Eoin Butler: writer, journalist and Mayoman of the Year
Tripping Along The Ledge
Mayo
Published: Irish Times, 26 September 2012Back-breaking days on the bog
At 8.40am, I hear the cattle grid rattle. Michael Gallagher’s van is outside. He said he’d collect me at a quarter to nine. But I’ve known him long enough to know he’d be early. “Have you wellies?” he shouts, when I appear at the door. I don’t.
It’s been a miserable year in Mayo. Michael’s turf was cut in early May. He footed it – that is, he stacked it in small piles for drying – a month later. Then the rain came. The grassy roadway between Michael’s parent’s farmhouse in Aughadeffin and the bog behind became waterlogged and impassable. Read the rest of this entry »
America (1956)
This is a recording of Allen Ginsberg reading his poem America (from ‘Howl’), set to Tom Waits’ Closing Time instrumental, which is itself taken from the latter’s 1973 debut album. If that’s not confusing enough, the track is illustrated for this YouTube treatment with photographs of Jack Kerouac. I’ve no idea why. Read the rest of this entry »
THIS IS FUNNY(-ISH)
You may not find it funny if you’re not from the Wesht. But I laughed my leg off. Muchas gracias to Rob.
It’s like Pierce Brosnan’s weddin’ all over again…
Sorry, I’ve been watching the Hardy Bucks on YouTube all day and laughing until the tears ran down my cheeks. I think this episode might be my favourite.
LITTLE OLD WINE DRINKER ME (1967)
Overheard this song in a shop this evening. It was a big favourite of my father’s, which was kind of ironic, since he didn’t actually drink himself. It brought a tear to my eye, I must admit. It also reminded me of a very lame old joke told (I think) by Tommy Cooper… Read the rest of this entry »
THIS IS FUNNY
Just finished reading a book today called The History of Glue… Read the rest of this entry »
WILLIE JOE GOES OFF MESSAGE…
Sacrilege! Regular commenter Massey sent this my way yesterday. I originally intended to post it with a witty photoshopped reply of my own. But I’m afraid “Up the Rossies” is just such a profoundly tragic slogan, there was really nowhere funny I could take it. Read the rest of this entry »
No f***ing way!!
I’m speechless. I’m not worthy. By any standards, I’m fucking embarrassed… Read the rest of this entry »
Hogan’s
It’s Saturday night and Aidan is down in the dumps. I’m not sure what his problem is. But no doubt he’s going to fill me in. He’s not a man to bottle these things up, that’s for sure.
“Would you say I’m getting fat?” he asks, eventually.
I look him up and down.
“You are fat,” I reply. “I’d say you were getting fatter.” Read the rest of this entry »
SIGNS YOU’VE BEEN IN MAYO WAAY TOO LONG…
Am I going mad or is this one seriously good looking field?