Newly launched poetry book puts focus on Boora Bog
A new volume of poems by Birr poet Eileen Casey on Boora Bog and the men who spent there lives working for Bord an Móna has been released.
According to Eileen, she wanted to document the importance of how working lives created a community, reared families and stored happy memories.
“Bord na Móna workers such as Seán Craven and Seamus Barron were very helpful to me. I asked them to take me through an ordinary day in their working lives. These men literally went from getting married to inhabiting a new house. Working on the bog was hard work, all weathers but there was a lot of social interaction too.”
The poetry book also features poems by the former Bord na Móna employees.
Sean's poem, 'A Bogman's Work Life' discusses his experience first working for Bord na Móna in 1975. He lists activities such as Marino Waltz, rationing, pallets, lorries and dust, timesheets and clock cards along with the "great craic, social life, hurling and football teams'.
Seamus Barron began working for Bord na Móna in 1969. He recounts how his housing estate, Charleville Forest, was a “quiet place” with “trees blowing and birds singing.” Seamus marvelled at the house he'd been allocated to live in with running water, “both hot and cold.” Overall, the men look back on their working lives with tremendous affection.
Tina Claffey's bog photography features as an insert in the volume. The cover image is provided by Caroline Madden who created the sculpture which is exhibited in Boora Parklands.
Eileen Casey has been writing poetry for over 30 years and has written six volumes to date. She received a Patrick and Katherine Fellowship for her poetry along with several other national and international awards. She also holds a Masters degree in Creative Writing from Trinity College, Dublin.
'Bogmen First and Last' is a Creative Ireland Community award publication and is available directly from Eileen Casey for a cost of €12. Email Eileen at numberninebirr@gmail.com to order the poetry book. Copies are also available in Supervalu, Birr and Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.