A review by Pauline Stack

An amazing range of emotions and revelations of long gone times took place on Friday 15^th November by Drogheda Creative Writers at the Highlanes Gallery in Laurence Street.

The event was a fitting celebration of the Irish oral tradition and the poets and scribes who have passed this legacy to us to still enjoy today. What a great introduction it was to the long oral tradition of Irish poetry!

Titled “Dawn of Irish Poetry”, with Garry Maguire’s slide selection providing a visual insight into ornaments, sculpture, utensils and everyday lives of these people, Roger Hudson guided us through his selection from the anonymous poems of ordinary folks of Celtic and early medieval times originally composed in Gaelic and passed down by word of mouth through the generations, farmers and court beauties, bards and monks. I was especially taken by one lone monk’s affectionate description of his pet cat Pangur’s skill at catching mice compared to his own at catching ideas and the right word.

We heard excerpts from masterworks of the 18^th century in the time of the Penal Laws, performed movingly and entertainingly by Marian Clarke, John Kelly, Briand Quinn and Roger himself. DCW member Larry Staudt provided a guitar background to proceedings at suitable points.

First Eibhlin Dubh Ni Chonailll’s moving lament for her murdered husband Art O’Leary revealing their great love for one another. Then Brian Merrriman’s hilarious comic masterpiece “The Midnight Court”, a humorous satire on love and marriage, with its salacious insights into village life and superstitions.

Next came blind poet Antoine O Raifteiri, the last of the wandering bards, with his love poem to the village beauty he would never see and finally James Clarence Mangan’s opium addicted fantasies.

The Drogheda Creative Writers Group meets at 7.30pm on the second and fourth Monday of every month in Barlow House, Fair Street, Drogheda and new members are always welcome.