Poem by Michael Bannon, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
In less than half a mile of the river bank, some 28 assorted drainage pipes now dump their contents into the River Suir in Thurles town centre.
“Ode To River Suir, in Thurles”
From clear mountain fountains your waters begin, Through Tipperary’s fields, where the sunlight shines in. From Clonmel to Waterford, proud is your lore, Your song will be carried forever and more.
From high on the hillside you wander in grace, Through towns and through counties you leave your embrace, From Thurles to Waterford, strong is your lore, Your story will echo forever and more.
The fisherman casts out his line, The heron waits, the sunlight shines, The bridges span wide where the townspeople go, You’ve carried their stories, through sunshine and woe.
But today in your waters the dark stains are seen, The plastics and waste, where that bright flow had been, Yet still you keep moving, though wounded and sore, We’ll fight for your freedom, to forever restore.
Your waters, once sparkling, now carry the pain, Of plastics and shadows that darken your name, Yet hope in the future will see you run clear, We’ll cherish and heal you, my own River Suir.
Now rubbish and poison are clouding your flow, The bright silver waters are struggling to glow, But still you keep moving, so steady, so sure, Time to stand up and guard you, to forever endure.
The message in the lyrics of the song “Runaway Train”, composed by Soul Asylum’s lead singer Dave Pirner and released in May 1993 (featured hereunder), highlights the feelings of severe depression. It also reminds both young and old individuals that our real world is not all a bed of roses. It also, importantly, highlights that we are not fully alone. Few realise that the video and lyrics would later become more than just music industry entertainment: it would literally save lives.
Grammy Award winning American rock band “Soul Asylum”.
Tony Kaye has on many occasions recalled what inspired his video of this song “Runaway Train”. He states that he was on his way home in Los Angeles, when an idea first struck him, having observed a poster by the road side. The poster was of a milk carton with a missing kid’s face etched on the side. He decided to use the faces of missing children in his “Runaway Train” video.
The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children sent him the photos, and Music Television (MTV) the American cable television channel aired it with a message urging people to call, if they had seen any of the faces of those featured, then declared missing.
At first, the record company worried as no children had returned, but soon one child did and then came another, followed by another and another. The first located was Elizabeth Wiles, a runaway teenager who recognized herself in the video and reached out once again to her family.
Sadly not every story ended happily as some children had died, but each time one was found, the video was again updated with a new missing child’s face added. In total, 21 of the 36 kids featured were actually located.
“Runaway Train”
Vocals:Grammy Award winning American rock band “Soul Asylum”. Lyrics:Soul Asylum‘s lead singer, Dave Pirner.
“Runaway Train”
Call you up in the middle of the night, Like a firefly without a light. You were there like a blowtorch burning, I was a key that could use a little turning, So tired that I couldn’t even sleep, So many secrets I couldn’t keep, Promised myself I wouldn’t weep, One more promise I couldn’t keep. It seems no one can help me now. I’m in too deep, There’s no way out. This time I have really lead myself astray, Runaway train never going back. Wrong way on a one-way track. Seems like I should be getting somewhere, Somehow I’m neither here nor there.
Can you help me remember how to smile? Make it somehow all seem worthwhile. How on earth did I get so jaded? Life’s mysteries seem so faded, I can go where no one else can go, I know what no one else knows. Here I am, just drowning in the rain, With a ticket for a runaway train, And everything seems cut and dry. Day and night, Earth and sky, Somehow I just don’t believe it. Runaway train never going back, Wrong way on a one-way track. Seems like I should be getting somewhere, Somehow I’m neither here nor there.
Bought a ticket for a runaway train, Like a madman laughing at the rain. A little out of touch, a little insane, It’s just easier than dealing with the pain. Runaway train never going back, Wrong way on a one-way track. Seems like I should be getting somewhere, Somehow I’m neither here nor there. Runaway train never coming back, Runaway train tearing up the track, Runaway train burning in my veins, I run away but it always seems the same.
Annual Heritage Week takes place from 16th – 24th August 2025.
All around Ireland there will be free admission to over 70 fee-paying heritage sites on Saturday next, August 16th. The aim of Heritage Week each year is to build awareness and education about our heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation.
But perhaps one of the better happenings, involving both children and adults, is taking place here in Co. Tipperary at Cashel Library on Monday August 18th next.
Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) explains: Firstly, Ogham is an ancient Irish alphabet primarily used for inscriptions on stone and wood, dating back to the early medieval period. It is characterized by a series of strokes or notches arranged around a central stem line. Each letter is represented by a specific number of these strokes, and the alphabet is often referred to as the “Celtic Tree Alphabet” due to its association with trees.
Experienced community artist Ms Cher Gleeson will give an engaging, hands-on workshop, exploring this early medieval Ogham alphabet, latter which was used to write the early Irish language. This workshop invites participants to translate their own names into the ancient Ogham script, connecting personally to Irish heritage through language and symbolism.
The morning workshop, 11:00am – 12:30, will be for children aged 8 years and over. The afternoon workshop, 2:30 – 4:00pm, will be for adults.
Each participant will:
Learn the history and meaning of the Ogham alphabet.
Translate their name using a traditional Ogham reference.
Create an “Ancient Name Scroll”, a parchment-style artwork aged with natural techniques, featuring their name in Ogham script.
Shape a personal Ogham Stone from clay, inspired by standing stones and tree lore.
Participants will leave with two meaningful keepsakes and a deeper appreciation for Ireland’s rich linguistic and artistic legacy.
N.B. This workshop is free but places are limited. Please call Cashel library Tel: 062 63825, to secure your place.
Visitors attending this event can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).
Lyrics: American record producer and country music songwriter Allen Reynolds. Vocals: American country music singer Brenda Gail Webb, known professionally as Crystal Gayle, (Latter younger sister of the late Loretta Lynn (1932 – 2022) and known not just for her magnificent voice and beauty, but also for her long, flowing, floor-length hair.)
Wrong Road Again.
I can’t seem to learn not to love you, You get to me every time. You’re someone I just can’t say no to, And you’re so good at changing my mind. Here I go down that wrong road again, Going back where I’ve already been. Even knowing where it will end, Here I go down that wrong road again. Though I see the web that you’re weaving, You and your soft easy lines, Before I stop to think I’m believing, And I’m falling for you one more time. Here I go down that wrong road again, Going back where I’ve already been. Even knowing where it will end, Here I go down that wrong road again. Here I go down that wrong road again. Going back where I’ve already been, Even knowing where it will end, Here I go down that wrong road again. Here I go down that wrong road again. Going back where I’ve already been.
Penguin Random House has confirmed that one of the UK’s and indeed the world’s, most acclaimed and successful authors of children’s books, Allan Ahlberg, has sadly passed away, aged 87 years.
His more than 150 much loved children’s books, published over a period spanning more than five decades, are known for their gentle humour and are enjoyed by both children and grown-ups.
Born an illegitimate child, in Croydon, South London in 1938, he was brought up by adoptive parents in the market town of Oldbury, West Midlands, England. He worked as a postman, a plumber and a gravedigger, before training to become a teacher at Sunderland Teacher Training College. It was here that he met his first wife Janet, who later died from breast cancer.
In 1975, Mr Ahlberg and his first wife Janet published their first book together, “The Brick Street Boys”. Later they collaborated to produce titles such as “Each Peach Pear Plum” and “The Jolly Postman”(Latter published in 1991 and winner of the Kurt Maschler Award, selling over six million copies), for which Janet was also awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustrators in 1978.
Other titles included “The Old Joke Book”, “Burglar Bill”, “Peepo”, “The Vanishment of Thomas Tull”, “The Runaway Dinner”, “The Pencil” and “Woof”, latter which was about a little boy who turns into a dog, and inspired a TV series which ran on former ITV channel, between the years 1989 and 1997.
Mr Ahlberg also wrote prize-winning poetry and fiction from his home in Bath. Their joint publications went on to sell millions of copies around the world.
Back to School. by Allan Ahlberg
In the last week of the holidays, I was feeling glum. I could hardly wait for school to start; Neither could mum.
Now we’ve been back a week, I could do with a breather. I can hardly wait for the holidays; Teacher can’t either. END.
Please Mrs Butler. Poem by Allan Ahlberg
Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew Keeps copying my work, Miss, what shall I do? Go and sit in the hall, dear, go and sit in the sink. Take your books on the roof, my lamb, do whatever you think.
Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew Keeps taking my rubber, Miss, what shall I do? Keep it in your hand, dear, hide it up your vest. Swallow it if you like, my love, do what you think is best.
Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew Keeps calling me rude names, Miss, what shall I do? Lock yourself in the cupboard, dear, run away to sea. Do whatever you can, my flower, but don’t ask me. END
Mr Ahlberg made news headlines in 2014 when he turned down a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, after discovering that this same award was sponsored by Amazon, which was facing criticism over its then tax arrangements.
Mr Ahlberg is survived by his second wife Vanessa, daughter Jessica and stepdaughters Saskia and Johanna.
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