F. R. Higgins.Went out to Laracor churchyard a number of years ago with Tommy Murray and other members of The Meath Writers' Circle to do a poetry reading at the grave of F. R. Higgins. Another of Meath's almost forgotten writers, though maybe being rescued a little bit by the internet these days. Held in very high regard by his peers if his obituary in the Irish Times was anything to go by, he was born in Foxford Co. Mayo in April 1896 and died on the 8th of January in 1941 in Jervis Street Hospital in Dublin. He was the eldest son of Joseph Higgins and Mrs. Annie Higgins of Higginsbrook Co. Meath, and Meath was said to be the place most dearest to his heart. Hunting around on the internet I came across three readings of his poems and I've added them below. With thanks to youtube! I notice from one of the comments that Ted Hughes suggested that "Song For The Clatter-Bones" is one that should be learned off by heart. So there!
(1) Song For The Clatter-Bones: by Spoken Verse.
clickhere(2) Father and Son: by Pierce Brosnan.
click here
(3) Father and Son: by irelandpoetess.
Click Here
Photo: Headstone/Laracor churchyard Co. Meath. Courtesy: Michael Farry.
5 comments:
Well done Frank. The Brosnan reading is very good. Higgins deserves to be remembered. Maybe we could organise something for his next birthday April.
Nice poems Frank I particularly like Father and Son. It's nice to hear them read both readers very good.
Sheriff
Many thanks for the comments guys, and for the Canadian one, couldn't quite make out the message, but thanks anyway.
FM.
Hi Frank, I am trying to track down the words of a poem The Green Woods Of Slew by FR Higgins. Can you help please?
John Condon
Hi John,
You're probably ahead of me on this but here goes. "Island Blood" (London: The Bodley Head, 1925) has "The Green Woods of Slew" listed in the contents.
The Ria Mooney Papers, copied in National Library, December 23rd 1943 includes The Green Woods of Slew.
Context: Ria Mooney Papers
Catalogue.nli.ie
Format: Manuscript
Call Number: MS 49,603/43 (Manuscript Reading Room)
Rights: Reproduction rights owned by The National Library.
Telephone: 01 603 0200
Dardis Clarke and the Gray family issued Father and Son ~ Selected Poems, a while back. Should be on the blog somewhere. Had a copy (safe place somewhere!) But can't remember if it's included.
Hope the above is of some help. Frank Murphy.
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