Fitzpatrick’s, Church Street
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A Listowel Balladeer
Tim McCrohan’s grandfather kept faith with his literary roots and penned this ballad.
Tim wrote;
Thought I’d pass along this Irish Ballad which was written by my grandfather, James McCrohan, in 1904. He was born in Coolkeragh township in 1865 to Edmund and Mary (Buckley) McCrohan. The family later lived in Listowel.
We’re not sure if there was a young woman at the time who was his inspiration for the song (because he didn’t marry for the first time until many years later.)
Timothy McCrohan
Tim sent me the sheet music and Dave O’Sullivan extracted the lyrics for us.
My true Irish Maiden
1
In a lovely thatched cot lives a sweet Irish maid.
In far away Ireland which wide branches shade.
Where the robin sings gaily and mad waters roar
The fond spot I met you my darling, ‘astore’
Oh Kathleen Mavourneen
My own ‘Coleen Rhu’
Your sweet sunny smiles love and bright eyes of blue.
And your golden ringlets I fondled with care
My true Irish maiden there’s none half as fair.
Chorus:
For she is my own Irish maid
With smiles so charming and rare
And bright eyes of blue so faithful and true
I love you my own
My own, I love you.
2
In the mossy green dell where the woodbines entwine
I looked in your eyes love so true and divine.
And I kissed your fond lips like dew drops so bright
My true Irish maiden my fond heart’s delight.
Oh Cushla mavourneen, my sweet Irish bride
Sure happy I’ll be love with you by my side.
And true as the stars love in heaven’s fair sky
My true Irish maiden I will love till I die.
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Róisín Meaney in the library
Make a window in your packed schedule to bring the smallies to the library for this popular local writer’s event.
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A Lament
I took this from Maurice O’Mahony’s great book, A History of Coolard National School.
The poem is addressed to Dolly Dowling, who died in the US and whose remains were brought home by air. She is buried in Galey Cemetery. Dolly, whose real name was Nora, was a pupil of Coolard in 1904. Her grandfather, John Neligan, was a principal of the school.
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A Kerry Journalist
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A Poem
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Opening Night
Tonight is opening night of Listowel Writers’ Week 2024. I’ll be there. I read in the programme that there is ban on recording, but I’ll see if I can grab a few pictures for you.
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A Fact
There is a satirical publication called The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. I picked up a copy in the swap box in the library. It is hilarious.
Here is an example of a definition;
Clairvoyant; A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron – namely, that he is a blockhead.
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