"After them the Tuatha De arrived
Concealed in their dark clouds ..."
from The Book of Ballymote
The illuminations accompanying the text are a combination of Ballinascreen landscapes and Tír na nÓg,
that land that some say is far above and/or far to the west of Ireland,
a new-found land that constantly shape-shifts and time-shifts,
a fluid land that knows no national boundaries, a heavenly land but not a super-natural one,
a land right in front of our noses or as Rupert Brooke once put it ...
They say that the Dead die not, but remain
Near to the rich heirs of their grief and mirth.
I think they ride the calm mid-heaven, as these,
In wise majestic melancholy train,
And watch the moon, and the still-raging seas,
And men, coming and going on the earth.
As all poetasters and poitín makers must, the ancient rhymer of Cú Chulainn's Crawl
poured this first verse naggin libation in supping supplication to the muse,
the Leanan Sídhe. ( pr. lan-awn shee) before embarking on this
Drunkard's Walk.
Slainte maith O Leanan sídhe
Here's to amusing and abusing me
Lip me and lap me with sips from your still
Woo me and love me and free me at will
Let the wooing brim over with words of delight
Let the loving be languid with rhythm that's tight
Let the freedom be fulsome your beauty on show
So it's you that is heard not someone we know.
Cú Chulainn's Crawl
in
Seven Drinking Days
click on the titles below (or on the same titles along the top of any page)
1. Sliabh Gallon Braes
2. Sé Bhaile Taes
3. Cnoc Mór Craes
4. hÚdaigh's Uaes
5. Moyola Maes
6. Cross Fair Daes
7. Stragh Dog Straes
Concealed in their dark clouds ..."
from The Book of Ballymote
The illuminations accompanying the text are a combination of Ballinascreen landscapes and Tír na nÓg,
that land that some say is far above and/or far to the west of Ireland,
a new-found land that constantly shape-shifts and time-shifts,
a fluid land that knows no national boundaries, a heavenly land but not a super-natural one,
a land right in front of our noses or as Rupert Brooke once put it ...
They say that the Dead die not, but remain
Near to the rich heirs of their grief and mirth.
I think they ride the calm mid-heaven, as these,
In wise majestic melancholy train,
And watch the moon, and the still-raging seas,
And men, coming and going on the earth.
As all poetasters and poitín makers must, the ancient rhymer of Cú Chulainn's Crawl
poured this first verse naggin libation in supping supplication to the muse,
the Leanan Sídhe. ( pr. lan-awn shee) before embarking on this
Drunkard's Walk.
Slainte maith O Leanan sídhe
Here's to amusing and abusing me
Lip me and lap me with sips from your still
Woo me and love me and free me at will
Let the wooing brim over with words of delight
Let the loving be languid with rhythm that's tight
Let the freedom be fulsome your beauty on show
So it's you that is heard not someone we know.
Cú Chulainn's Crawl
in
Seven Drinking Days
click on the titles below (or on the same titles along the top of any page)
1. Sliabh Gallon Braes
2. Sé Bhaile Taes
3. Cnoc Mór Craes
4. hÚdaigh's Uaes
5. Moyola Maes
6. Cross Fair Daes
7. Stragh Dog Straes