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Patrick
Kavanagh Trail
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7.
Billy Brennan's Barn:
INNISKEEN ROAD: JULY EVENING "The bicycles go by
in twos and threes - There's a dance in Billy Brennan's
barn to-night, And there's the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight." Brennans'
loft was used as a dance venue in the '20's before the parish
aspired to its own dance hall. The red windows of the loft
are easily seen from the Bog Road.
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To
the left of the road lies the townland of Shancoduff: "My
black hills have never seen the sun rising, Eternally they
look north towards Armagh. Lot's wife would not be salt if
she had been Incurious as my black hills that are happy When
dawn whitens Glasdrummond chapel." … From "Shancoduff" |
8.
Rocksavage Fort & The Triangular Field:
In 1926, in a vain effort to keep Patrick's feet firmly planted
on the
ground, the Kavanaghs invested in a small farm under Rocksavage
fort. This three-ringed fort owes its name to the estate on
the other
side of the hill, owned in Kavanagh's time by the Plunkett
Kenny
family, who were relatives of Oliver Plunkett. Working this
land, using the hedges as shelving for his books, Kavanagh
was to write some of his most inspired verse. "To get to
know even a small field is a lifetime's exploration".
Kavanagh left for Dublin in 1939. "It was the worst mistake
of my life." |
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