Showing posts with label Remembering Ledwidge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Remembering Ledwidge. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Remembering Ledwidge ~ Dunsany GFC.

Remembering Ledwidge ~ Dunsany GFC  


Noel French, MC for the event!
John Donohue, journalist,
reads an excerpt from Lord Dunsany's autobiography,
"My Ireland"
Jim O' Leary, Noel French and Michael Smith
Emma Griffin
reading, "To Lord Dunsany, on his return from East Africa"
Jim O' Leary of Kilmessan
reading his favourite Ledwidge poem,
"The Cobbler of Sari Gueul"
Liam Cahill, Historian, Broadcaster and Writer
discussing Ledwidge's involvement in
trade union and labour organisations prior to the Great War
Fr. Joe Deegan, parish priest of Slane
sings, "The Blackbird of Slane"
John Quinn of "Goodnight Ballivor I'll Sleep in Trim"
Talking of the Life of Francis Ledwidge
and his book on the poet.
Ledwidge cake baked by Bonnie Smith, Dunsany.
Martin Oakes and Joe Hanly
playing, "On the Road to Passchendaele" 
Composed by Major Gavin Stoddart and Alan Brydon
Frankie de Dobbelaere of the European Union Offices/Kiltale
reads, "In Flanders Fields and Duizend Soldaten" 
Peadar Donohoe cuts the Ledwidge cake.
"The countless white crosses in mute witness stand"
 Niall Brosnan sings, "The Green Fields of France/Eric Bogle

The above are just some of the photographs taken of the performers, or of those who contributed at the "Remembering Ledwidge" event in Dunsany Clubhouse on Sunday last. The event followed a cycle run from Slane taking the back roads through Beauparc, Yellow Furze, Walterstown and Skryne before ending in the GAA grounds. The scenic route and the best road if you want to avoid the traffic that is Navan. The information is with thanks to Noel French and speaking notes John Donohue.

Other readings included Ruth Hickey, "The Lament for Thomas McDonagh" and a letter sent from Lord Dunsany to Thomas McDonagh's daughter. The poem, "Soliloquy" was read by Mary Harrahill - President of The Horace Plunkett ICA Guild Dunsany and two of the pupils of Dunsany School, Matthew Moan and Jessie Agnew gave a talk on what they had learned about the poet. Also the children of the school had a project on display.  





















Friday, March 17, 2017

Ledwidge 1917-2017

Ledwidge 1917-2017

Noel French, James Linnane,
Gemma Macey and Carmel Murray
Thursday night last saw an evening of music, poetry, story and song at St. Mary's Church of Ireland in Navan with MC for the night Noel French introducing a number of guests ending with an ecumenical and inter-faith service of prayer and the playing of the Last Post followed by one minutes silence and Reveille. There was also a welcome to members of ONE, chairperson of  Navan Shamrock Festival, Mayor Francis Deane and local attendees. 

Performers
(1) Sean Lynch - Last Post - Minute Silence - Reveille
(2) Welcome to members of ONE, Chairperson of Navan Shamrock Festival, Mayor Francis Deane and local attendees.
(3) John Donoghue - "Francis Ledwidge"
(4) Colm Yore - The House of Gold
(5) Gary O' Hare - The Blackbird of Slane
(6) Bob Lee - The Dead Kings
(7) Comhaltas Musicians - Two Airs/Marches
(8) Paul Murphy - Soliloquy
(9) John Doyle - Passchendaele
(10) Tony Brady - Down by a lone long river
(11) Michael Connaughton - The Maid of Rosnaree
(12) Danny Cusack - Seamús Heaney's - In Memoriam Francis Ledwidge
(13) Paddy Pryle - The Green Fields of France
(14) Bill Slattery - June followed by a short air
(15) Conclusion - Musicians and singers.