Irish Heritage enjoyed the Epiphany on Wednesday 6th January with Irish culture, poetry and song. Here’s Vice Chair John MacIntyre’s round-up of the evening:
Birmingham Irish Heritage – An Epiphany
John Costello's evocative choice for talk and play.
On a freezing feast of the Epiphany, a hardy dozen souls from the normal 30 to 60, ventured out to the plushly refurbished Irish centre in Digbeth to enjoy and discuss Irish Poetry, Birmingham history, and listen to Irish Ballads. This night proved that regardless of harsh weather or other adversity, the Monthly Event of the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group will always take place at 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month at the Irish Centre in Digbeth.
There, three wise men brought gifts of the mind, to transcend all mere physical difficulties. First was Galway man John Costello who informed us about the tragic ballad Spancil Hill. Written on his deathbed by a 22 year old Clare man exiled in 19th Century America, which imagined him returning to Clare with his fortune made, in order to marry his sweetheart. John spoke of the Annual Horsefair and the scenic countryside, aided by wise woman Patricia Naylon who recounted the great times roaming around Spancil Hill and its neighbour Ennis in her youth. Then Christy Moore (who only became famous because the year long bank strike in 1970’s Tulla, in Clare meant he needed an income that he wasn’t receiving as a Bank Teller, and started singing) sang five verses of this lovely song.
Second was Mike Walsh who recited a published poem by Richard McIlkenny wrongly convicted and incarcerated for 17 years. One of the members correctly guessed the name of the person who had composed this largely ignored poem, born out of suffering. Mike also spoke about the Pete St John ballad ‘The Fields of Athenry’. This ballad tells the tragic tale of an 1845 famine victim transported to Australia, for taking bread to feed his starving family, which was excellently, sang by Paddy Reilly. Mike mentioned that the prominent Norman landowners in Athenry Galway were the De Berminghams, many of whom are buried in St Martins in the Bull Ring.
The magic of W B Yates poem, The Wild Swans at Coole.
Thirdly Frank Feeney a great great great Nephew of John Frederick Feeney, Victorian founder of the Birmingham Post and Mail, spoke about his early upbringing around Grange County Sligo. Frank also spoke about John Feeney’s good work on the Sligo Telegraph in the 1830’s and his promotion of Chartism in 1840’s Birmingham, plus his liaison with Viscount Palmerston to stop Slavery. Frank also spoke about the sterling work continued by John Feeney’s son, who helped establish Birmingham University. Then the renewal of the Gore Booth home Lissadell in County Sligo which inspired W.B.Yeats (2 girls in silk kimonos like Gazelles) by his cousin Miss Cassidy from Bundrowes River. That his friend Sheila Rhattigan now lives in The Marquis of Sligo’s hunting lodge in Cliffony.
Lastly John McIntyre read W.B Yeats Supernatural Poem ‘The host of the Air’ and explained that Yeats spent his summer holidays at his grandfather’s church at Drumcliffe Sligo, where he lies following his death in France. That Yeats heard it in the Irish from a Sligo woman, who attributed Bridal Vanishings to Abductions by lusty 500 year old fairy folk. Professor George 0’Briens discourse on Yeats inspirations were played for 10 minutes, explaining that when Yeats was in London he composed Lake Isle of Inisfree after that Lough Gill idyllic isle. Next Heritage Group Event 7pm Wednesday 3rd February upstairs in the Irish Centre. General public very welcome, admission and refreshments free.
Sean MaC An T- Saor
