Words: Stephen Patterson
Photos: Pat Shortall
The Kilkenny Involvement Centre and The Recovery College South East recently launched their book of poetry and prose, ‘White Twine and Old Suitcases’, at Butler House, Kilkenny.
The beautiful 120 page anthology, with 60 contributors, is complemented by photos and artwork from the T.A.S.K camera club.
This is the third such production in five years, having previously produced ‘Poems from a Kilkenny Laneway’ ( 2019) and ‘Much More Than Words’( 2021).
The six o’clock launch had a spectacular opening with the CBS Secondary School choir performing ‘Non Nobis Domine’ by Rose Powell, ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Brendan Graham and ‘All I Want’ by Kodaline.
Former student of the James’s Street school, Joe Murray, accompanied by the choir, sang his powerful self-penned song ‘The Centre’ and dedicated it to The Involvement Centre.
The choir was joined on the evening by Eanna O’Casaide on piano and Oisín Farrell on violin.
WONDERFUL AMENITY
Representing The Involvement Centre, David Dwyer thanked the choir and congratulated Joe Murray on his insightful song.
“I would urge anyone who is going through a difficult or stressful time to check out The Involvement Centre on Colliers Lane. It is a wonderful amenity in Kilkenny and a place where there is always a welcome,” said Mr Dwyer.
To give a flavour of the book, six of the contributors read their work. These included: Sé Nicholson, Róisín Sheehy, Bob McLoughlin, Claire Mulcahy, Sean Mansfield and Anne Beck.
One of the driving forces of the publication, Mary Woods, spoke on behalf of The Recovery College and thanked all concerned for their commitment and dedication to the project.
INSPIRATIONAL WORDS
Launching the book was Urlingford born poet and writer Paddy Doyle. Currently based in Kinsale, Paddy delivered an inspirational, thought provoking speech.
He started with a quote often used by his grandmother: ‘A bird never flew on one wing’.
“And that,” continued Paddy, “is what lies at the heart of this book. We need each other. We are stronger together. As the inscription on the back says; Ni neart go cur le chéile.”
Referring to the publication and using a sea going analogy he continued:
“To the uninitiated it might seem like it’s just an old suitcase wrapped up in white twine. But what treasure it contains; poems full of courage, humour, compassion, tenderness; about ordinary transcendent moments; about healing trees and women that turned into trees; about the magic of childhoods that stretched from Michael Street to the Sion Road; about a boy sitting at a pond talking with a frog; about fathers bringing Taytos home to their daughters; a mother’s words to her future daughter, words that are prayers, not just for her daughter but for all young women.
“And everywhere throughout this book, the remembering of those who have gone before us, kings and queens standing like mighty oaks around the cradles of our youth; the grandmother lighting candles with her grandson in Thurles Cathedral, passing on time-worn rituals of remembrance; the father walking the streets of Birmingham unable to find a place to rest; the soldier lying with his comrades beneath the Green Fields of France.”
Mr Doyle praised both The Involvement Centre and The Recovery College, saying the work reminded him of Austrian poet, Rilke, in his poem about Orpheus’ voyage through the underworld.
‘Only those who lift their lyres in the Underworld also,
will come home to praising, again and again.’
He spoke about the great blessing of having friends, guides and mentors who come into our lives in our bleakest moments
“Our lives fall apart. We lie a long time in the darkness, bleeding and broken. Then we make a choice. We set out on our journeys of recovery, not knowing how we are going to do it, or how long it is going to take. We start out blind. The road is full of twists and turns, of wrong routes and dead ends. We go off track, a lot. But through some grace, every time we do, there is someone there with a kind word, or a helping hand, to guide us on our way.”
Finishing his speech Paddy Doyle returned to ships and water,
“So well done everyone. Skippers and crew. Oarsmen and helms-women. You answered the call. You set out on the night-sea-voyage. You stayed the course. Brought home the boon.
You are a credit to yourselves, to each other, and to your people.
And now, it is my great honour to hoist anchor, and let the good ship ‘White Twine and Old Suitcases’ unfurl her sails and voyage out across the seven seas. Bon voyage and fare thee well.”
Claire Fitzpatrick from The Recovery College, thanked all for attending and praised Pat Griffin, Modern Printers and Karol Ryan who worked on the publication.
‘White Twine and Old Suitcases’ is available from Kilkenny bookshops. €10.
