Sailing Up The Erne Towards Gowna
I turn into historic waters As I emerge from Foleys Cut and turn right That came from where my people are from …
Walking in Belturbet By Erne’s Side
From the well the calf it leaped As unwisely the widow chose For ease her load not too long to carry In …
The Carnmoney Vicar and the Devil
The vicar of Carnmoney was a greedy sort for money So the histories of the time of him tell The Devil spotted …
Remembering Bernard O’ Reilly, a Soldier of Australia and old Aughagreagh
Its a long way to Australia from old Aughagreagh, Where his family left from decades before And the ladies he laughed with …
The Unlikely Rebel
Softly spoken, without the braggarts yell, His words echo far, the truth they tell, Bring all to their feet, in support or …
When The Devil Was Beat by Duffy
A common folk story in Europe, in North Longford it was attributed to a local blacksmith as the hero of the tale, …
No Water at Saint Enda’s Holy Well
I stopped at St Enda’s Holy Well in Bearna, to find no water there. As I sat down beside it, I pondered …
The Fairy Boatmen of Banagher
Verse inspired by a story from the folkore collection Out walking his dog on a July evening In the river there afloat …
Waves Neath Keel
Waves neath keel toss boat up and down Wind filled sails power her forward… To tack the tiller to port is turned …
The Best Room
Some Irish hate our past. One who shall not be named has made his latest Quixotic attack: it is on the old …
The Three Wishes of Willie the Wisp
Based on the story from the Folklore Commission https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5009178/4994671 There once was a blacksmith as broke as could be, Who no future …
Shore Road to Roscam Abbey
I walked upon an ancient road Slowly taken now by the sea, The Atlantic tides ebbed and flowed I walked the line …
God Speed All Bikers and Give them Sense
The barmaid said to the biker Bulfin “God speed all bikers and give them sense” Left him bemused and me amused As …
To Visit A Strangers Grave
I walk in town to which confined For nine more weeks I bring to mind The graves I would visit today Of …
Harps of Granard Had an Echo Far Away
Airs that filled the Granard air Echo to us this day Fingers danced on the taut strings Of the harps that the …
Year Has Past Like a Decade Gone
A year has passed, like a decade gone, It feels we have aged, Every one has a different take On the new …
We Are Not Each Others Enemy
Time long ago – a hundred years – in a land where welcomes were slim A team came together – Brother Walfrid, …
Away in a Doorway
Just this week, homeless activists tied 56 black baloons outside Dail Eireann to highlight those who died while homeless in 2020 alone. …
Seeing Splinters as we Exit Level Five
We see the splinters in Americas eye Who from COVID19 have quarter of a million dead: Its smug to sneer Trump …
Envelope on the Floor at Christmas During COVID
To those who whom we do not write, It might be good to do so this year, For they may have no …