The local primary schoolchildren of today (Annalong and Moneydarragh Primary schools) composed this musical tribute to Jamie Crawford, and those other Mourne men who perished in the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir.
Poems
Micheal Mor agus City Sue
I heard the story o mo athair
Got no Gaelic ? Doesn’t matter!
This rural Ireland’s tragic tale …
The Dilemma
There is a popular public house in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter named the John Hewitt. I am delighted with this name …
Dover Beach: Matthew Arnold
When I was first introduced (by Brother Barney Liston, of course) to the poem Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold, I was fascinated.
Philosophers all …
We were all philosophers
Our opinions strong and sure
We had no thought of violence
Till war came to our door …
Barney Dan
I do not like the other sort
They’re tricky and they’re sly
An’ couldn’t look you in the face
Whenever they pass by …
Stars Sang in God’s Garden
Many today listen to the song “Grace” without a thought for Joseph Mary Plunkett, the 1916 Easter Rising leader and martyr, yet he is the hero of that dirgeful ballad (though not, of course, its author). It is still sung at almost every Irish wedding and weekly in Singing Lounges throughout the length and breadth of the country. Even as I type, the tune runs through my head.
McGinn
Last evening at Newry Film Club we enjoyed an unusual offering “Departures” which focused on death, its meaning and how the ‘crossing’ causes us to reflect on the meaning of life.
The following poem by James Patterson has ‘McGinn’ observing, and reflecting upon his own lifeless corpse.
McParland’s Elder
Accomplished Newry poet, James Patterson has been good enough to offer a few of his works for publication here, and we are honoured and delighted. I know the ‘seed and breed’ of the man, as we’d say locally, and am delighted to make the acquaintance of the third generation. I do hope I was not the inspiration for this first poem of his!