Poetry of Place

 This time, travelling to Ireland with students, I was able to return to two places that are associated with Irish poets.  Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Pennisula is associated with Seamus Heaney and his poem “In Gallarus Oratory” and Thoor Ballylee just outside Coole Park is often referred to as Yeats’ Tower, as it is the place where he lived later in life. In both places I read some poems for students and in both places, I was recorded.  It is always a bit shocking to be captured on video, but I will share, nonetheless.

It is sad that Thoor Ballylee isn’t open to visitors, or should I say, the inside wasn’t open when we were there.  I know it had suffered from substantial flooding in recent years, and the damage inside to the electrical system and flooring was certainly intense.  Outside, it was nice to see recent improvements to signage and parking, which does suggest some hope for monies for refurbishment in the future.  It isn’t the easiest place to find or to drive to as it sits far from the main road, and the lanes are narrow and winding.  That was and is part of the attraction, I think. The tower sits near a stream and is tucked away. It is a quiet, beautiful, woody, and welcoming place.

Gallarus Oratory sits on a hill, and if the newly planted row of trees wasn’t there, it would be utterly exposed. It offers sweeping views across the rocky landscape and a commanding view of the three sisters (a group of three peaks) out in the ocean. With broad views of land, sea, and sky, it is no surprise that the early monks would have come to it as a place of transcendence.

The two places are quite unique and quite different from each other, and yet they both provide great inspiration for great poetry. Like a pilgrim, it was delightful and refreshing for me to return to each.