The Catalpa Rescue 1875!

The Catalpa Rescue: The Greatest Prison Escape in Irish History!

 

One of the most daring rescues ever, this documentary/film was directed and edited by Marcus Howard from the Easter Rising stories. It's better to watch this on the YouTube channel because of the difficulties in loading and also for the comments. It is incredibly detailed and is one to sit in for or watch in instalments, or the aftermath and what happened to the individuals concerned, which is included in the summary. The story of John Boyle O' Reilly who was born in Dowth, County Meath in June 1844 and who died very young in 1890 is told, with regard to the above rescue, but he was one of the most outstanding men ever to come out of this county. His ascendancy to the pinnacle of American society was extraordinary and he was described as one of America's foremost poets. On his death, memorials were held around the world. Will add one of his poems to the above when I get back to this. With thanks to Easter Rising Stories who posted. 

Melodies at Eventide ~ Rex Lee!

 Rex Lee ~ Melodies at Eventide!

An email from The Manuscript Publisher on the anniversary of the death of author and activist Rex Lee, included a link to the video above and a reminder of what an extraordinary man he was. Born with cerebral palsy on the 23rd of May 1939 he overcame all obstacles to lead a creative and productive life that would defy all the pronouncements made by the medical profession. A member of The Meath Writer's Circle and at a time before Covid reined us all in, the above video is of the launch of his memoirs in Kells Library, County Meath. Adopting a philosophy of physical and mental compensation, he lived a life that would leave most of us in the shade and left an example to all of us. Rex Lee died on the 9th of January 2025. His book is I'm sure still available from his publisher or in your local library and a great read  but especially if you're from the Kells area of County Meath. The above video was posted by Drumlin Media and with thanks.

Rex Lee: 23rd May 1939 - 9th January 2025 

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ June 2026!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ June 2026!

The next meeting of our writing group takes place on this Thursday night coming (4th of June) at 6.15 pm in Trim Library, County Meath and new members are always welcome. So whether you're an aspiring poet or storyteller or just like to sing a few songs then we'd love to see you there. Membership is free and the facilities are excellent and we hope to have a book out by the end of the year. If you've something you'd like to be included or just wish to put pen to paper or listen in - always welcome. Hope to see you there. 

Bob Dylan on The Clancy Brothers, Slane Castle Ireland 1984!

 Bob Dylan on The Clancy Brothers, Slane Castle Ireland 1984!

A little late for Bob's birthday (May 24th 1941) but here he pays some tribute to a group who took Irish culture and ballads all the way from the back streets of Ireland to the White House and as he himself remarked on more than one occasion, Liam Clancy was the best ballad singer he had ever heard and in my opinion nobody could recite a poem better or bring a little magic to the words like Liam. The video was loaded by CR's Video Vaults and with thanks. To Youtube for the comments and other videos.

Poetry for Pleasure ~ An Tobar/May 2026!

Poetry for Pleasure ~ An Tobar/May2026!

Good morning, 

A reminder that we have our poetry session
tomorrow (Tuesday 26th May) at 7.30pm. 

The guiding theme: Poem or poems that you are submitting for
The An Tobar Book of Poetry. 

Still time to submit some of your unpublished poems
for the forthcoming book.

One can email them to  'Poems for An Tobar Publication'
Email address  is pfpantobar@outlook.com

Or bring a copy tomorrow evening,
typed or hand written. All work very welcome.

Poems can be on any topic
and you can submit up to three poems if you wish. 

Please don't let "The Best be the enemy of the Good" !!

Happy composing

Slán go fóill 

Jim.

087 9676728 

  

Bards to Fontains DC ~ Ireland's 2000 - Year Poetic Tradition!

 Bards to Fontains DC.

 

This video was loaded by 'Boru Video' so with a lot of thanks. Will get back to it with personal comments over the next few days but I've had a quick run through and it looks more that interesting, or at least if you want to put the history of Ireland and our poets or poetry in any sort of context. So looking forward to going through it slowly. Will get back!

*Fine video above and one that should probably be on the school curriculum, as few today have any real knowledge of  a culture and tradition that almost disappeared  in the last few hundred years. While writers such as W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory and others of the Celtic Revival have been credited with picking up the threads, which they did, it was the success of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in America that really brought it home to our general public and in a time when our national broadcaster thought it was in the Home Counties and still does to some degree. This also applies to at least some our regional broadcasting stations today. The Fontaines DC have millions and millions of streams, so will have to chase that up a bit more. 

Paddy Mayne ~ I Keep Waking Up!

Paddy Mayne ~ I Keep Waking Up. 

A conversation with a ghost. From the television series 'Rogue Heroes'.

Poetry all the way.

*To Youtube and Wikipedia.

With thanks to 'Crashment' who posted.