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 TIME
By Kathleen Blanchfield
No time to stop in this world, no time to stare awhile
At the beauty of a budding rose, or the warmth of a smile.
No time to watch the summer skies or rainbow’s pretty hue.
No time to stop and listen to the pigeon’s husky coo.
No time to linger silently and view the stars at night.
No time to stroll on moonlit strands and watch the oceans might.
No time to gaze at meadows, swaying in the summer breeze.
No time to quietly listen to the gently rustling trees.
No time to linger wistfully at soil so neatly planted.
No time for God’s own beauty, all’s taken now for granted.
No time. No time. No time.
We featured a music video recently, performed by singing star Nora Fogarty and entitled, “Shattered Dreams.” The lyrics of this wonderful song were written by Kathleen Blanchfield a poet and song writer, residing here on the borders of Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Kathleen, now enjoying her middle years, has always enjoyed writing, but back in her early years due to the then pace of living, she found little opportunity. She began taking her rare talent more seriously following the Pat Kenny “All Write” Letter-writing competition in 1995 and 1996 gaining huge recognition for her work. Gay Byrne gave her a welcome prize for an old fashioned Christmas story back in 1998, and being a great fan of both, and now finding more time on her hand, she was encouraged to write short stories, poems, song lyrics, letters and articles.
The song “Shattered Dreams,” was conceived by her observations of this atrocity on T.V. The sheer thought of people dying in this inhuman and evil way drew her to write down her feelings of grief, with the chorus becoming a real prayer from the heart. “Perhaps it is really a lament,” Kathleen explains as she thinks back to those dreadful days of 2001.
All of Kathleen’s current work is based on real life stories and family events. Many more celebrate nature and the community and are formed in a profoundly simple style, hopefully holding as she states, “the music of the everyday.”
Kathleen’s latest book of Song & Verse is entitled “The Paraffin Lamp.” Same includes the poem shown above which she has kindly permitted us to reproduce. This excellent read came about while she lived in a temporary, tiny, snug, but charming house for one year, while her main dwelling was being renovated. This same temporary dwelling ensured much less house work and gardening, latter which she greatly enjoys. Now surrounded, as this tiny dwelling was, by a haunting natural serenity, more poems and songs began to trickle down to the point of her pen, ending up materialising on paper.
Kathleen hopes to publish another similar book of poetry in the not too distant future. Her current publication “The Paraffin Lamp,” may be purchased from “The Book Centre,” O’Connell Street, Clonmel, Tipperary, or most other reputable bookshops or we can put you in direct contact with the Authoress, should you use the “Contact Us,” tag latter situated on the top of this page, after all a signed copy is always nice to own.
 Thurles Library Tipperary Libraries are running their short story competition again this year, in conjunction with their ever popular “Tipperary Reads Festival,” latter supported by a €1,500 grant from the Arts Council.
The competition, which is open, not just to adults, but also to Senior Cycle secondary school students, can be written on any theme, depending on the writers own creative juices at the time of writing.
Your story must strictly be between 2,000 and 3,000 words maximum and very importantly all entries must be the original work of the author.
There will be one prize of €200 for the best story, with the winners name being announced during Stuart Neville’s visit to Tipperary Libraries in November.
Stories may be submitted by email to thurles@tipperarylibraries.ie or sent as hard copy to any local branch of Tipperary Libraries.
Closing Date: Closing date for submissions is 01/11/2013.
Further Info: For further details drop into your local library or simply Telephone 0504- 29720.
While last year no Irish authors made the Man Booker Prize Long-list, this year three Irish authors including one from North Tipperary have been nominated, it was formally announced today. Co-published by The Lilliput Press and Doubleday Ireland, “The Spinning Heart,” is the début novel of Tipperary born Donal Ryan.
 Donal Ryan was born in Burgess, a village here in North Tipperary, latter just a short distance from the shores of Lough Derg. Educated at St Joseph’s CBS in Nenagh, Donal, currently lives with his wife Anne Marie and his two children, just outside Limerick City. He claims to have written the first draft of this novel in the long summer evenings of 2010, and though set in a fictional village, his book makes mention of many of North Tipperary’s place names such as Nenagh, Roscrea, the Lookout, and Carney.
His story, which centres around the kidnapping of a child and the murder of a man, is set against a backdrop of surface tension, violence in the aftermath of recession and will be seen as speaking in particular for contemporary Ireland, possibly like no other novel to date. Wry, vulnerable, daring, human and evocative, this novel captures the language and spirit of rural Ireland and, with uncanny perception, articulates the words and thoughts of a current breathing, yet fractious generation.
“My father still lives back the road past the weir in the cottage I was reared in. I go there every day to see is he dead and every day he lets me down. He hasn’t yet missed a day of letting me down.” In Donal Ryan’s work, expect to find a stunning new voice in literary fiction, whose turn of phrase creates vivid pictures in an otherwise present day drab rural inward eye.
Authors Chosen
Seven of the 13 authors selected from some 151 books are female and three are début authors. The oldest author on today’s list, Jim Crace is aged 67 and has been previously nominated in 1997 for Quarantine, while the youngest nominee is the New Zealander, Eleanor Catton, aged 27.
The short-list of books chosen for the prize will be announced on September 10th and the winner will be announced later on October 15th. The winner will receive a prize of €58,000.
Mum & Dad Please Take Note: The Source Family Open Day in Thurles is the July 6th next, 2013.
As part of Play Day & Recreation Week, The Source Library and Arts Centre, in conjunction with The Source Café and Thurles Leisure Centre are hosting a day of family entertainment and live music. So bring the family and celebrate National Play and Recreation Week with us in Thurles.
Thurles Library (www.tipperarylibraries.ie or Tel: 0504 – 29720).
11.00am – Story Time with Breda. Come along to the library and let Breda entertain the little ones with stories. (Suitable for 3-6 year olds.)
12.00 Noon – Pirate Hat Making. Help us launch the Treasure Island Summer challenge; make your own pirate hat with Jane. (Suitable for 5-9 year olds.)
11.30am – 1.00pm ‘Play Station,’ for under 5 year olds by North Tipperary Childcare Committee.
The Source Arts Centre (www.thesourceartscentre.ie or Tel: 0504 – 90204).
11.00am – Backstage Tours (20 capacity, 20 mins). Get a tech tour behind the curtains. See how lights and sound work to create a great live show. Must be booked in advance at box office.
12.00pm – Whitenoise Beatbox Workshop for 11-14 years, – €10 – Theatre.
2.00pm – Whitenoise Beatbox Workshop for 15-18 years, – €10 – Theatre.
White Noise has performed as a beatboxer throughout the world for over a decade, imitating drum kits and DJ routines. White Noise’s beatbox workshops are immensely popular and have been held throughout Ireland. The workshops serve as an introduction to the fascinating world of beatboxing.
1.00pm – 5.00pm – Kraft Korner – gallery. Claire and Aileen return with their fabulous crafty projects for children.
1.00pm – 3.00pm – Facepainting – gallery. Let Danielle and Sam transform you into a stunning ‘Butterfly’ or a cool ‘Spiderman.’
2.00pm – 5.00pm – Barbecue (BBQ) on the Boardwalk. Enjoy sizzling meats and salad with a refreshing drink from the bar.
4.00pm – Live Music on the Boardwalk. Local band ‘Le Noise,’ will provide afternoon entertainment on the boardwalk. Expect appearances from special guests too!
Thurles Leisure Centre (www.thurleslc.ie or Tel: 0504 – 58640 ).
Pool party for children – further information can be obtained from Thurles Leisure Centre.
 A new book by author John Dennehy will be officially launched in Thurles Library, situated in The Source building, Cathedral Street, on Thursday next, June 20th 2013, at 7.00pm.
Guest speaker for this event will be Mr Denis Marnane.
In this captivating new history book, entitled “In A Time Of War,” (1914 – 1918,) Tipperary native John Dennehy explores in great detail the profound political, economic, military and social impact of the Great War on just one Irish county; his own County Tipperary.
Little has been written about the impact of World War I on everyday life – food prices, the role played of women, soldier suicide, foreign refugees, etc.
It was a time of contested loyalties at home and unparalleled brutality abroad, and while the ordinary citizens were well aware of the bloody toll, thousands still continued to enlist. With the men now moved to fight, the women were mobilized to assist, playing a central role in all aspects of the home front from fund-raising to training in first-aid, yet all contributing to the emergence of women’s freedoms in Ireland after the war.
Yet, the insensitive handling of recruitment and the aborted attempt to impose conscription thus ensured there would be no successful transition from war to peace and Tipperary emerged radicalised and divided from this conflict.
The dramatic general election of December 1918 and the battle for independence that followed, muffled the trauma and emotion Tipperary experienced during World War I and set the scene for the political convulsions that would follow.
This is the story of that time – a microcosm for the impact of the Great War on Irish society as a whole. A truly excellent & factual read.
About The Author:
John Dennehy is a journalist from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. He gained his PhD in history at University College Cork and has contributed to several publications on the subject of Tipperary during the First World War.
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