15th August: Boat Trip
We were walked along the promenade: there were hundreds of people walking up and down; some sitting on the wall, watching and listening to the pipe-and-accordion bands.
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.
Hiccupping Lou
The Longstone Band was marching down the middle of the road. We swayed to the swirl of the pipes and the roll of the drums. We marched with the band around The Square, along Church Street and down to the Public Baths.
Robert Bell, Ulster amateur geologist
As we await with some anxiety the coming Orange marching season and especially Tuesday’s threatened Ardoyne confrontation, we recall the dreadful events of 1886 when Gladstone’s Home Rule bill was in the offing and rabble-rousers like Rev Hugh Hanna were stirring up emotions.
15th August
A tale of events one 15th August, some 70 years ago …
My eighth birthday was approaching when Mammy said:
Dart the Bull
When we arrived at Crieve ‘Dart’ Sands was standing in the compound with a smile on his face like a Cheshire cat. Services rendered I paid Mr Sands ten shillings and sixpence.
Bridget bellows …
One night in early autumn I was awakened to the sound of short, sharp moos. I instinctively knew that this was Bridget and the mooing continued through the night. The next morning, Grandpa says to me,
Luck’n’Away 1
I was so excited when Granda told me that we were getting our first Friesian cow.
The following morning my four sons and I waited patiently for the cattle lorry to arrive.
Read about Irish Lucky charms here
Celtic play Golf, virtually
Rory McElroy’s exploits in the field of golf brought back some memories of a trip to Glasgow some years ago.
Columban Hall
I would like to submit this short article in response to Tom Wharton’s query about Newry’s Columban Hall…
Saying Mass …
As I was saying, the parents knew nothing of the niceties of procedure, etiquette or decorum.
More gypsy tales
They had little going for them in the academic field and almost invariably ended up as bottom of the class.
Travellers or NOT !
Some kindly women of The Meadow would store unwanted clothes in great bags for the Travelling Woman on her calls. Was she grateful? Well, selectively.