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Atlantic Currents & the Poetry of Alex Hayes
Atlantic Currents: Connecting Cork and Lowell, brings together sixty-five writers from both sides of the Atlantic, featuring a collection of stories, poems, essays, songs, and parts of novels. This January, Trasna features selected writings from this 2020 anthology. Featured this week, the poetry of Alex Hayes. FR8879, 42 (Warsaw to Shannon) We’re leaving the sea of clouds behind now, Suspended and frozen amidst the blue, I looked for you in my chest and for all those years saw nothing but mirrors and those familiar, youthful eyes staring back. Soon I’ll be home, and you still five years dead, Slowly rotting, embalmed with unsaid words. You were more alive in this…
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“Where Now Begins”
This week, on January 6th, the United States Capitol was attacked. It houses the meeting chambers of the United States Senate and the Congress. It is one of the most symbolically important buildings in the nation. At the time of the attack, a joint session of Congress was certifying the election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. The assault, more than anything else, was an attack on Democracy. Given these events, Trasna will pause its weekly posts and instead offer the words of poet Kerry Hardie, excerpted from her collection, “Where Now Begins.” 3 Responses to “Where Now Begins” Jeannie Sargent Judge says:January 8, 2021 at 2:21 pmThank you. “Where Now Begins”…
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‘Beannacht’ ~ a New Year Blessing
Eileen Heneghan Beannacht is the Irish word for blessing. As 2020 ends, and we prepare to begin 2021, we extend a heartfelt and beautiful Beannacht from Tipperary-based healer and writer, Eileen Heneghan. Here at Trasna, we wish everyone health and happiness in the new year. Beannacht Wishing you deep peace as we stand on the shoreline of a new year and new beginning May the times ahead be lived from an open and loving heart May the lessons of the past year that broke us open, bring now the gift of compassion, and kindle the courage to continue on May we gently let go our loved ones who have passed,…
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Nollaig Shona Daoibh – Merry Christmas to All
From: “A Christmas Childhood,” Patrick Kavanagh (1943) “Outside the cow-house my motherMade the music of milking;The light of her stable-lamp was a starAnd the frost of Bethlehem made it twinkle. A water-hen screeched in the bog,Mass-going feetCrunched the wafer-ice on the pot-holes,Somebody wistfully twisted the bellows wheel. My child poet picked out the lettersOn the grey stone,In silver the wonder of a Christmas townland,The winking glitter of a frosty dawn.” The above is an excerpt from Patrick Kavanagh’s “A Christmas Childhood.” The poem was first published in The Irish Press on the 24th of December, 1943. Photo by Christine O’Connor One Response to Nollaig Shona Daoibh – Merry Christmas to…
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CUMMISKEY ALLEY New and Selected Poems by Tom Sexton
Former Alaskan poet Laureate Tom Sexton’s latest volume of poetry is “Cummiskey Alley.” The collection is named after Lowell’s first Irishman, Hugh Cummiskey, who walked from Boston to Lowell with a group of Irish laborers. Cummiskey and many other Irish labors dug miles of canals in Lowell, and helped birth the nation’s first industrial revolution. The following poems explore the American experiences of immigrants, largely Irish, and their descendants. The book is available from loompress.com or amazon.com Amerikay, 1832, a Letter When your ship sails into Boston Harbor stay with those who are walking to Lowell By road or along the bank of the canal that goes from Charlestown to…
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Ireland’s Most Loved Independent Bookshops – by Trasna Writers
This week on Trasna, we feature a few of Ireland’s Independent Bookshops. Ireland has over 200 Independent bookshops, and they fulfill a role that larger chains don’t: they are true members of their community. As poet Enda Wyley explains: “Here you drop in to browse books, have a chat about the latest releases and sometimes bump into book loving friends too.” Many of these shops promote local authors, have knowledgable staff, have extensive online services, and offer overseas shipments. A few of this year’s contributors share their own most loved independent bookshops, and why they matter. What are yours? We’d love to hear. Winding Stair Bookshop, Dublin ENDA WYLEY ~…
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The 2020 ‘An Post’ Irish Book Award Winners
Every year, the Irish Book Awards celebrate “the extraordinary quality of Irish writing” and help bring those books judged to be the best to a wider readership. These annual awards are also intended to promote the Irish publishing and book-selling industries. The awards include an inspiring array of 18 categories within a variety of literary genres. Celebrated equally with the best novel and non-fiction book are the best sports book, cookbook, crime book and Irish language book. In addition, the awards also celebrate the best short story of the year and the best poem. The awards are unique in that they involve an entire literary community: publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors, and perhaps…
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ELIZABETH BOWEN and MOLLY KEANE
by Thomas McCarthy The month of November, with its decreasing hours of daylight and lengthening nights, offers an opportunity to turn inwards. It is traditionally a month in Ireland when we remember those who have passed on, indeed the 1st and 2nd of November are known respectively as All Saints and All Souls days. On Trasna, our focus this month will be on Irish writers who have passed on and who are remembered by contemporary writers and scholars. Here, poet Thomas McCarthy explores the novels of Elizabeth Bowen and Molly Keane, in a piece that discusses literature and the world of the Anglo-Irish, and also the importance of friendship . …
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On You Go: A Remembrance of Dermot Healy
by Daniel Wade The month of November, with its decreasing hours of daylight and lengthening nights, offers an opportunity to turn inwards. It is traditionally a month in Ireland when we remember those who have passed on, indeed the 1st and 2nd of November are known respectively as All Saints and All Souls days. On Trasna, our focus this month will be on Irish writers who have passed on and who are remembered by contemporary writers and scholars. In this essay, poet and playwright Daniel Wade introduces readers to the poetry of Dermot Healy. On You Go: A Remembrance of Dermot Healy “What would the living do If they had…
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Introducing John McGahern
by Dr. Richard Hayes The month of November, with its decreasing hours of daylight and lengthening nights, offers an opportunity to turn inwards. It is traditionally a month in Ireland when we remember those who have passed on, indeed the 1st and 2nd of November are known respectively as All Saints and All Souls days. On Trasna, our focus this month will be on Irish writers who have passed on and who are remembered by contemporary writers and scholars. In this article, Dr. Richard Hayes considers the output of the writer John McGahern, (1934 – 2006), and argues that McGahern is the greatest novelist since Joyce, with an importance not…
