Bloomsday 100 was a bright and memorable experience. The sun shone and the Bloomers (those partaking in the celebrations) were in fine fettle, whether singing, dancing or just looking properly suited and booted for the Big Day. The large crowd in Glasthule, a short walk from the famous Martello Tower in Sandycove, was colourful with quite a few James Joyce lookalikes on show. The music from a local group was engaging and had many feet happily tapping along. Enticing aromas drifted from the restaurants and there was much chat and laughter in the air. My friends (Brendan & Luke) suspected that if Joyce had arrived into the lively scene he would definitely have approved – and had a glass or two! YES, I said, oh YESSSS!
Monthly Archives: June 2022
Running Free
A big Thanks to my friend Brendan Hayes (the man with the video camera) for his work in giving my poem a new dimension. We had walked along the beach in Greystones, County Wicklow, enjoying the scene, especially the fun that the dog was having. I was inspired to write this poem, and his video makes it all the more memorable.
Midsummer Magic
It’s midsummer day, sun shines from on high
Puffy clouds float, in the bright, blue sky
Taking a walk by the sea
With a friend, carefree
A magical moment, for us to enjoy
Bloomsday Breakfast
Breakfast of kidney, and a cup of tea
Licking his lips, Bloom’s near rea-dy
One bite to savour
Oh, what a flavour
Must have more, before serving Moll-y
She lay in bed, as he entered the room
Darling, tea and toast, just as you like
Ah, ta, she said from her sleepy gloom
Yes, and an obsequious pose he did strike
Don Cameron 2022
Filed under Art, Dublin, History, Ireland, James Joyce, poetry, Sandymount Strand
YEATS – Birthday Boy
Yes, I’ll go now, to my beloved lake isle
Ensconce myself there, and stay awhile
At last I find
The peace of mind
Simple life, that always brings a smile
Book of Kells
It is considered by many to be Ireland’s premier, cultural masterpiece, and a visit to see this gem should be on your ‘To do’ list. It was created, or at least started, on the island of Iona, off the West coast of Scotland, around 800 AD, before being taken by monks to Ireland to avoid Viking raiding parties.
The book is written in Latin and shows the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) of the New Testament with many wonderful, illuminated pages. Experts say that three artists worked on the decorative work with one of them being producing images of the highest quality. Also, four scribes copied the text, each bringing his own stylistic traits to the undertaking.
In the main exhibition hall there is plenty of information on all the techniques employed by the artists and scribes and the materials used. It is written on vellum (calfskin) with as many as 150 being needed. Various pigments were used, including indigo or woad that produced the vibrant blue. The red was made from red lead with the green being a result of damp copper. They all make for wonderous displays of colour that the talented artists fully exploited.
In medieval times most monasteries had decorated books but they are almost all lost now. So, it is very fortunate that the Book of Kells has managed to survive for so long; and in 1653 the Bishop of Meath transferred it to Dublin for safekeeping. It was given to Trinity College in 1661, where it has remained to this day. It has been conserved there, and in 1953 it was split into four, according to the Gospel writers, and one of them is always on display.
It is a massive attraction with half-a-million visitors a year regularly showing up. However, more than a million arrived in 2018 – impressive, and showing that it still has significant, international appeal.
Filed under Architecture, Art, Dublin, History, Ireland, trinity college
Robert Mallet – Man, what a bang!
An engineer of note, who loved a blast
On Killiney Beach, had a test at last
Instruments did measure
The invisible pressure
Of energy waves, that raced so fast
Commemorative plaque on Killiney Beach, Dublin
Lyell’s Principles led him, to study the quake
Of what made the ground, tremble and shake
Get ready to rumble
Some rocks did tumble
And a brand new science, he did create
Robert Mallet – Father of Seismology
He was big in seismology, and railings new
The Fastnet Lighthouse, and bridges a slew
Scholar and inventor
He gave us epicentre
And Mallet’s Mortar, from which no shell flew!
Railings around Trinity College, Dublin
Robert Mallet (Born on 3rd June 1810, at Ryder’s Row, Dublin) – civil engineer and geophysicist who, due to his study of earthquakes, is referred to as the Father of Seismology.
Filed under Dublin, History, Ireland, poetry, trinity college
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