Ian Kenneally, who will be Westmeath County Council’s Decade of Centenaries Historian in Residence from August to December 2021, takes a look at the IRA’s intelligence war in Westmeath during 1920 and 1921, focusing on the south of the county. Earlier editions of this blog charted the development of the IRA’s Athlone and Mullingar brigades, […]
On 26 February 1927, Thomas Caddell died at his home in Gneevebawn, Tyrrellspass, succumbing to what the registrar for the district recorded as cardiac failure brought about by acute bronchitis. He was just twenty-nine years old. Caddell was one of several Westmeath participants in the Irish revolution who died before getting a real chance to […]
At the end of April we were delighted to welcome Psychotherapist and Play Therapist Karen Stewart to Westmeath Libraries for a virtual talk on Better Ways to connect. Karen talked about ways to establish, maintain and strengthen better connection with ourselves, our children and our community. We know not everyone could make it to the […]
On 7 May 1921, at Ballycorkey Bridge, which crosses the River Inny about halfway between Rathowen and Ballynacargy, a party of police was attacked by members of the IRA’s Longford Brigade, incorporating elements of ‘B’ (Ballynacargy) Company, 1 Battalion, Mullingar Brigade. An exchange of fire ensued, lasting an hour before the ambushing party withdrew due […]
Leanne O’Sullivan is a young poet who hails from Cork. Her Collection entitled “Waiting for my Clothes”, was published by Bloodaxe Books in 2004. Her full Works come across as brutally honest, and poignant, and a personal journey of the physical is mapped in detail. I hope that these snippets below portray the richness of […]
The following Patchwork Poem comprises Lines from the work of Fintan O’Toole, a lover of music and of words, and frequent visitor to Athlone Library in his time. The poems in full can be read in the fourth Collection by the local Poetry Collective called “Poetry in the Park”, and this was published in 2018 […]
Orfhlaith Foyle is an intriguing Wordsmith – a Poet, Novelist, Playwright and Short Story writer. Orfhlaith was born in Nigeria to Irish parents. Around 1976 she came St. Peter’s N.S., Athlone. She made a gentle entrance, not knowing how to us she was quite exotic. Her life and career took her to numerous countries, ensuring […]
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Jill came tumbling after. London Bridge is falling down. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Old Macdonald had a farm. Mary had a little lamb. Three little kittens have lost their mittens. Three blind mice, see how they run Row, row, row your boat gently down […]
Anne from Mullingar Library shares some of her favourite poems with us to help celebrate Poetry Ireland Day.
Is those things arms, or is they legs? (The Octopus By Ogden Nash) An owl’s cry, a most melancholy cry (The Owl By Thomas Hardy) A greyhound should be headed like a Snake, (The Properties of a Good Greyhound By Dame Juliana Berners) When I was once in Baltimore (Sheep By W.H. Davies) A snake […]