In the archaeological department of NUIG, it was believed that you had not truly earned your stripes as a field archaeologist until you had had at least one near-death experience whilst on a dig. Some senior staff members had lived long enough to have had several. Brendan Herlihy, a tenured lecturer in environmental archaeology, sported…
The beach was a fairly small one, and the village built around it – the village where I grew up – was not much bigger, so I suppose it was a pretty big deal when everybody woke up and found… you know, found it washed up that day. I mean, it took up most of…
There are small deaths and cruel deaths. Here, this is a slow death. Nuture it, be careful, be gentle, These things are all on you, You know. And remember It’ll be there when you fail And are alone. You needed this, You know. I don’t remember ordering this I know. We know. Yet here it…
Monday A well-named wagtail, windowsill visiting, Was a glimpse of grey, then gone. God bless him. Tuesday Started with trilling From a twitchy chaffinch Who lingered longer Hedgerow hopping. Wednesday Went wild with starlings Screaming evenings full, A fearless family. Gossips, but good-natured Thursday Hosted some magpies And a jackdaw judged The clatter and clamour…
This grey road mingles into the intertwining green limbs of the mossy tree’s over-head; Our beastly beige car navigates the course of the free flowing river; all flowing with The Shournagh line. The road, that grey snake of progress and the urban; Making its mark on the once un-spoilt undergrowth; Making its mark on…
As Gaeilge: Duirt an filiméala: Do chan mé nuair a rugadh mé Agus gan séis, gan fonn Níl ionat ach guth Do fhreagair an faoláin: Do chaoin mé nuair a rugadh mé Agus ós cionn búir na tonnta Tá saoirse san fhuaim. In English: The nightingale said: I sang when I was born And…
Better to meet a friend at the aquarium than any park Soft blue meeting halls and a tide-slosh of small crowds Schools of chatter and curious glances glint on glass A volunteer wizard tells me how the rays will dance As long as you don’t splash, give them time But I’ll drift eventually, over to…