Community Notes Oct 2nd

John Spillane and the Local Connection

Renowned Cork singer and musician John Spillane will perform at The Anchor Bar, Courtmacsherry on Saturday October 7^th next. This performance will take place in conjunction with The Maire Ni Shithigh Autumn School. Events scheduled for this popular Annual Autumn event did not take place last year due to covid restrictions. John will be accompanied by well known local singer, poet and bard Michael O’Brien of Burlerstown.

An Evening with John Spillane and Michael O’Brien with compare Lilian Smith of RTE Radio 1 will begin at 6pm.

John has a deep interest in history and has composed a piece inspired by the epic poem Machnamh an Duine Dhoiliosigh by Sean O’Coileain. Many may know this poem more readily by its English translation, Lament Over The Ruins Of The Abbey Of Timoleague. The famous poem as Gaeilge was for many years on the Leaving Certificate Honours Irish course. Generations of a certain vintage would be very familiar with its twenty verses. It is a staple diet for all scholars at the local academy and it is not unusual for many Timoleague people to rattle off the entire poem in both languages “de glan mheabhair”.

The poem was written by Sean O’Coileain, one of Carbery’s foremost poets. Sean was born in 1754. He attended a funeral at Timoleague Abbey in 1814 and after all the mourners had departed, he remained and was inspired by his surroundings.  He was not in great health at this time and died three years later.The greater part of the poem describes The Abbey in its pomp. The final verses relate to his own personal circumstances.

It is often compared to Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by the English poet Thomas Grey. Both reflect on their own death, almost is if writing their epitaph. Sean’s poem has been translated to English by many but one of the most popular is that by Sir Samuel Ferguson.