Published:
-
-
Author: Our Reporter
~ 3 minutes read
Author Róísín O Donnell’s new travel book Home Place, Heart Place brings the reader on a journey around Ireland, visiting well-known and less-renowned areas, accompanied by a local from each place. In this extract, she’s in Craughwell musing on the life and work of wandering poet, Raftery, and Lady Gregory’s role in ensuring his legacy was passed on.
We want to visit Reilig na bhFilí (graveyard of the poets), in Killeeneen, where the local and celebrated poet Anthony Raftery is buried. We drive north-east from Kinvara towards Clarenbridge, by frosted grass and flooded fields. Finally, we find someone who knows Killeeneen.
‘You’ve gone too far,’ she tells us.
We turn back. This small cemetery is niched into a spot so small that it’s no wonder we drove past it. The poet Raftery lies here alongside his fellow poet and arch rival, Patsy Callanan, a local poet.
I expect to find the little gate padlocked and it stirs a thrill in me to push it open. This symbol of welcome revives a memory of a time when poets had the freedom of the unlocked doors around these parts. Raftery, the blind poet-musician was made welcome in the homes of the strong farmers around Gort and Kiltartan when he trudged around this area.
When I first was introduced to Raftery I used to wear my hair in braids and would hitch up my schoolbag like the children I saw getting off the bus. It all seems like the beginning of time now but I can still recite some of Raftery’s Cill Aodáin:
Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh,
Is tar éis na Féile Bríde ardófaidh mé mo sheol,
Ó chuir mé i mo cheann é, ní stopfaidh mé choíche,
Go seasfaidh mé síos i lár Chontae Mhaigh Eó.
Now comes the spring/the day will be lengthening
and after Saint Brigit’s day
I will raise my sail.
Since I got it into my head I won’t stop
Until I stand in County Mayo
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Galway West People Before Profit candidate Maisie McMaster claims comments on UHG cancer services are 'woefully out of touch'
Galway West People Before Profit candidate Maisie McMaster has described the recent advertisement...
Man's body recovered off Silver Strand in Barna as search continues for second swimmer
The body of a man in his 70s has been recovered in a search for two swimmers off Silver Strand in...
Galway businesses join Tourism Ireland at worlds largest travel fair
Galway businesses are joining Tourism Ireland at the worlds largest travel fair. The World Travel...
Drug driving case against former Galway TD Colm Keaveney adjourned until January
Court proceedings against former Galway East TD Colm Keaveney who's accused of drug driving have ...
Body found near Silver Strand in Barna following search for missing man
The body of a man has been recovered from the water near Silver Strand Beach in Barna following t...
Galway-based company receives ‘Special Award’ at InterTrade Ireland competition
Súil Pharma has claimed the ‘Special Award’ at InterTrade Ireland’s Seedcorn Investor Readiness C...
Status yellow fog warning for most of the country including Galway from 6 this evening
A Status Yellow fog warning has been issued for most of the country including Galway, Leitrim and...
Galway East Fine Gael candidate Niamh Madden speaks at housing policy launch in Dublin
Galway East Fine Gael candidate Niamh Madden today spoke at the launch of the party's housing pol...
Kinvara community urges action on traffic management plan for area
Residents in Kinvara are urging the county council to take action on a long-awaited traffic manag...