THE WOUNDED POACHER
by
Henry Jones Thaddeus
"'The poacher had been shot for
stealing two rabbits that lay dead
at his feet in the painting. 'At least
he got away with the rabbits,'
thought Liffey."
stealing two rabbits that lay dead
at his feet in the painting. 'At least
he got away with the rabbits,'
thought Liffey."
COUNTY SLIGO IS YEATS COUNTRY.
| KNOCKNAREA: Liffey Rivers finds herself on top of this mountain in County Sligo in THE MYSTERY OF THE WINKING JUDGE and again in THE SECRET OF THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON. |
Liffey's favorite painting at the National Gallery in Dublin:
Liffey Rivers visits Ireland in books two and three of the Irish Dancer
Mysteries: THE MYSTERY OF THE WINKING JUDGE and THE SECRET OF
THE MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON. Both visits feature a mysterious
mountain called Knocknarea which has an ancient cairn on top said to
be the grave of the legendary Queen Maeve. It is right outside Sligo
Town. You can easily climb it-- rugged at the top but very safe. Now
the top of the mountain, which is flat, is a different story-- lots of
dangerous cliffs.... You can no longer climb up Queen Maeve's cairn
as preservationists have wisely pointed out it will eventually flatten it.
When Liffey and her father arrive
in Dublin from London, they visit
famous landmarks like the statue
of Molly Malone. Liffey is posing
for a photo by this statue when
Robert Rivers realizes they are
being followed.
in Dublin from London, they visit
famous landmarks like the statue
of Molly Malone. Liffey is posing
for a photo by this statue when
Robert Rivers realizes they are
being followed.
Liffey spends most of her time in Ireland in County Sligo.
The banks of the Garavogue River
(means short, rough river) in Sligo
Town. The color of the river is
often brown from the bog water
that runs into it.
(means short, rough river) in Sligo
Town. The color of the river is
often brown from the bog water
that runs into it.
County Sligo is also home to
famous contemporary author, Eoin
McNamee. He writes fantasy
trilogies for young adults and
books for adults. He is one of my
favorite authors.
Famous poet, W. B. Yeats
(1865-1939) spent his childhood in
County Sligo and later wrote lovely
poems about some of Sligo's
landmarks--including Knocknarea.
He believed in fairies. That is what
'The Host' means in the poem
below:
W.B. Yeats
"THE HOST is riding from
Knocknarea
And over the grave of Clooth-na-
bare;
Caolte tossing his burning hair
And Niamh calling Away, come
away:
Empty your heart of its mortal
dream.
The winds awaken, the leaves
whirl round,
Our cheeks are pale, our hair is
unbound,
Our breasts are heaving, our eyes
are a-gleam,
Our arms are waving, our lips are
apart;
And if any gaze on our rushing
band,
We come between him and the
deed of his hand,
We come between him and the
hope of his heart.
The host is rushing ’twixt night and
day,
And where is there hope or deed
as fair?
Caolte tossing his burning hair,
And Niamh calling Away, come
away"
— W.B. Yeats
"THE HOST is riding from
Knocknarea
And over the grave of Clooth-na-
bare;
Caolte tossing his burning hair
And Niamh calling Away, come
away:
Empty your heart of its mortal
dream.
The winds awaken, the leaves
whirl round,
Our cheeks are pale, our hair is
unbound,
Our breasts are heaving, our eyes
are a-gleam,
Our arms are waving, our lips are
apart;
And if any gaze on our rushing
band,
We come between him and the
deed of his hand,
We come between him and the
hope of his heart.
The host is rushing ’twixt night and
day,
And where is there hope or deed
as fair?
Caolte tossing his burning hair,
And Niamh calling Away, come
away"
— W.B. Yeats
Statue of Yeats. It was knocked over
by a car but managed to recover
beautifully!
by a car but managed to recover
beautifully!
The summit of Knocknarea is fairly
flat. The large 'bump' is Queen
Maeve's tomb.