JANUARY 2006
This is only a short introduction to the reviews brought to me by our Historian friend in Inistioge, Kilkenny,Billy Kirwan ; I wish first of all to remember the sad loss of his wife, Margaret, in November, 2005. May She Rest in Peace.
Thank you Billy for the many interesting pages of material you have brought forward for The Handstand, and may your health remain so wonderfully strong. May we we receive many more documents from you in the Future!! The reviews on these remarkable men will be developed in February and March,2006.
Waterford City is now well over a thousand years old. It is Ireland's oldest and most historic city and has produced many famous and infamous people.
In the 19th Centry Ireland produced men and women of remarkable intellect, poets, philosophers, writers, patriots and musicians. Business men built up formidable local and regional industries and we can describe that Century as the Renaissance of Ireland.
Three men Edmund Rice, T.F.Meagher and William V. Wallace were the members of this trinity that lay behind an educational revolution in Ireland and it is sad that in one respect, during the 20th Century, unfortunate elements of decay and corruption despoiled what should be only a remarkable or even wonderful history of attainment and repute.This Trinity is described in an amusing manner:
Rice, a colossal giant of a man, began an educational revolution in a stable in New Street, Waterford, a revolution that is now world wide. He was a man with an impossible dream that came true in his own lifetime. It was perhaps a dream that should have failed but did not, for he never contemplated failure.He risked imprisonment, he endured the wrath of the wealthy and in some cases even the anger of some of the Catholic Bishops.
T.F. Meagher, Writer, Patriot, Convict, General in the Army in the USA and acting Governor of Montana, is better know in the USA than in his own country, but he gave us our National Flag of Green white and Orange. He was murdered in Montana, at the age of 49, for his liberal views. Our flag is his monument.
William V.Wallace of whom much
half-truths and downright lies have been written - that
he was a controversial figure, there is no doubt. There
is no public memorial in Waterford city, and not even a
street has been named, although one of them, Bolton
Street, is named after one of Cromwell's bloodiest
butchers.But Wallace is a man whose music still manages
to be well-known in many parts of the world.Proficient at
15 yrs of age on clarinet, piano , the organ and violin
he shortly after left Waterford with his family for
Dublin and returned only on rare visits.
In February and March I hope to give a full measure to
these remarkable men, and the history of their times.
J.Braddell, editor.
Best
Wishes for the New Year to all the people of Inistioge,
and to the many newcomers who have come amongst us in the
many fine buildings that have recently been built here.
Support for Artists
The Arts
Council will hold an information clinic at the Kilkenny
Arts Office, No. 72 John Street, Kilkenny
on Tuesday 24th January 2006 from 2pm—4pm.
A briefing
will be given on the Council’s recently published
arts strategy, Partnership for the Arts.
Briefings will also be given on the Council’s Supports
for Artists programme from January
to June 2006 and on international opportunities for
artists. The session will conclude with an
opportunity for questions and answers.
Limited
places available. Please contact Niamh Finn, Arts
Office, on 056 7794138 or email
niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie. to reserve a place.
Note:
There is no admission fee.
letter
received from dublin
PS Not only do so-called Drug
Treatment Centres provide Methadone to Heroin users. they
also provide bags of needles to the "patient"
with the slogan "One Works, One Person" ! How
"cool" !Dick Tynan
ALONG THE EDGE, Oil and Acrylic
