Sunday 27 September 2015

Night Airs, Soundwaves Festival, Skerries and Percy French connection


 Mountains of Mourne viewed from Percy French's seat, Skerries, North County Dublin.

Plaque by the Percy French seat, Skerries.



Back from my reading in Skerries, County Dublin a week ago.
Such a pleasure to view the Mountains of Mourne from the seat where my ancestor, Percy French 'allegedly' wrote his famous song of that name.  The Mournes were a little pale but at least visible, which they were not the next day when the mist came down.

It was also grand to read my poetry inspired by Shetland and to discover that Skerries was founded by the Vikings and there are lots of Norse place names.  So the occasional Shetlandic word went down well at the 'Night Airs' event at the Soundwaves Festival.  Skerries being a harbour town also meant that all the references to seabirds, boats and nautical stuff went down well.
Such a pleasure to read with other local poets too, including the M.C. Enda Coyle-Greene and hear the local musicians, including a tune on the uilleann pipes and an amusing, riskee song from the Mayor.  The night rounded off with the incomparable jazz guitarist, Hugh Buckley.



























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