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Huge congratulations to American songwriter, singer, artist, and writer Bob Dylan, who earlier today, in Stockholm, Sweden, was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Described today by the Swedish Academy as “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”, Dylan most certainly brought a form of beauty and feeling to life’s greatest tragedies and during more than six decades his poetic songs have reflected his thoughts on death, betrayal, war and heartbreak, with each deserving of being read in their own right as simply a poem.
“Visions of Johanna” – words by Bob Dylan
“Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind.”
Born Robert Allen Zimmerman in May 24th, 1941; at the age of 20 years Dylan was playing at clubs around Greenwich Village befriending many folk singers and musicians including the “The Clancy Brothers” from Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.
“Blowin’in the Wind” (Video shown above – Words possibly more relevant today than in the 1960’s), and “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” were songs that established Dylan as the voice of his mid 20th century generation and demonstrated his unique understanding of how concerned American youth felt about issues like nuclear disarmament and the then fast growing movement for civil rights.
Dylan in his lifetime to-date has already and deservedly won many awards throughout his long career. These include: – eleven ‘Grammy Awards’, one ‘Academy Award’, one ‘Golden Globe Award’ and the ‘Polar Music Prize’, latter from Sweden’s King Carl XVI. He has been inducted into: – the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’, ‘Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’, and ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame’. Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May 2012, and in February 2015, he accepted the ‘MusiCares Person of the Year award’ from the National Academy of Recording Arts.
Thank you for the music.
‘Horse and Jockey Hotel – Tipperary Echoes of the 1916 Rising’
Since announcing their show ‘Tipperary Echoes of 1916′ on Thurles.Info on March 6th last, tickets for this much anticipated event have sold out faster than a U2 Concert in Croke Park.
Originally planned as simply a one night performance, such was the interest shown in this musical event that the company have now been invited to undertake a second extra performance which will take place on Saturday March 19th at 8.00 p.m. In order not to disappoint patrons the Horse and Jockey Singers will now present ‘Tipperary Echoes of 1916’ on stage at the Derrynaflan Theatre, in the Horse and Jockey Hotel on both Friday and Saturday 18th and 19th March.
 Enjoying the rehearsals for ‘Tipperary Echoes of 1916’ at the Horse and Jockey Hotel are: – Liam O’Neill, Mary Egan, Flan Quigney, Peggy Morris and John Gorman. This event is a Tipperary commemoration of the historic events of Easter 1916, remembered in music, verse, song and story. The content of the show is compiled by Kilkenny historian, Jim Maher and features many of the songs of the period including:- A Nation Once Again, A Soldier’s Song, Banna Strand, Grace, Tri-Coloured Ribbon, James Connolly, etc. The poems of William Butler Yeats get notable inclusion as does the poetry of 1916 ‘Proclamation Signatories’ – Pádraig Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Joseph Mary Plunkett.
Extra Attraction on both Show Nights (Friday and Saturday 18th & 19th March).
An extra commemoration attraction for patrons holding tickets on each night, will be a chance to view a small but rare collection of actual artefacts connecting Co. Tipperary’s history with the 1916 – 1922 period. Same will go on show at 7.00 pm, just one hour prior to patrons taking their seats for the main event, latter as already stated which begins sharp at 8.00pm. So do arrive early on both nights for a truly enjoyable 1916 experience.
The Horse and Jockey Singers & Musicians
The Horse and Jockey Singers, who come mostly from the mid Tipperary area, have been together now for some years and are under the music direction of Patrick Conlon. Included among the musicians performing will be: John Gorman, Liam O’Neill, John Harnett and the Uilleann piper Michael Cooney.
On the opening night, Muriel McAuley and her husband Dermot will be guests at the show. Muriel is grand-daughter of Thomas MacDonagh, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, who was executed at Kilmainham Gaol, following the Rising.
As tickets for the opening night on Friday 18th, have now been sold out, tickets for Saturday 19th March, costing €15, are now again available from the Horse & Jockey Hotel reception or from Connie O’Keeffe, Tel: 087 6667988.
Please do book early to avoid disappointment and remember patrons may wear period costume should they so desire.
 Shown Above: A rare image believed to include Sean Hogan (Right), a native of Stockaun, Greenane, north of Tipperary town, and the Officer Commanding (O/C) the 2nd Tipperary Flying Column, which became active during the Irish War of Independence in January 1921. An usher in Dáil Éireann for many years, Sean died, in poor circumstances, aged sixty-seven on Christmas Eve 1968 in Dublin. He was buried with full military honours in the family grave at St. Michael’s Cemetery, in Tipperary town. A Tipperary Commemoration of Easter 1916
The “Horse and Jockey Singers” will present “Tipperary Echoes of 1916″ on stage at the Derrynaflan Theatre, Horse and Jockey Hotel on Friday, 18th March. This event is a Tipperary commemoration of the historic events of Easter 1916, remembered in music, verse, song and story.
The content of the show is compiled by Kilkenny historian, Jim Maher and will feature many of the songs of the period including:- ‘A Nation Once Again’, ‘A Soldier’s Song’, ‘Banna Strand’, ‘Grace’, ‘Tri-Coloured Ribbon’, ‘James Connelly’, to name but a few.
The poetry of William Butler Yeats also gets notable inclusion as does the poetry of 1916 Proclamation signatories; Pádraig Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Joseph Mary Plunkett.
The “Horse and Jockey Singers”, who come mostly from the mid Tipperary area, have been together now for some years and are under the music direction of Patrick Conlon. Included among the many musicians performing at this event will be; John Gorman, Liam O’Neill, John Harnett and Uilleann Piper Michael Cooney.
Muriel McAuley and her husband Dermot will be guests at the show. Muriel is grand-daughter of Thomas MacDonagh, (Latter born in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary), one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, who was executed at Kilmainham Gaol, following the Rising.
Early booking at the hotel is encouraged (Tickets €15, Tel: 0504-44192) and patrons may wear period costume, should they wish.
I was reminded of a piece of poetry today, from the pen of poet and friend Gerry Cullen, having watched with some interest, news of the arrest of my own county-man; Independent Wexford TD Mick Wallace today, during the mid morning.
On a date last April, both Deputy Mr Wallace and his colleague Deputy Miss Clare Daly were each fined €2,000 at Ennis District Court on two charges of breaching security at Shannon Airport, in July 2014. Their reasons for breaching security was that the Irish Government were knowingly facilitating the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, by allowing American war planes to land at Shannon Airport.
By Mr Wallace’s reckoning close to two million citizens were unnecessarily killed in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2013, and the Irish Government have allowed Shannon Airport to be used to facilitate that destruction.
“The Irish Government says it cares about the current plight of refugees, and we’re still allowing Shannon to be used so that planes can go bomb their homes and create these refugees. We then kill half of them and make refugees of the rest of them,” Mr Wallace commented; on his release from jail.
Mr Wallace has since been granted temporary release from Limerick Prison following his arrest for the non-payment of his €2.000 fine. The taxpaying public will be thrilled to note that having travelled some 404km (252 miles) over a four hour period, using presumably Garda transport and being accompanied by possibly two Garda personnel, Mr Wallace is then released two hours later.
Regardless of the merits or not of Mr Wallace’s actions, isn’t Ireland, despite our recent financial difficulties, a great little country really? But enough from me – read the poem hereunder and weep.
Syrian Sand (Poem courtesy of resident Tipperary bard, Mr Gerry Cullen. © )
When Lisa sent me pictures I remembered what they say.
A picture paints a thousand words and I had none that day.
Yet words of Gods and words of men and power and greed demand
That innocence in children’s blood congeals on Syrian sand.
So where is good and where is God and where the human race.
When children die and mothers cry and hopeless every face.
The speakers, moral teachers in the halls of justice stand,
While innocence in children’s blood congeals on Syrian sand.
The Super-powers play Tug o’ War and news and printed press
Give precedence to spoilt Celebs, as the world just can’t care less.
When war spits out it’s victims there are none who understand.
Why innocence in children’s blood congeals on Syrian sand.
Then it’s always been the blameless and the unimportant poor
Who suffer most, when evil calls with blood-lust to the door.
And future prospects aren’t bright, for where’s the caring hand,
Of Gods and men, while children’s blood congeals on Syrian sand.
With eyelids red and heavy from bending o’er the smold’ring peat, hill poet Mr Ger (Gerry) Cullen, armed with the stub of a pencil and the back of a discarded cigarette packet, shares his observations on Christmas.
Warning to Readers: Having read this poem twice, if you are not emotionally moved by the concord of its content, you may need to get in touch with us; with regard to searching out the help of a medical professional. (Note: Readers resident in the Bansha, Cappawhite and Glengoole areas of Tipperary need not apply at this time, since they have no GP services.).
“Darkest Hour”
(Latest poem courtesy of resident Tipperary bard, Mr Gerry Cullen. © )
When your ould lad drinks the ‘Double-Week’, then there’s nothing left for you
And you’d love to put his lights out, but there’s nothing you can do.
Just take your head and bury it, the world might disappear.
Text the boys and know right well they’re on for drinkin’ beer.
Mr Ger Cullen with a baby fox, soon to be released back into the wild. It’s the cause of all my sorrow and the start of all my pain
And there to ruin the good times, just as sure as Irish rain.
Stole away my childhood and ripped my world apart,
Yet it’s hard cold hands, my comfort in the darkest hour of dark.
When your ould wan’s face is black and blue, ‘cos she slipped and fell again,
Or the door hangs off the hinges, ‘cos the ould lad kicked it in.
You’d never say on our estate that Christmas time is near,
There’s always tension, always rows and Christ, there’s always beer.
It’s the cause of all my sorrow and the start of all my pain
And there to ruin the good times, just as sure as Irish rain.
Stole away my childhood and ripped my world apart,
Yet it’s hard cold hands, my comfort in the darkest hour of dark.
When banging doors are constant, when fighting fills the air,
It breaks through walls and pillows, it finds you everywhere.
She scraped us through the birthdays, yet Christmas touched us all.
Our Santy’s name was Vincent, his helper’s name de Paul.
It’s the cause of all my sorrow and the start of all my pain
And there to ruin the good times, just as sure as Irish rain.
Stole away my childhood and ripped my world apart,
Yet it’s hard cold hands, my comfort in the darkest hour of dark.
“Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (St. Matthew 25:40)
Speaking of that wonderful local organisation St. Vincent de Paul; local VDP member Mary Mac Donagh has asked us to point out that they are keen to support endeavours at making a small gesture, to help make Christmas 2015 more enjoyable for deserving children.
To this end those attending churches this week end, and next, are invited to place a new unwrapped toy in a collection box provided discreetly at the back of appointed churches. (Thanks Mary.)
Some suggestions if you need help in choosing your gift:
- Infants & Toddlers: Activity toys, pre-school toys, board books.
- 3-6 years: Soft toys, action toys, character toys such as Peppa Pig and SpongeBob SquarePants.
- 7-9 years: Board games, dressing up outfits, books, cars.
- 10-12 years: Books, jewellery, games, music, toiletries, DVD’s.
Now back to Mr Ger Cullen with a question; “Where is the book of poetry you promised?” We’re waiting!
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