Writing

by Eoin Moynihan, Longford   Isn’t it soft the skin is on you. Aren’t those hands of yours so clean. Has your back never bent to ponder upon wheelbarrow or heavy beam?   Have your eyes been ensnared by some … Read More

by Chuck Kramer, Chicago U.S.A.   Ideas are sparks of creativity leaping from the fire of imagination and sometimes shower the thinker with jingling coins but beware the sparks— they may burn what they touch leaving fingers scorched and scarred … Read More

by Áine Leddy, New York   The cows were dry again this morn  Those fairy mischiefs doing their worst With guilt and shame I was torn My whole clan would feel the thirst The spancel should have been installed Before … Read More

by G. Slamon, Brixton, U.K.   A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush A wise proverb tells us of blackbird and thrush Though if truth be told I don’t quite understand Why two birds in the … Read More

by Aisling Lee, Longford  

    Ruadhan Davies (10) lives in New York, U.S.A.  Ruadhan based his comic on the folklore piece “A crowing hen should not be sold or killed. She should be left at a cross-roads. She will bring misfortune about any … Read More

by Attracta Fahy, Galway   The Old People Believed to cut the horns off a black snail, would rid you of earache. In the sixties folklore didn’t appeal to my palate.   Slugs taken from their natural habitat gave me … Read More

by M Ni B., Longford   THE ” GOOD PEOPLE” Down from their secret haunt they come, A-trooping down the hill, green jackets, red caps, white owl feather –  proud and bold they step together   The yellow moon doth … Read More

by Aoife Brady, Sydney, Australia Covid’s gift Big houses, new cars, fancy holidays, prestigious jobs.  A legacy of success, importance and wealth. Our world valued the external appearance. Survival of the fittest. Work hard, play hard. Keeping up with the Joneses. … Read More

Carpe Diem    In olden days, ducks were an important source of food on the farm. They were locked up at night for fear of the fox, so delay in securing the door could cost disaster for the ducks and … Read More

by  M. McHugh, New York   “If a girl’s apron takes fire in front it is a sign of marriage. Fire on the side or the back is a sign of misfortune”    A cottage. Girl stands in front of … Read More

after Flann O’Brien by Anonymous, Longford   When your heart feels very strange and your leg it will not rest, And you are feeling a trifle frisky, There’s a piece of advice that you must remember best: IF ONE’S EYEBROW … Read More

Do you know about Granard’s greatest love story – that of local lady Kitty Kiernan & her fiancée Michael Collins, General of the Free State Army. Many letters were exchanged between Michael & Kitty documenting not only their love story … Read More

by Tom Carty, Galway   A Halloween Game Eleven pieces cut, a sixpence as forfeit The ten others under pillow kept Those who on it to silence sworn Until the morning after which they had slept Should they speak before … Read More

by Mike Gallagher, Mayo & Kerry   Achill Aiteanns The Aiteanns on Achill inhabit wastelands, rough pastures, heaths and rocky places; cling to sea cliffs, hillsides and the verges of bogs; with fellow native, humankind, they lean into salt laden … Read More

A funny old hen, let it be said, dreamt she would never grow old. ” A pullet” she said “I’ll be ’til I’m dead” She lived a life daring and bold.