The War Poet - Francis Ledwidge
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume XXXIX, No. 7 • September (Fómhair), 2013 The War Poet - Francis Ledwidge .........................................................................................................On my wall sits a batik by my old Frank fell in love with Ellie Vaughey, one looked at familiar things seen thus for friend, Donegal artist Fintan Gogarty, with the sister of his friend, Paddy. Of her, he the first time. I wrote to him greeting him a mountain and lake scene. Inset in the would write, as a true poet, which indeed he was . .” piece is a poem, “Ardan Mor.” The poem “I wait the calling of the orchard maid, Frank was also involved in the arts in reads, Only I feel that she will come in blue, both Dublin and Slane. He was involved As I was climbing Ardan Mór With yellow on her hair, and two curls in many aspects of the local community From the shore of Sheelin lake, strayed and was a natural leader and innovator. He I met the herons coming down Out of her comb's loose stocks, and I founded the Slane Drama Group in which Before the water’s wake. shall steal he was actor and producer. And they were talking in their flight Behind and lay my hands upon her eyes.” In 1913, Ledwidge would form a branch Of dreamy ways the herons go At the same time, the poetry muse of the Irish Volunteers, or Óglaigh na When all the hills are withered up encompassed the being of young Frank. hÉireann. The Volunteers included members Nor any waters flow. He would write poems constantly, and in of the Gaelic League, Ancient Order of The words are by Francis Ledwidge, an 1912, mailed a number of them to Lord Hibernians and Sinn Féin, as well as mem- Irish poet. I had the piece for about twenty Dunsany, Edward Plunkett, one of the bers of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. years when I decided to look up the major literary sponsors in Ireland at the It grew out of the response of 450,000 authorship of the poem. I discovered a time. (Dunsany was an interesting character Ulstermen forming the Ulster Volunteers man who was contradictory in nature, an in his own rite, and was one of the first in 1912, and their signing of the Ulster Irish nationalist fighting for the cause of science fiction writers in the world.) Covenant, stating they would remain loyal the British in World War One, a peaceful Thereafter, Ledwidge found a sponsor in to the British crown. man who ultimately gave his life in battle. Irish literary circles, and would meet Ledwidge was a keen patriot and He was also known as the Poet of the many of the leading lights of Irish thought nationalist. His efforts to found a branch Blackbird. and word, including Katherine Tynan, of the Gaelic League in Slane were W. B. Yeats, as well as others. Dunsany Ledwidge was born at Janeville, Slane, rebuffed by members of the local council. later prepared his first collection of poetry He did manage to act as a founding County Meath in 1887, the eighth of nine Songs of the Fields, which successfully children in a poor family. Christened member, with his brother Joseph, of the appealed to the expectations of the Irish Slane Branch of the Irish Volunteers. Francis, but known as Frank, his parents, Literary Revival and its social taste for father Patrick, and mother Anne Lynch, poetry of rural Ireland. Then World War One erupted across believed in giving their children the best Europe. The Irish Volunteers split into two education they could afford. But when Dunsany wrote of his young charge: “I factions, the National Volunteers who Francis was only five his father Patrick was astonished by the brilliance of that supported John Redmond’s appeal to join died prematurely, which forced his wife eye that looked at the fields of Meath and Irish regiments in support of the Allied and the children out to work at an early seen there all the simple birds and flowers, war cause and those who did not. age. Francis left the local national school with a vividness that made those pages Although Francis originally opposed the like a magnifying glass, through which when he was only thirteen. He worked as continued on page 5 a farm hand, road mender and supervisor of roads, as copper miner and shop assistant. In the meantime, he continued to educate SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 • 7:00 PM himself as best he could. While at the copper MILWAUKEE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING mine Ledwidge was fired for organizing a Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (2133 W. Wisconsin Avenue) strike, which whetted his human and civil TTT rights feelings. He would find himself appointed secretary of the Slane branch of Cookout at 6:00 • Please bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. the Meath Labour Union in 1913. T Milwaukee Calendar of Events T For More Information visit http://shamrockclubwis.com SEPTEMBER Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Wisconsin Scottish Games; Waukesha Expo Centre 5 Shamrock Club monthly meeting; ICHC; 7 pm 6 Celtic Women First Friday Lecture; Patrick Boyle, Speaker; ICHC; 5:30-7 pm 6 First Friday Ceili Dance Series; Gail McElroy, instructor/caller; Wise Maids; ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 7 pm 7 Positively Pewaukee Celtic Fest ; Pewaukee, Lakefront 11 Irish Emigration Library; ICHC, 2-6 pm 17 Celtic Women International Book Club; ICHC; 1pm 18 Irish Emigration Library; ICHC, 2-6 pm 25 Irish Emigration Library; ICHC, 2-6 pm 28 Monthly Set Dance; ICHC; Music tba; Sets are Williamstown; 7:30 pm Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan presented Julie Smith, Irish Fest OCTOBER Volunteer of the Year and Past 3 Shamrock Club monthly meeting; ICHC; 7 pm President of the Shamrock Club 4 Celtic Women First Friday Lecture; Jean Bills, Speaker; ICHC; 5:30-7 pm with a special plaque at the August 4 First Friday Ceili Dance Series; Gail McElroy, instructor/caller; Frogwater; Shamrock Club general meeting. ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 7 pm 15 Celtic Women International Book Club; ICHC; 1pm 26 Monthly Set dance; ICHC; Music by Myserk; Sets are Borlin; 7.30 pm NOVEMBER Kim’s 1 Celtic Women First Friday Lecture; Liam Hughes, Speaker; ICHC; 5:30-7 pm 1 First Friday Ceili Dance Series; Gail McElroy, instructor/caller; Ceol Cairde; Corner Cupboard ICHC, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 7 pm 2 Tartan Ball; Tripoli Shrine Temple, 3000 West Wisconsin Avenue; 6 pm ..................................As we enter the late summer month of 7 Shamrock Club Monthly meeting; ICHC; 7 pm September, we will do our annual cookout 19 Celtic Women International Book Club; ICHC; 1pm for the September meeting. The club will 23 Monthly Set dance; ICHC; Music tba; Sets are Fermanagh sets; 7.30 pm provide the hamburgers, hot dogs and ON GOING … Set dancing at the following: Set dancing Wednesdays, 7 PM at buns. We ask that each member provide a dish to pass from their garden or from a O’Donoghue’s T Craobh Curtin Conradh na Gaeilge meeting at O'Donoghue's Pub, neighborhood farmers market, or a 7 PM, last Tuesday each month T Irish Emigration Library in ICHC open every dessert. Quinlan’s pub will be open for a Wednesday 12–6 PM T Irish Sing-a-long, Irish Fest Center, First Sundays, (through pint or two. If you plan on partaking in the May) 7 PM T Irish Fest Sing-a-long: O'Donoghue's Pub, First Sundays, second and meal, please have your dish at the ICHC fourth Tuesdays, 7 PM T Irish Music Sessions at the following: T Session - O’Donoghue’s, Sundays 7 PM; Thursdays @ Paddy’s 7 PM; and The Pub in by 6:00 pm. Oconomowoc, 7:30 PM T Thursdays: Barry Dodd; County Clare Inn; 10 PM T Fridays: áthas and Myserk; County Clare Inn; 6 PM T Sundays: áthas; Brocach Milwaukee T For October we will celebrate with our German members by supplying sliced pork roast. Members are asked to bring their favorite German dish or dessert. - Kim Nowak Sergeant-at-Arms 2 Milwaukee Special Olympics President’s Message Update ..................................Hi everyone, September is here and Sunshine Report .................................. fall is just around the corner. Another successful Irish Fest has come and gone. Irish eyes were definitely smiling on us. ..................................Nick Nowak (son of Kim and Glenn) The weather was absolutely spectacular. married his best friend of 8 years Tasha, The music was awesome and a pint or two on Friday August 23. The ceremony and among friends and family topped off an reception were held at The Patio Club. A quick update on our two athletes. Jacob and Ryan have both been invited to incredible weekend. Bob Burke and his siblings and their the selection camp for National Games Since most of our members were busy families attended Irish Fest on Saturday Team Wisconsin: Jacob as a swimmer and working Irish Fest in some capacity, it is before heading home to Dixon, Illinois. Ryan for bocce. They will be attending my hope all of you have recovered both He was elated to see all those friends from camp on September 14 and 15 in Oshkosh. physically and mentally. his past here in Milwaukee. He is At the end of the weekend if it is determined currently undergoing another round of Special thanks to our retail chairs. From that they can follow instructions and show chemotherapy. what I am hearing it was a fruitful week- good sportsmanship, they will be put into end. Glenn and Kim Nowak, and Sue Barb Tyler has had heart surgery and a lottery draw for their sport.