Ireland - Comhaltas Archive

IrelandTwice now have I given my back to you,First for four springs and second for near a score.Though leaving was best done, there's more that's true;Within my mind I hold your hills and glittering shore;I store your early smell and though I've long since grownTo love where I am now, you are always in my bone.And all of mine before me lie sleeping in your soilAnd add their silent bond, as though to let me knowYour soft pull is unending no matter what the spoilOf other countries beauty and the riches they bestow.Time and distance do not ease your grip upon my soul,So that breathing other air somehow leaves me less than whole.Green dampness and gray skies; soft soil and salty shore,Lush fields, black bogs and rolling hills set in a gentle rain;Memory's recall sweetens these and adds beauty even moreBy fading out all faults to leave an aching painFor vanished youth and happiness linked to a distant land,In a misty dream of yearning only exiles understand.The mariti mer in the west bears losses just the same,The prairie-born obsesses at the tight confining hillsAnd mountain folk who mountains leave are equally displacedAnd look upon their flat surround with bitter, sad distaste.We have but one short life to live, of years three score and then,How often do we have to ask "What would I do again?"Please find enclosed a submission for the CCE Treoir magazine. It is areflection on Ireland, from the perspective of an emigrant now living inCanada. The author has given me permission to submit this work, but prefersnot to have his name published.Thank you for your time,Esme Forsythe (CCE Ottawa Branch, Canada)40 Splinter Cres.Ottawa, ONCanada K2B I B21-61 3 726-7265WICKLOWCELEBRATE THE '50'In conjunction with the CCE's 50 thanniversary celebrations, the WicklowCounty Board of Comhaltas ran a verysuccessful weekend of music workshopson February 17 th and 18 th in the AbbeyCommunity College in Wicklow Town.Musicians, young and old, from all overCounty Wicklow and surroundingcounties, attended these workshops whichran over two days, Saturday and Sunday.The weekend began on Saturday withworkshops in fiddle, tin-whistle,bodhnin, accordion and flute. Theclasses also continued on the Sunday.The main objective of the weekend wasto allow the musicians to experiencedifferent styles of playing throughproductive and enjoyable classes withtutors from all over the country: RobThornburg, Mayo (fiddle); MaireadO'Sullivan,Wexford (fiddle);AoifeMcDermott, Dublin (accordion); MajellaO 'Byrne, Dublin (flute); Mattie Fahy,Waterford (tin whistle); PatriciaO 'Connor, Dublin (tin whistle); LizCassidy,Wexford (tin whistle); HelenMcLoughlin, Wexford (bodhnin). Thisobjective was certainly achieved and allparticipants agreed that the event washighly beneficial and enjoyable. Everyonethen gathered on Saturday night, tutors,pupils and other local musicians, for ceolagus craic in Wicklow's St. Patrick'sGAA Club hall. This was the first timethe County Board organised musicworkshops in Wicklow, and judging bythe positive support and commentsreceived, the hope now is that theweekend will be made an annual event.These workshops were part of aprogramme of events organised by theWicklow County Board for the 50 yearscelebrations of CCE. These celebratoryevents kicked off with a very productiveteacher's seminar last November, givenby Attracta Brady from Offaly. A bigpicnic and open-air session for allmusicians and music lovers from thecounty is also planned for July inGlendalough.A sincere word of thanks isextended to the County Board and itssub-committees for their time, effort anddedication in organising these specialevents. It is much appreciated by all.Martina Cregg (Wicklow Town CCE)and Catriona O'Brien (Anne DevlinCCE).29