This week I celebrate the work of another Irish poet, one who writes in both English and Irish and mixes both languages equally throughout her poems. She is part of an amazing wave of young Irish-speakers who have shown us that there is nothing shameful in being a proud Gael, and who often use both languages in the same conversations. Ciara has made this duality part of her identity. She also established Reic, an open-mic event in which poetry in Irish is celebrated.
This poem is one that I always enjoy being performed because it has such an important message of female empowerment. So I wanted to share it with you this week.
To find out more about Ciara's work... click HERE.
To read the poem, click HERE. To see and hear it being performed, click HERE.
For more information about REIC, then click the link HERE.
The cover for this week's episode is a depiction of Macha racing the horses of King Conchobhar's horses. She was heavily pregnant when forced to race the horses after her husband had bragged about her great speed at his expense. Despite her protests that racing the horses would kill her, the king said that her husband would die if she didn't run. So she ran and beat the horses easily. Then she went into labour, gave birth to twins, and as she died she cursed the men of Ulster saying that at the time of their greatest need they would be struck down with labour pains and be unable to defend themselves. I have no information about the artist, but I think it captures the spirit of the poem.
To find out some more about my work as a poet, follow the link down the borrow HERE.
