Getting back in touch with nature

A new poetry festival has been inspired by Waterville providing the setting for ancient poem The Song of Amergin, writes Marjorie Brennan.

According to legend, Irish poetry began with the arrival of Amhairgín, who, landing with the Milesians on Kerry’s Iveragh peninsula, put his right foot on the ground and recited his poem to claim the country for his Goidelic (Gaelic) people.

This mythological origin story, first seen in Leabhar Gabhála (Book of Invasions) provides the theme for the upcoming Amergin Solstice Poetry Gathering in the Kerry town of Waterville.

The poet Paddy Bushe is one of the organisers of the festival, which was the brainchild of Jane Clare, wife of the late Anthony Clare, a renowned psychiatrist, writer, and broadcaster, who died in 2007.

“Jane had recently done an MA in poetry studies and it was coming up to the 10th anniversary of Anthony’s sudden and premature death. She approached us with the idea of having a poetry festival that would incorporate the concept of the arts and mental wellness. For a long time, I have had a fascination with Amergin, the Milesian leader who landed here, so we brought the various threads together for the festival.”

The mythology and legend surrounding the arrival of the Milesians from Galicia has become embedded in the landscape of Kerry’s Iveragh peninsula.

“There may or may not be some factual basis in the background. It was first written down in the Leabhar Gabhála in the middle of the 11th century — and described retrospectively."

There may be an old folk memory or truth in it. We don’t have any hard evidence. But what we can say is that when the myth was written down, it identified particular places in this area — a lake, a rock, and so on. So whether it is myth or a story with a historical basis, it is set in this place,” says Bushe.

Many other poets have been influenced and inspired by the story of Amergin, from medieval times to the present. Bushe asked five poets who have held the prestigious Ireland Professor of Poetry post — Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Paula Meehan, Harry Clifton, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and Michael Longley — to write their own piece in response to Amergin’s poem.

“They agreed so easily and readily that it is an indicator of just how important the Amergin story is to them and to Irish poetry,” says Bushe. Four of the poets will read their pieces at the festival (Ní Dhomhnaill can’t attend due to illness).

The stunning and serene setting of the festival has played its part in attracting top names, and will also be a draw to audiences. “I said to one of the poets attending that I was delighted that the professors had agreed to come and he said you couldn’t think of a nicer place to be on Midsummer’s Day than in Ballinskelligs Bay,” says Bushe.

Poetry is also important in forging a connection with the natural landscape, in turn, enhancing our mental wellbeing.

“I think we need to steady ourselves and rediscover a connection with the real world rather than a world that is simply mediated by media. Wildlife films on television are wonderful but there is a big difference between sitting in a room and watching a programme about wildlife and taking a walk on a mountain,” says Bushe.

While the festival is to one extent a celebration of the ancient, it also features the best of contemporary Irish poetry, as well as visual art and music.

In recognition of the ancient links between Galicia and Ireland, the distinguished Galician writer Manuel Rivas and celebrated Galician piper and composer Carlos Nunez will also visit Waterville for the festival.

“We are celebrating and investigating an old mythological poem but we are doing it in a contemporary way, to show how relevant poetry still is to us today,” says Bushe.

It is envisaged that the festival will become an annual event, which is sure to expose more people to the beauty of Waterville and its surrounding areas.

Bushe, who was born in Dublin, has been resident in Kerry for 45 years now. Is he still considered a blow-in? “I suppose you would have to ask other people that,” he laughs.

“Not in any sense of exclusion or anything. I don’t have a string of cousins around but I feel very at home here.”

The Amergin Solstice Poetry Gathering takes place in Waterville, Co Kerry, June 20-23; amerginpoetry.com

An Irish Poetry festival at the place where Irish poetry began! The Amergin Solstice Poetry Gathering - Éigse na Gréine - 20th - 23rd June. Poetry in Irish, Medieval Gaelic and English! Paddy Bushe, Bernard O’Donoghue, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Paula Meehan: https://t.co/rBFcO8cDvU

— Ellen McAteer 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏳️‍🌈 (@ellenmcateer) March 8, 2018