By Ger Reidy Listen to the poem, recited by Liam McNamara Blood pulsing into the high grassAs the skylark flung notes like confettiInto the long evening, too late now,A time for memories, her embraces,Family, mother, a sudden jolt of pain,Writhing as the cuckoo and blackbird sang,Flies, sleep for a while, then a shower of rainOn […]

By Michael Chambers This is a poem I wrote about the ordinary people who gave so much for Irish freedom and without whom the flying columns would not have been able to function I am the proud old womanI know not about a gun I make the stew and bake the breadFor the men on […]

By Patrick Tunney “Songs and Ballads from the Vales of Mayo” I dreamt last night I was in MaceIn the midst of revelations,That Ireland had won her place,Amongst the world’s nations.I thought I heard a stern commandSaying “Go! Clear out invader.We’ve burst your chains in Ireland,No more will you degrade her,”All Banba’s sons had rallied […]

By Patrick Tunney Old Moore’s AlmanacOne moonlight night as the moon shone bright o’er the woodlands on Mayo,All sounds were stilled as my young heart thrilled with a gleam of freedom’s glow.To the side of a rill, at the foot of the hill, my daddy brought me o’er,Saying “Now, my chap, come and fill a […]

Old Moore’s Almanac By P. Tunney, Derrykillew, Westport My tears they fall when I recall,The story of our land.When every flame of Irish fame,Was pillaged, outlawed, banned.Ere Norman hordes with bloody swords,Our sacred shrines laid low.And trampled on the rays that shone,And lit up fair Mayo.My heart sighs sore for the days of yore,When Ireland’s […]

By Patrick Tunney Written in the Curragh Camp, 1921. My dearest Maura, I’m sadly pining,Where summers beauty is ever drear.But the star of love is still brightly shining,Although I’m parted from you my dear.Oh, I miss the charms and fond embrace,Of the only colleen that’s dear to me.But none on earth can take the place […]

By Patrick Tunney The silent tomb enshrouds thy heart, thy spirit, true, hath flown.The cold, cold clay enwraps thy head, loved, gentle Peg Malone.In chorus, we acclaim her traits, her talent rich and rare.An idol of her Celtic sept, fresh, true, polite and fair.No more we’ll hear her gentle voice, her pure enthralling song.In mellow […]

By Patrick Tunney Now, when I muse ‘mid Mayo’s braes,My heart with grief is sore,As I recall youth’s happy days,And friends I’ll ne’er see more.When I think of trusted friends I knew,Who’re sleeping in cold clay,I grieve for my loved Róisín Dhu,Held fast by alien sway.My nation wept ‘neath galling throes,Some fifteen years ago,When gallant […]

Old Moore’s Almanac Prize charade by Patrick Tunney. Life ebbed with joy when I was a boy ‘mid the vales of fair Mayo,When first I sighed for the light of Right, for freedom’s reddening glow,I was hunted Ireland up and down, ahiding here and there,‘Til Cupid’s dart enchained my heart for Flora from Belclare.When first […]

By Patrick Tunney Air: “Seán O’Farrell” In 1920, Hamar Greenwood became the last Chief Secretary for Ireland, the principal minister responsible for Irish affairs. He introduced the infamous Black and Tans to Ireland. In this poem, Patrick Tunney pokes fun at both Hamar Greenwood and Captain John Taylor (Assistant Under-Secretary in Dublin Castle) over the […]