remarked that she was the best he'd ever seen in the role. So here's something to mark Bloom's Day. Came across an interesting piece on 'Finnegans Wake' with Finnegan's Wake the other day and must get back to it sometime. This video was posted by 'MichaelAskil' and with thanks. To Youtube for comments and further information.