Trasna

The Bass Player: Surviving The Miami Showband Massacre A blind man shows me how he changed the lives of thousands on the other side of the world through his own life-changing experience in an impoverished, working-class area of Derry. In 2008, following the success of the 2005 anniversary concert and the 2007 publication of the book, we agreed to do…

Sacrament, 1968. I wake up to a rare, blue, Irish August day.          I am alone in the front bedroom. My pyjama jacket is open. My arms and chest have itchy bumps called hives. Mom covered them in calamine lotion last night. This morning the lotion is dry and cracked, like chalky make up. It looks like…

Elevenish Over the road,a dog barks rounding up the tipper truck – again. Over the roof, martins chasescolding each other. Beyond the hedge,a car door thumps,tyres grip on gravel. At the front of the house,letters – smackon the hallway floor. Along the road,a tractor splutters,leaving a tell-tale trail of turf. Two fields away,a lonesome rooster gets it wrong – again;still doesn’t know midday…

Feast at The Empty Nest In the absence of care and children I’m making homemade chicken goujons  as distractedly as I make love  as diligently as I rotate bedsheets. I’ve saved stale bread in the freezer  and blitzed it. The egg that would rather  be poached and a knob of soft butter  will moisten the flesh. I’m adding  a pinch…

Drift And what is joyif not a field of wildflowers in a meadow by the creek.An old man is fishing; he has made a fire pit ringed with river rocks and has a small fire burning. And what is peaceif not a meadow by a creek                                                                             and the pale drift of smoke                                                               from a fire ringed with river rocks.A coffee pot simmers on the heat.    And…

Mac Tíre Deireanach na hÉireann Aimsíonn na cúnna é gar d’fhuil na gcaorach ag péinteáil an fhéir. Tá sé ag siúl go mall i gcruth ocht agus taispeánann sé a chuid fiacla agus ní chaitheann sé ach drisíní agus níl aon chiontacht aige. Siúlann sé roimh a scáth.Taobh le haolchloch agus driseacha a línealann na cuibhrinn.Aithníonn trí bholadha chríoch. Tá sé ag breathnú i súil…

Answering The Call (In 1987 the Irish High Court ruled pregnancy counselling services which included any information about abortion were illegal and they were closed.  The formation of the  Women’s Information Network helpline was one response) We shouted out the slogan of our illegal helpline – Oh – one – six – seven – nine – four-  seven – double-oh…

1985 The worst Irish winter I remember  And it’s not even my memory.  So often has my mother recounted the tale,  I can see the blinding white, hear the crunch of snow under welly boot.  The pair of them climbing into the tractor  to take my elder brother to the doctor in town.  The silent porcelain countryside, the engine turning…