PROPOSED: Back & front cover of a work in progress.
Reading other blogs often inspires me or reminds me of a poem I’ve written and it’s happened again.
Social Bridge posted about Co. Waterford and reminded me of wonderful times spent in Dungarvan and a tour taken of the Waterford Chrystal Factory.
(Although I couldn’t load the whole video it was nice to hear Jean’s voice.)
The original poem is much longer but here’s a preview from the book “Sketching in Ireland” – all a work in progress.
“Koffee Korner Kafé”
(An exerpt.)
Dungarvan town sleeps in school-time. King
John’s Castle, ancient bridge and four-storey
moderns overlook calm Brickey’s tidal flow.
We trod the cobblestones, leaning forward
in the breeze, audibly aware of intoned
melodies caught in doorways and cars.
The courteous cruise with windows down
in the warmth. Walking Market Square, coats
closed, feeling echoes of town center seventeen
hundred. Butter market, slick with Council men
and spirited characters in United Irishmen Power.
Feeling occupation, execution, all history
held in a narrow staircase, an oft-painted
hidden door to the second floor, leading to
The Koffee Korner Kafé. (Continues…)
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2003
Perth Words... exploring possibilities. 
Dungarvan is where I was born, so I love all that area.
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HI Joan,
Thanks for commenting… I lived in Midleton, near Cork for 14 months in 2002 – 2003 and absolutely loved it. My father’s family (Forde) come from Mallow. I have a whole load of poems written while travelling around most of the places you mention on your blog. I lived in Zambia between 1955 and 1975 before moving to Oz.
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small world…I was in Zimbabwe for 25 years, now back in Ireland!
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(Smile) I used to go shopping and have my hair done in Salisbury, stayed at Meikles and took my brother to lunch at the (all you can eat buffet) while he was at St George’s College. Good times, a long time ago.
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My sons went there also in the 90s…Saints!
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I have very, very fond memories of Dungarvon after visiting quite often.
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Frances, many thanks for the mention and I hope the uploading resolves. Love the poem. Dungarvan has all sorts of magic about it, I always think and I must say I just love the Co. Waterford Museum which lives there too!
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Thanks you, I wondered if people in Dungarvon would relate to it…
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