Aileen McCormack-Glynn, a native of Sligo, has lived in Galway since 1977. Her background is in the area of educational administration. She graduated with Diploma in English Literature from NUIGalway in 2010. Some of her poems and prose have been published in the Sligo Weekender, Tribes Vibes and local press. A lifelong observer of people, Aileen’s writings, particular her poetry, reflect such observation.
Where were YOU that day???
On 22nd November 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States, was mown down in Dallas, Texas and most people recall where they were that day – it was memorable for the wrong reason. We had lost our Golden boy, our hero. In June of that year, on his historic visit to Ireland, I watched him pass by, and as he waved his tanned hand to us on leaving, “I’ll return again in the Springtime…” he assured us all. But he did NOT return in the Springtime: instead the Eternal Flame at Arlington glows over him forever…
JFK
When you came in June of ‘63
To Eirinn, from Land of the Free,
You cast your spell on one and all
As you stood up there in the Dail.
Those words of wisdom linger still
Within our memory,
“Ask not what your country can do for you
But what YOU can do for your country…”
You chatted o’er a cup of tay
In Dublin, Wexford and Galway,
As the sun went down out o’er the Bay
All stood and looked in awe that day.
Many long years have come and gone,
Since that fateful day in Dallas,
You really did not go alone,
When they shot you down, so callous.
So, farewell to you, JFK,
You were MY greatest hero,
Of ’63, now in the past
Fond memories are firmly cast….
When Nora met James…
Celebrating BLOOMSDAY 1904
Nora Barnacle was a Galway girl,
Lived at No. 8 Bowling Green,
Her nut-brown hair had a little curl,
She was tall and elegant, with manner serene.
Her mother said, “Nora, come listen to me,
Take heed what I have to say,
You must settle down in your own native town,
Marry a young lad from ‘round Galway Bay”.
But Nora, she had other plans
The great big world to see,
Not interested in wedding banns…
Says she “I’ll head for Baile Atha Clee”!
When Nora met James on a fine June day
Albeit, was it just by chance?
“Come walk with me out Dollymount way”
She barely gave him a second glance.
Says he “Come away with me, Nora a chroi”
To exotic locations far over the sea,
Thought she “I’ll ne’er see a poor day again
If he continues to scribble on paper with pen”!
Well… the rest of the tale is history
Now celebrated far and wide,
On Bloomsday, ‘twas the 16th day of June
But what if… by Claddagh, our Nora did abide…?
Galway in ‘73
In nineteen hundred and seventy-three,
Across the Bay from Aillwee,
The Aran Islands seemed to entwine
‘Mid hazy horizons in salty brine.
Down by the Spanish Arch o’er there
In age-old red-sailed hookers,
The fishermen cast out to get
Fine herring shoals in handmade net…
The womenfolk in their petticoats red
Sold the herrings and homemade bread
Along by historic Claddagh Quay,
Ne’er seen today, fine tradition long dead.
Sweet Galvia by the flowing Corrib
‘Twas long ago by Salmon Weir,
When first I heard St. Nicholas’ bells
‘Midst antiquity and cockleshells.
The Galway Review 