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“Droichead na nDeoir” and other poems by BILLY FENTON

June 12, 2020 by Chris O'Connor Posted in Culture, History, Poetry, Literature, Nature, Trasna, Ireland 26 Comments

This month Trasna is featuring writers participating in Words Ireland National Mentoring Programme. Every year, 22 emerging writers are selected for the program in the areas of literary fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s/YA fiction, and poetry. Each are paired with mentors. Featured this week is poet Billy Fenton. On participating in Words Ireland, he…

UISNEACH FIRES by Mawie Barrett

May 29, 2020 by Chris O'Connor Posted in Nature, Trasna, Ireland, Culture, History 15 Comments

The Hill of Uisneach may not appear in many travel guides, but local historian Mawie Barrett explains why this ancient and sacred site in the geographic center of Ireland is not to be missed. Photo: Fergus Hogan As May filters into June, it is an appropriate time to offer an…

PASTEUR AND UNCLE PADDY by Margaret O’Brien

May 15, 2020 by Chris O'Connor Posted in Trasna 17 Comments

Trasna editor Margaret O’Brien’s timely piece,“Pasteur and Uncle Paddy,” is about a deadly virus, her great-grandmother Mary, and one of the world’s most famous scientists. Today the world is in the grip of a pandemic because of COVID-19, the deadly Coronavirus. Although it has claimed many lives and disrupted economic and social…

‘BITTERN CRY’ by Fergus Hogan

May 8, 2020 by Chris O'Connor Posted in History, Poetry, Literature, Nature, Trasna, Ireland 8 Comments

Our sensibility recognizes the divine in Nature and Ceremony. With vision and voice, Fergus Hogan’s lyrics intensify the connection and set it afire. ****** FERGUS HOGAN READS FROM ‘BITTERN CRY’ ****** Three Stones for a Decision there’s a path through the woods round the lake where I pray that I…

May: Mary’s Month or Baal’s?

May 1, 2020 by Chris O'Connor Posted in Ireland, Culture, Literature, Nature, Trasna 10 Comments

The launch of Trasna coincides with the feast of Bealtaine, which marks the start of summer in Ireland. Hopefully Trasna will also be the start to something great. Our first piece comes from Sligo author Joe McGowan who explores the pagan and Christian traditions surrounding May 1st. When we were…

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