Poetry | Thurles Information

Field Buttercups On Emmet Street, Thurles.

“There, on stems waving in the air on a warm gentle breeze,
Buttercups, ebb and flow like restless tides on rolling seas”

[Extract from the poem ‘Sun-Kissed Flowers‘, by Jenna Logan]

The hairy leaved bright yellow field Buttercups growing on the west bank of the river Suir presently, East on Emmet Street, are indeed quite striking. But soon their petals will fall, leaving behind green spiky fruit, reminiscent of tiny chestnuts.

***View on Sunday last, June 13th, east on Emmet Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary***.

Nowadays the younger generation are more fascinated by their mobile phone screens, rather than playing the childhood game of holding a buttercup under your chin to see if you like butter. As children adults had us believe that the colour of the flowers eaten by cows somehow got into the milk giving rise to the production of yellow farmer’s butter.

Buttercups will grow anywhere and have in the past been used to treat rheumatism and fevers.
The plants flowers contain a chemical ‘Ranunculin’, which, when the plant is broken, crushed or chewed, changes to the toxin called ‘Protoanemonin’.

Protoanemonin is a bitter-tasting oil that irritates the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, and is poisonous to horses, cats, and dogs. However, they generally don’t pose any real threat, because the toxin’s bitter taste limits the amount any animal will eat.

When dried these toxins which are part of the Buttercups makeup become harmless and so are edible for animals when found in dried hay.

Thurles Town’s Magical Riverside Walk.

With huge “Thank You” to Catherine Fogarty, Rona Sorrell, Una and David Crowley, Mary Joe Fanning, Eamonn Medley and Eamonn Mason and indeed all who have contributed their voluntary service to this area of Thurles.

Thurles Town’s Magical Riverside Walk.

© Thurles.info 2021.

The Riverside Walk is a magical place
With butterflies, otters and trees,
There’s rushes, wild flowers and ivy,
Bird houses and honey bees.

There’s bugs and nettles and hedges,
Long grasses and ducks galore.
And it’s nice to take a walk there,
Alongside the River Suir.

And as you go along the walk,
There’s something else to see:
The entrance through a little door
Inside a rotting tree.

A tiny fairy lives there.
She checks that you are good
And taking care of nature,
Like everybody should.

And late at night she comes to life
And flies through Thurles’ streets;
Checking under pillows
For unwanted children’s teeth.

So why not visit this fairy
And the otters and ducks and flowers?
Come stroll along the Riverside walk
And while away the hours.

END

Bluebells

The Bluebell.

By Anne Bronte
[Novelist, poet, youngest member of the Bronte literary family and daughter of Patrick Brontë an Irish clergyman.]

A fine and subtle spirit dwells
In every little flower,
Each one its own sweet feeling breathes
With more or less of power.
There is a silent eloquence
In every wild bluebell
That fills my softened heart with bliss
That words could never tell.

Yet I recall not long ago
A bright and sunny day,
‘Twas when I led a toilsome life
So many leagues away;
That day along a sunny road
All carelessly I strayed,
Between two banks where smiling flowers
Their varied hues displayed.

Before me rose a lofty hill,
Behind me lay the sea,
My heart was not so heavy then
As it was wont to be.
Less harassed than at other times
I saw the scene was fair,
And spoke and laughed to those around,
As if I knew no care.

But when I looked upon the bank
My wandering glances fell
Upon a little trembling flower,
A single sweet bluebell.
Whence came that rising in my throat,
That dimness in my eye?
Why did those burning drops distil —
Those bitter feelings rise?

O, that lone flower recalled to me
My happy childhood’s hours
When bluebells seemed like fairy gifts
A prize among the flowers,
Those sunny days of merriment
When heart and soul were free,
And when I dwelt with kindred hearts
That loved and cared for me.

I had not then mid heartless crowds
To spend a thankless life
In seeking after others’ weal
With anxious toil and strife.
‘Sad wanderer, weep those blissful times
That never may return!’
The lovely floweret seemed to say,
And thus it made me mourn.
END

Today Is Poetry Day Ireland 2021.

To celebrate Poetry Day Ireland 2021, here on Thurles.info I am delighted to share a beautiful poem, specially written for today by one of my favourite poets and a local author, Mr Tom Ryan, “Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

In keeping with Poetry Day Ireland’s 2021 theme ‘New Directions: Maps and Journeys’, Tom’s poem ‘Save the Double Ditch’, describes the immeasurable sentimental and historic value of a local walkway that generations have journeyed along since it was mapped out during the Great Famine in 1846.

The title and final lines of this poem capture the essence of the threat currently facing the ‘Double Ditch’ in Thurles and our fervent hope that it’s fate will take a ‘New Direction’ (click HERE for more information about the history, hardship and threats faced by the Double Ditch Great Famine Mass Path).

**Entrance to the 1846 ‘Double Ditch’, Manor Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**.

Save the Double Ditch
Courtesy of Thurles Author & Poet Tom Ryan ©

Who now remembers the hallowed Double Ditch walk.
That sacred path for Mass goers and lovers long ago,
By our Great Famine folks created.
From Manor Mill Road to Church and school in Thurles town.
Where heritage and history court renown.
In the sweet romance of yesterday, I held my lovely lady’s hand,
As though she were the Royal Lady Thurles, now sleeping in St. Mary’s.
Oh, the innocence and ignorance of those times
Swearing love, devotion, adoration.
Our hearts light, hopeful and glad,
Mad-happy as the summer day was long
Never to end.

The birdsong enchanting all around,
This sacred ground, this sacred youth and yearning.
Wishing our joy unending,
Our longings and love ascending,
To the summer blue sky above,
With the birds that sweetly sang in the fragrant summer grove.
We strolled through the centuries on the way,
Mocked the passing day,
Oblivious of past hunger and the heartbreak,
Whereby, in faith and togetherness,
This Double Ditch was born,
Defying death and desolation,
This place, this sacred place,
This pride of our proud nation.
Speak softly of this precious place,
That harbours all the jewels of a bejewelled race.
Speak kindly of the memories of a time,
When the eternal, ethereal spirit of this place was mine,
And if perchance some ill your ways destroy,
Then so shall end all gallantry and all our history die.

END.

Other ways to Get Involved with Poetry Day Ireland 2021.

We are sincerely grateful to Mr Tom Ryan for sharing his poem with us for Poetry Day Ireland 2021. Here are some of the many other ways you can get involved this year.

Events.

By clicking HERE you can search through the many virtual events taking place across the country. The events include workshops, performances and radio shows.

Competitions.

You can enter a poetry writing competition. Why not give it a try by clicking HERE.

Pocket Poems.

Poetry Ireland have compiled a collection of pocket poems under this year’s theme ‘New Directions: Maps and Journeys’. By clicking HERE you can read, enjoy and share these poems.

Educational Resources.

Celebrate poetry in schools with the help of these outstanding educational resources that provide lots of ideas for teachers today and throughout the year.

Videos.

Sit back and enjoy Poetry Ireland’s video collection from well known Irish people reading their favourite poems.

Contributions come from the world of politics, music and film and include readings by Imelda May, Mary Robinson and Paul Mescal. View HERE

Poetry Day Ireland – Poetry Packs for Schools.

Poetry Day Ireland 2021 takes place on Thursday, April 29th. Given our nations rich poetic heritage, it is wonderful to see Poetry Ireland actively supporting schools to bring the joy and power of poetry into the lives of our pupils. This year’s Poetry Day Ireland theme is ‘New Directions: Maps and Journeys’ and Poetry Ireland have produced some excellent resources for both primary and secondary school teachers and pupils.

Primary School Resources for Poetry Day Ireland 2021.

Packed with 41 pages of poems and fun activities, this informative and engaging online resource encourages teachers and pupils to read, write, listen to, illustrate, perform, share and above all enjoy poetry. This Poetry Day Ireland resource is available to access HERE.

For pupils and teachers celebrating Poetry Day 2021 through Irish, leighleat.com aims to provide teachers, parents and children with digital resources to support them in the teaching and learning of Irish. You can access their digital resources for poetry by clicking HERE.

Secondary School Resources for Poetry Day Ireland 2021

For secondary school pupils, Poetry Ireland, and Irish Aid Worldwise Global Schools, have a development education creative writing pack. The pack provides a series of lesson plans that aim to enable secondary school pupils to explore numerous global issues. The pack is available to download HERE.

Why not share a favourite poem?
No matter what class your child or pupil is in, why not take some time to share your favourite rhymes and poems using your chosen social media platform, on Poetry Day April 29th?
There are so many great poems to choose from, and here shown above, on Thurles.info, I share the poem, ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’, written and read by that late, great American poet Robert Lee Frost, (1874 – 1963).