{"id":4575,"date":"2019-12-03T12:06:02","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T12:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=4575"},"modified":"2019-12-03T12:06:02","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T12:06:02","slug":"folk-of-the-land-of-the-whin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/folk-of-the-land-of-the-whin\/","title":{"rendered":"Folk of the Land of the Whin"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Bog<\/a>\n

From where to the world’s four corners spread
\nAll desire to, but few manage to return
\nTo children tales told, songs sung its said
\nFor deep within a fire does burn
\nA sense of place, of people, who we are
\nOur history, our culture we pass on
\nTo those after our time, as to us was passed
\nBy those who now are long long gone\u2026 <\/p>\n

A positive pride, a love of the land
\nBe it good ground or marshy bog
\nIt is the nest from where our blood as come
\nAmong whose stones lie our dead neath morning fog
\nWho toiled here when times were hard
\nThough today’s not easy, they were much harder then
\nStoic people found it easier to cope
\nHaving hope, faith, determined women and men\u2026 <\/p>\n

They were our people, that was our place
\nThat we to bury our own most often return,
\nThough we grow up in other places and lands
\nWithin the soul the feeling does burn
\nTo again live there among their own
\nWho were born and died on their own soil
\nThat brings forth crop among the whins, rushes and stones
\nThat our forefathers by their sweat to conquor did toil<\/p>\n

Shovel, pick and graip, Harrow and hoe
\nA chant of curses as if a prayer
\nEcho to the sky as hardship strains the body
\nOf the land we carve out there.
\nFor which we in church in prayer give thanks
\nEmbarrassed had a passer by heard the land cursed!
\nThat itself is a song of love in its own way\u2026
\nLike to a bold child that angers, it brings out the worst! <\/p>\n

But our bark is worse than our bite on both land and child
\nThe neighbours wink, they know the score
\nThe anger passes, sure they themselves are as bad,
\nWe will be again, often were before.
\nWe have our ways, and ways of saying things
\nThat others, outsiders, may not understand,
\nFolk of North Longford, of its stock gone far away
\nLove, desire to return to our own part of Ireland. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From where to the world’s four corners spread All desire to, but few manage to return To children tales told, songs sung its said For deep within a fire does burn A sense of place, of people, who we are Our history, our culture we pass on To those after …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4231,256,4232,23],"tags":[4235,4236,4238,2426,4233,4234,2342,4237],"class_list":["post-4575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-made-anthology","category-irish-heritage","category-longford-writers-group","category-north-longford","tag-home-made","tag-anthology","tag-concept-of-home","tag-heritage","tag-homeland","tag-longford-writers-group","tag-north-longford","tag-poems-about-home","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-1bN","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4577,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/home-made-explores-concept-of-home-for-longford-writers-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":0},"title":"“Home Made” explores concept of home for Longford Writers Group","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"3rd December 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Longford Writers Group - featuring yours truly - launched their anthology of poems and stories in Longford Library, to the musical accompaniment of Bernie on the keyboard, and Valerie on vocals. The anthology explored the concept of home, as it is known to each of us, and a contribution\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Launch of \"Home Made\" - the anthology of Longford Writers Group","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Launch-of-Home-Made-the-anthology-of-Longford-Writers-Group-1024x467.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Launch-of-Home-Made-the-anthology-of-Longford-Writers-Group-1024x467.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Launch-of-Home-Made-the-anthology-of-Longford-Writers-Group-1024x467.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4040,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/flickering-candles-foretell-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":1},"title":"Flickering Candles Foretell Death","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th October 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A tradition of foretelling a death from North Longford... From the Irish Folklore Commission In days gone by a tradition old Of which the Church condemns though what they are told By clergy the folk pay little heed For superstition and tradition they had a need And so together on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dozen candles set un a dungpile - the first that went out said its owner would die within a year according to old Longford tradition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dozen-candles-set-un-a-dungpile-the-first-that-went-out-said-its-owner-would-die-within-a-year-according-to-old-Longford-tradition.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4631,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/old-crone-of-cairn-hill\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":2},"title":"Old Crone of Cairn Hill","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"8th March 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Old Crone of Beara is said to have dropped stones that make up cairns on Cairn Hill in Longford. As with many legends, the stories vary, with some saying she was another personification of the Goddess Bridget... #Irishlegend #folklore","rel":"","context":"In "and the Sidhe"","block_context":{"text":"and the Sidhe","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/irish-legend\/and-the-sidhe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cairn Hill in North Longford","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Cairn-Hill-in-North-Longford.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Cairn-Hill-in-North-Longford.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Cairn-Hill-in-North-Longford.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Cairn-Hill-in-North-Longford.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4758,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/reading-a-take-on-memory-from-a-fellow-north-longford-writer\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":3},"title":"Reading a take on memory from a fellow North Longford writer","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"11th October 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"John Connell is from outside my families home village of Ballinalee. Author of \"The Cow Book\" - which was given a different title for our American cousins! - he comes from the similar storytelling tradition as ourselves and that makes up the contents of his books. His first book reflected\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Gate-Lodge-between-Carrick-on-Shannon-and-Knockvicker-that-I-passed-by-while-walking.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":911,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/beauty-passed-and-yet-still-beautiful\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":4},"title":"Beauty Passed, and Yet Still Beautiful","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"22nd February 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Beauty passed, and yet still beautiful, Walls crumble, slaves to time, build long ago The rhubarb that once here grew I ate, As a child in Banagher, where some did grow, That we brought with us, its thick stalks, Yet both bitter and sweet, grew strong and tall, A link\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Banagher"","block_context":{"text":"Banagher","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/banagher\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Doppings Walled Gardens in Derrycassin Woods at Millinaleagta in North Longford","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Doppings-Walled-Gardens-in-Derrycassin-Woods-at-Millinaleagta-in-North-Longford.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4857,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/sitting-shoreside-by-nabelwy-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":4575,"position":5},"title":"Sitting Shoreside by Nabelwy Lake","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"30th November 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking back through photos, a shot of Lough Nabelwy reminded me of one of my favourite walks in North Longford, and of other travels. No matter how exotic where we travel to, there truly is nowhere like home, especially in these concerning times. Shoreside by a Longford lake, Towards Leitrim\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Lesser Known Ireland"","block_context":{"text":"Lesser Known Ireland","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/lesser-known-ireland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lough Nabelwy looking towards the Leitrim bank from the Longford Bank","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Lough-Nabelwy-looking-towards-the-Leitrim-bank-from-the-Longford-Bank-e1606699018677.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Lough-Nabelwy-looking-towards-the-Leitrim-bank-from-the-Longford-Bank-e1606699018677.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Lough-Nabelwy-looking-towards-the-Leitrim-bank-from-the-Longford-Bank-e1606699018677.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Lough-Nabelwy-looking-towards-the-Leitrim-bank-from-the-Longford-Bank-e1606699018677.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4575"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4576,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4575\/revisions\/4576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}