2 Democrat www.donegaltoday.com Thursday, August 27, 2015

Big Donegal attendance Poet Michael Longley – expected at protest Hundreds of people inspired by Donegal from Donegal are making their way to Dublin for the anti-water charges protest Longley describes Tra-na-Rossan as “the first great yellow strand to fill my imagination”. on Saturday. Anti-water charges ac- tivist Charlie McDyer of And one of those places is his be- Western – or Northwestern) collection The Stairwell (2014) says the level of Bill heaney [email protected] loved Donegal. landscape. won this year’s Griffin Poetry interest is “outstanding”. @dgldemocrat Longley recalls: “I woke in the Award. He is married to Edna “I think people have had morning to a revelation, my first We walked on Tra-na-Rossan Longley, a critic of modern poet- enough at this stage,” she It was a caravan holiday to Don- glimpse of wilderness in the At- strand; ry, and they have three children. told the Democrat. The de- egal with his parents and twin lantic light. At that moment I dis- The Atlantic winds were wip- mand for leaflets has been brother that started it all … covered my soul-landscape. ing the heat KEY ELEMENT amazing, they’ve had to Michael Longley’s father got lost “Close to the seashore at Down- From the August sun and the The Ireland Chair of Poetry has, print more. when he misread the map and ings we camped on some grassy stretching sand since 1998, been a key element in “Irish Water is a farce. they pulled in to park for the machair, our caravan an eyesore Was cold beneath our naked feet the promotion, discussion and The way the government night in the dark by the roadside for miles around. I would sit on encouragement of poetry – both keep putting more and more just beyond Carrigart. the headland and write ecstatic Longley goes on to discuss his its practitioners and readers – money into it is just making They had no idea that they had letters to friends in Belfast about close relationships with Derek across the island of Ireland. John people angrier.” just a few miles still to travel to the view across Mahon and the late Seamus impact on his poetry, his life, and Montague, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, At least five buses will be their destination in on to Marble Strand and Muckish. Heaney, another lover of Don- his ‘spiritual education’. Paul Durcan, Michael Longley, leaving Donegal early on Sat- the Peninsula. “Looking back at my passionate egal, as well as other poets from His love of nature and the envi- Harry Clifton have all held the urday morning - from West In this first volume of The Poet’s desire to share the landscape, I around the world. ronment shines through and ex- role of Ireland Professor of Po- Donegal, , Lif- Chair, the distinguished Irish think I can recognize the incipi- The second piece in the book ex- tracts from his poems portray his etry for three years each, with ford, West Donegal and Bal- poet Michael Longley (pictured) ent poet – someone for whom no plores the huge influence of the deep understanding of the West. Paula Meehan the current Pro- lyshannon. Many others are – whose poetry has transcended experience is complete until he classical literature of Greece and One Wide Expanse gives readers fessor until 2016. As part of their planning to make their own political and cultural boundaries or she has written about it, some- Rome on poetry written in Eng- a rare insight into the creative role, each Professor of Poetry way to Dublin. throughout his career – reflects one who would hope to share the lish. process of one of Ireland’s lead- gives a public lecture each year. Right2Water is organis- on what has influenced his craft. experience with others.” It also highlights how Longley us- ing contemporary poets who was * One Wide Expanse by Michael ing the protest. Participants Belfast-born Longley opens Longley describes Tra-na-Ros- es this literature in his own work Ireland Professor of Poetry from Longley is the first volume in The will assemble at Heuston with an ‘autobiography in poet- san as “the first great yellow -­‐ often to portray the Troubles in 2007 to 2010. Poet’s Chair series from UCD and Connolly train stations ry’ where he recounts the poets strand to fill my imagination”. the North. Michael Longley was educated Press which will publish the pub- at 2pm and make their way and poems and places that have It was this stretch of beach that The title closes with a very per- in Belfast and went on to study lic lectures of each of the three from there to the GPO. influenced him as both a reader inspired him as a 19-year-old to sonal discussion about how the Classics at Trinity College, Dub- most recent Ireland Professors More than 6,000 people and writer of poetry. write his first love poem to the west of Ireland has had a deep lin. His most recent of Poetry. have already confirmed that they will be taking part.

Stop the Donegal A tidal wave of employment? ‘brain A major feasibility study on er Company Ireland Ltd, says technology in the area. work at the sites in Maine and Donegal County Council’s drain’ examining Donegal as a hub a similar project in the USA “In some ways Donegal is Alaska and this policy would Michael Heaney, Director of From page 1 for tidal energy is set to get un- created up to 100 jobs, both di- similar to Maine in the north continue where possible if Community, Culture & De- derway. rectly and indirectly, with the east of the US where they have they were to establish a base velopment Planning Services “But if I can do my bit I If the rivers and coast of the construction of a tidal ener- projects Lubec and Eastport, in Donegal. The Sustainable said: “Donegal County Council would like to see is the gov- county are deemed suitable gy plant in the state of Maine. which were major fishing Energy Authority of Ireland welcomes this initiative and ernment also getting it’s act for producing such hydro-en- James, who is originally from ports, and this helped create (SEAI) recently awarded ORPC very much looks forward to together and coming up with ergy, it could lead to many new Cork and has family connec- over 100 jobs directly and in- Ireland, Ltd. funding to con- continued partnership with a few innovative ideas to sell jobs in rural areas, a company tions in the area, has directly in the area,” he ex- duct a feasibility assessment ORPC in advancing the ocean Donegal to these people. spokesman has stated. just returned from living and plained. to identify tidal energy oppor- renewable energy sector in “They should be encourag- James Donegan, the Irish working in Maine and says the He said they also have a tunities suitable for develop- the North West of Ireland.” ing people to come back home representative for energy study will help them identify policy of employing local ment in the coastal waters of For more information, visit by introducing tax breaks for firm, Ocean Renewable Pow- the potential for this type of contractors to carry out the . www.orpc.co. new business start up; low mortgages rates for returning emigrants; capital tax reduc- tions for business which estab- lish in rural areas. Basically, they should be saying we’ll in- Reunion for 1990 vest in you for five years or so to get your business up and run- ning. It’s a sort of quid pro quo Community - you invest in us, we invest in you. And everyone wins.” Mr Casey concluded that Games champions there was a huge pool of young, talented people in Donegal and Derry that could bring about There will be a reunion David Greene, James Shannon, we will have a great night and regeneration but it would be this Saturday 29th August in Brendan Boyle, Dermot Fox, a few surprises are planned.” Australia or Canada that would Bridgend Bar for the 1990 Don- David Hoey, Sean Perry, Mat- Ballyshannon beat a team be getting the benefit of that egal and All-Ireland winning thew Hughes, Christy Cough- from Swords in the national fi- talent unless some pretty radi- Community Games team of lin, Barry Travers and Jamie nal and Cornageeha from Sligo cal steps were taken very soon Aodh Ruadh. McCauley. Michael ‘Sticky’ in the final, while they defeat- to address what he described The team who won the Ward was captain while Jim ed Letterrkenny in the county as ‘the brain drain’ from these county title that year were Kane was manager, assisted by final. parts. Stephen Ward, Paul Rafferty, the late, great Willie Rodgers. C o n t a c t S e a n Pe r r y Mr Casey is understood to Kenneth McGurren, Martin Jim Kane told the Demo- (0879105013) or Jim Kane be still considering a final deci- Gallagher, Sean Maguire, An- crat: “We’re looking forward to (0862849425) for further de- Michael ‘Sticky Ward on the ball in the semi-final for Ballyshannon in Mos- sion on running in the General thony Sheerin, Gavin Rogers, meeting all the players again, tails regarding this event. ney against Cornageeha from Sligo. Election.