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
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.
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.
Usually a day late but here I am a few days early so maybe I'll load something for Bloom's Day as well. Here Stephen Fry tells of why he thinks Ulysses is the best book ever written. Reading a book by Lord Dunsany at the moment where he recounts some of the escapades by the one Oliver St. John Gogarty, the gentleman who was in the Martello tower with Joyce and who fired a revolver in the early hours of the morning causing Joyce some discomfort I'm sure, though Joyce got his literary revenge later in Ulysses by modelling 'Stately Plump Buck Mulligan' on the same Oliver. Anyway that's how the story goes and they are endless. I'll stop and let you listen to Stephen who is one of the most interesting individuals out there. This video was loaded by 'Whyilovethis book' and with thanks.
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 and to Frances Rocks who is listed in the credits.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Orla Fay is an award winning and widely published poet from Dunderry in County Meath and her new poetry collection will be launched by Michael Farry in the Swift Cultural Centre in Trim on Sunday 31st of May at 6.00pm. Orla was the Poet Laureate (Poetry Town) for Dunshaughlin in 2021 and was the editor of the literary magazine Boyne Berries for many years. She now edits her own online and hard copy magazine at Drawn to the Light Press, which is both excellently presented and laid out, but also easily accessible. Her poetry just doesn't reflect on the world that's around her but also has the insight to make some very keen observations and the thread of virtues such as kindness is never far away. She can craft together a piece on any subject presented and her new collection 'The Gift of The View' is sure to offer new perspective.
Christy Moore is one of Ireland's leading performers and is probably the most important, if only for the stance he has taken on many controversial issues over the years where others were afraid to stand up. Banned by the National broadcaster for his song about the Stardust tragedy he was stopped and detained by the Special Branch at Hollyhead with regard to some of the lyrics in his songs. Here he sings about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War and this was after he was inspired by a book he read on the subject. He was also instrumental in stopping a nuclear power plant from going ahead at Carnsore Point in Wexford. You could go on and on. He was born on May 7th in 1945. So happy birthday there. This video was loaded by 'StoptheWarCoalition'. Amen to that. To Youtube for the comments and many other videos.
* The absolutely excellent guitar playing is by Declan Sinnott.
The next meeting of our group takes place this Thursday night coming in Trim Library at 6.15 pm and new members are always welcome. So whether you write poetry or prose, short stories or novels or just play a little music now and then, we'd love to see you there. Membership is free and the Library facilities are excellent. All the best. FM.
Something for the day that's in in and a little explanation for those of us who may not be too familiar with the wheel of the year from Celtic mythology. From Candlelit Tales and with thanks.
A warning to all of ye by Paula Meehan. Loaded by RamboEire and with thanks. Paula Meehan is one of Ireland's leading poets and playwrights and was installed as Ireland Professor of Poetry by President Michael D. Higgins in 2013. Many other honours and credits to her name and a visit to Wikipedia and Youtube is a must.
Australian masterpiece and one of the most visually stunning films ever made it tells the story of a teenage girl and her brother who are stranded in the Australian Outback after their father tries to kill them. Rescued by an Aboriginal boy on a rite of passage (Walkabout) it begins and ends in tragedy. Directed by Nicolas Roeg and with a screenplay by Edward Bond, starring Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg and David Gulpilil, it was made on a shoestring budget under extreme conditions and released to less than rave reviews. Originally age restricted it was later issued with a parental guidance. The British Film Institute listed it as one of the fifty films everyone should see before they are fourteen. The film finale sees the girl, now an adult, embraced by her husband as he talks of promotion and office politics and her eyes drift away..... The voice over is of A.E. Housman's poem XL from 'A Shropshire Lad' and the music is from John Murray. It has its critics of animal cruelty, swimming scenes and racial issues etc but as one of the comments on Youtube remarks, "It stays with you" and that's art. Couldn't be made today,
Jenny Agutter was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her charitable services.
Can't say I'm familiar with his work, as it doesn't tend to show up unless you go looking for it but he was considered a mystic by some and a non-conformist by others and a genius by others and he is said to have influenced many of the Beat poets and others of the modern era. Loaded by 'SpokenVerse' and with thanks.
Here's one I'm not familiar with, the poem was first published in 1929 by Fountain Press and is one of a collection published in 'The Winding Stair and Other Poems' in 1933. A visit to Wikipedia is essential here for information on the background to the poems or the collection itself. Loaded by Aimee Reads Poetry and with thanks.
This one has a closing date of midnight of Sunday May the third and prizewinners will be informed a week in advance of the ceremony and afforded the opportunity to read their winning poem. The entry fee is €10 for three poems and full details are available on their site given below. The adjudicator is Gerry Boland and the first prize is €600 with €250 for the second and €150 for the third. Pallas is a beautiful part of the country and well worth a visit at any time. The prize winning ceremony is on Sunday May 31st.
One of the first LP s I ever bought back in the sixties was 'The Sound of Silence' and the above track was included. So to follow on from the theme of last night's meeting in An Tobar (March); a journey through the summer months; though I believe the song relates to a certain lady or romance,whether real or imagined I do not know. Simon and Garfunkel are two of America's finest artists and the above video was loaded by Ivan Blazek so with thanks. Go to Youtube for the comments.
Looking out of my front window the cherry blossom tree is coming into bloom and it brought to mind Housman's poem which is more than suitable for this time of the year. The master of melancholy captures the moment well. Tom O' Bedlam is one of the best poetry readers out there so going with his version, although there are many other versions out there. In the comments section on Youtube it says that the photo is not of him but that of his younger brother Laurence who was also said to be an accomplished artist. I have or had a copy of the book somewhere in the house but can't locate it now. So with thanks to 'Spoken Verse'. Suggest a visit to Wikipedia for background info on the poet and please enjoy the reading. There is another short poem of his from the collection that I like and maybe will load it next.
Tomorrow celebrates the above so I'm a day early which makes a change. The background as to how the 21st of March was adopted, you'll have to chase up but it is what it is. The theme for the day is, Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion, whichsets a fair old standard and one that is seldom realized as some the best poems rest in conflict, but perhaps the theme is to inspire the writing of such. Shelley in 1821 claimed that, "poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world" and he was true in that as no one else tells the truth. The mainstream media in their careful columns feed us a tailored version of the truth so as not to annoy anyone that is of present importance. W.H. Auden said that "poetry makes nothing happen" but maybe he meant that it's not supposed to. The above line is from his poem "In Memory of W.B. Yeats" and I'll leave it to yourself to interpret. Much of modern poetry especially in its academic environs is a form of embroidery and well if you like that sort of thing. Yeats himself was much closer to a more dangerous truth, "Did that play of mine send out certain men the English shot", referring to " Cathleen ni Houlihan" (1902) and what he believed or wondered as to its influence on the 1916 rising. Bad poetry makes nothing happen. The other hangs around for a long time; good or bad. If you can write a poem or read one that serves as a bridge for peace and inclusion then for God's sake do so.The world's gone mad again. I'll wander off now.
Although I've driven past The Hill of Ward many times, which is close to Athboy in Co. Meath, I've never actually visited the site. Worth a look here as Siobhán ventures her own insights into our place in the scheme of things and with a little hypnotic drumming at the end. Our emigrants going to America and other places brought the customs and stories of Halloween with them and it's now become a major cultural festival both here and in other parts of the globe if that's the term to use on the day that's in it. All the way to the silver screen. Again thanks to Gabe Saglie.
From Sineád de Paor to Diarmuid Lyng to John Moriarty to Tommy Tiernan; a fair old journey. Described by Diarmuid Lyng as a mystic, John Moriarty was born in Moyvane, County Kerry in 1938 and was educated at UCD in Dublin before teaching English literature at the University of Manitoba in Canada and that just touches on his career. Held in such regard that he is compared to writers such as Joyce, Yeats and Beckett; he lived in County Kerry until his death in 2007. To Youtube for other videos and to Wikipedia for further details. With thanks to jambonsambo who loaded.
In the heartlands of South Meath hurling Diarmuid Lyng talks to travel expert Gabe Saglie about the ancient game. A native of County Wexford he was the winner of several personal honours in his sporting career and is the partner of the poet Siobhán de Paor, he was also was the subject of a number of television documentaries. Much more information on him if you go to Wikipedia or to Youtube for his other videos. This one was recorded in the Porchfields in Trim and that's King John's castle in the background. With thanks to Gabe Saglie who loaded.
The next meeting of our writers' group takes place on this Thursday night coming in Trim Library at 6.15 pm and all are welcome to attend. Unfortunately the February meeting had to be cancelled because of weather conditions so hopefully this week's gathering goes ahead in better circumstance. If you're a poet or short story writer, a singer-songwriter or just settling in to write that great novel; then we'd love to see you there. Or maybe you'd just like to sit in and listen. Anyway admission is free and we meet on the first Thursday of each month. All the best. FM.
Spoken Word on the Hill of Tara ~ Siobhán de Paor!
Came across this one and it has any number of interesting links. From the poet Siobhán de Paor on a visit to Tara in County Meath in July 2021 and back from when you remember 'when'. She is certainly someone worth listening to. If you visit her website at the link below you're in for an interesting journey. With thanks to Siobhán who loaded.
There are many versions of this one out there and it's hard to choose, whether it's by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem or Damien Dempsey or the beautiful version by Lumiere and you could go on and on; but I went for the above and with thanks to Diarmuid for his recording. Thomas Davis left a legacy that is hard to measure and in the unlikely event that you are not familiar with his work or contributions to the world we live in then a visit to Wikipedia is a good place to begin. I'll finish with - genius,
A member of the Meath Writers'Circle in Ireland since 2001 and a once a upon a time Teacher/Instructor in Telecommunications. Now that's too much. Winner of The Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Award Poetry/Saggart Dublin 2009,runner up Boyle Literary Festival Poetry 2008, 2nd Dromineer Literary Festival Poetry 2007 and Shortlisted Goldsmith International Poetry Festival, 2005, 2007 and 2014 and Highly Commended and Shortlisted in many others as well. Joint third Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Award Saggart 2013. Third in the Goldsmith Poetry Competition 2015. Final Four Humorous Essay Listowel Writers Week 2017. Honourable Mention, Frederick Douglass Poetry Competition 2021 and short listed Trim Poetry Festival 2021. Highly Commended Cathal Buí 2024. 2nd Shahidah Janjua Poetry Competition 2024. Commended Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2025. Must Stop!
