Multi award winning American singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn, who sadly passed away in her sleep, aged 90 years, at her home in Hurricane Mills, Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States, on October 4th, 2022, last; was buried on her Hurricane Mills ranch, beside her husband, Oliver Lynn, on October 7th, 2022.
Music tastes change as we age, with our teenage years consumed by more intense music, while our later early adulthood years, are inclined to seek out more contemporary tones, as we begin to search for closer relationships.
Perhaps today, younger Irish women fail to recognize fully, how Loretta Lynn, through her 160 songs, 60 albums and 16 No. 1 singles, established herself as an advocate for ordinary working-class women, often criticising upper-class feminism for ignoring the needs and concerns of the former.
In rejecting being labelled a feminist, she declared “I’m not a big fan of women’s liberation, but maybe it will help women stand up for the respect they’re due.”
At the height of her popularity, some of her songs were banned from radio airplay. Much of her chosen music discussed and highlighted many women’s issues; e.g. “Harper Valley P.T.A” (written by Tom T. Hall), “The Pill” (latter written by Lorene Allen, Don McHan, T. D. Bayless, and Loretta Lynn and banned on the radio) “One’s on the Way” (written by Shel Silverstein) “You Ain’t Woman Enough” (written by Loretta Lynn) and “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin‘ (written by Loretta Lynn and her sister Peggy Sue Wright)
The song “Dear Uncle Sam“, written by Loretta Lynn and released in 1966, during the Vietnam War, describes a wife’s anguish at the loss of a husband killed in war. It was later included in her live performances during the Iraq War.
Dear Uncle Sam.
[The name Uncle Sam remains a popular symbol of the U.S. government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic emotion.]
Dear Uncle Sam I know you’re a busy man, And tonight I write to you through tears with a trembling hand. My darling answered when he got that call from you. You said you really need him, but you don’t need him like I do. Don’t misunderstand, I know he’s fighting for our land. I really love my country, but I also love my man. He proudly wears the colours of the old red white and blue, While I wear a heartache, since he left me for you.
Dear Uncle Sam I just got your telegram. And I can’t believe that this is me shaking like I am. “For it said I’m sorry to inform you………”
Loretta Lynn always insisted that her music had no specific politics, rather an emphasis on what she believed to be morally right. Proof, if proof was needed, she allowed ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’(PETA) to freely use her song “I Wanna Be Free”, in a public service campaign to discourage the chaining of dogs outdoors, especially in winter weather conditions.
Not surprisingly, each of her songs that were banned, became chart toppers.
It had come to my attention that I hadn’t seen Johnny Hayes, from the Watery Mall, in recent weeks. So, when I ran into Mikey Ryan in the Arch Bar here in Thurles, last night, I broached the question as to where he might have suddenly vanished.
Mikey had just come off his iPhone, having organising his costume for the 56th annual Littleton “Star Treck” celebrations, this coming month. [By the way, this year Mikey hopes to win the best costume competition. He is appearing, wearing a ‘Tree Trunk’, representing the ‘Captains Log’.]
“No sure it would be strange if you had seen him”, said Mikey, “Sure Johnny’s resting above in St. Patricks”.
“Holy God and his Mother”, said I, “I never heard; how long is he dead?”
“If he had lived until next Saturday”, said Mikey, “he’d have been dead a full month”.
“Good Lord, I’m totally shocked”, said I, “Sure last time we met he was in great form; how did he die?“
“Ah, it was nothing serious”, said Mikey, “It was a workplace accident, didn’t a Tipperary Co. Council stream roller run over his fingers”.
“But sure that wouldn’t kill a strong, healthy man like Johnny”, said I.
“Indeed it would”, said Mikey, “Sure wasn’t he picking his nose at the time”.
“God love him, he was fierce unlucky. Then again it was always the case with Johnny, as long as I knew him anyway; if he had been playing doctors and nurses, he’d have been the ambulance driver”, continued Mikey.
“Two half ones there, Pat,” said I, “and we’ll raise a glass to his memory”.
Pre-deceased by her sister Ann; Ms Connolly passed away suddenly, following a hiking accident in Majorca, Spain.
Her passing is most deeply regretted and greatly missed by her loving sisters Marie and Eleanor, her niece, nephews, extended relatives neighbours and many friends, including those in Lansdowne Tennis Club, Lansdowne Walking Group, Elm Park Tennis Club and Ramblers.
The extended Connolly family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Chest Waders required for Thurles ‘Lady’s Well’ river walkway.
“We have a situation here in Thurles where tarmacadam is being put everywhere except in our street surfaces, ever enlarging potholes.”
In late April 2022, Thurles.Info posted their disappointment following the announcement by local Municipal councillors, led by Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin, regarding the destruction of biodiversity on the ‘Our Lady’s Well’ river walk in Thurles.
Following the complaint, there was total disregard shown for Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, by Green Party Minister Mr Malcolm Noonan and his staff at the National Parks & Wildlife Service.
Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the Heritage Act 2018 states : – (a)It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy during the period beginning on the 1st day of March and ending on the 31st day of August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land, not then cultivated. (b)It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch during the period mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
The main purposes of introducing Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, nationally was to protect bird life during the nesting season, to help prevent forest fires, thus protecting vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction.
The Minister and his department had been warned in advance of this intended destruction, but same was allowed to continue without any explanation or reply, to the numerous communications sent to the aforenamed Green Party Minister.
Our Lady’s Well walkway Thurles, today, October 29th, 2022. Pic. George Willoughby.
As the above video above shows, the Suir River bank in this area was lowered, (see video above), before cold tarmacadam was later poured over the area, eradicating the naturally occurring Bluebells, Primroses, Dandelions, Daffodils, Cowslips, Woodland Violets, Cow Parsley, Cuckoo Flower, Buttercups, Yellow Iris, Brassica, all previously evident and enjoyed by the leisurely walker. Three seats/ benches were also removed, each a rest stop for the unhurried visitor and those elderly and unsure of foot.
No proper levels were taken in the lowering of the riverbank walkway; trees and their roots were severely damaged, while the quality of mainstream water, plus the build-up of silt and various uncontrolled obstructions in the main body of the river Suir itself were totally ignored; all courtesy of Tipperary County Council, led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath and his ill-informed officialdom.
Picture (above) taken this evening shows the now flooded tarmacadam pathway, with water over 30cm in depth; which is also flooding the land to the south of the area, and all because of a failure to deal with the main body of water that is the River Suir.
Pre-deceased by parents Phil and Josie Purcell and his sister Aileen Carroll; Mr Purcell passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at University Hospital, Co. Limerick.
His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Alice, his four children Siobhan, Elaine, Philip (and their partners), and Paddy and Paddy’s fiancée Claire, his grandchildren Danielle, Jade and husband Fred, Jack, Dean, Rhi, Aaron, Jessica, Lucie, Matthieu, Katie-Jane, Harry, and Emily, sister Catherine Talbot, brothers-in-law [including Pat Corbett (Thurles)] and sisters-in-law, his mother-in-law Peggy Corbett, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and his many friends.
For those unable to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Purcell, same can be viewed streamed online HERE.
The extended Purcell family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments