Séamus Ahearne: Loving us to the moon (and back); an grá don Ghaeilge, Ashes and Lilies and Dundee…
Artemis 2
Artemis 2 is on the way. It will eventually be 252,757 miles (406,773 km) from the earth. It will loop around the moon, drawn by the moon’s gravity. How all of this is calculated is totally beyond my understanding. The crew includes a Canadian. Does the Donald know this? He might have yet another problem. Koch said that “the plunger is the most important piece of equipment in space.” He was the plumber who solved the toilet issues up there, which were obviously very serious. However Glover had other words to say: “We are one people…This mission has shown us what we can do, when we not just put our differences aside, but when we bring our differences together, to accomplish something great.” The whole project is a magnificent achievement though some wonder, if all this expertise, might be used differently. (A question: Can such an adventure wake up our own reflections?)
Daffodils/Imelda May in Ring/Séamus O’Rourke
I caught this morning on BBC the story of Thriplow Village (Cambridgeshire) putting on their Annual Daffodil Weekend. It was most impressive to listen to how many were involved, and the togetherness created by this event. Many of us are moved by daffodils or rather recall Wordsworth’s poem. We may remember very little from school days (and be very critical of what we didn’t learn) but that Poem does stay around in our heads. I have a grá for Wordsworth, as I lived in a house once the home of William’s descendant. And then I was recalling something from last evening. (The Village effect).
Ring.
Somehow Imelda May appeared on my screen yesterday. (Accidently). She appeared to be in Ring, Waterford. I liked the caption which I found, when I looked it up – ‘Is fearr cairde ná ór’… At Munitir na Rinne!’ Imelda was immersing herself in the songs of the past and letting the songs teach her Irish. (Imelda came from Meath Street Parish in Dublin and her parents used to arrive out here, for various courses.) The locals were so good in Ring. Irish has disappeared from the files of my mind and that is embarrassing. We cannot let the story-telling/the past evaporate. Our linguistic past. There is a colour and a music in the language, which if lost, reduces our very souls.
The Seanachie.
I get the very same feelings of the language, when I listen to Séamus O’Rourke delve into the stories of the past. The Seanachaí is not dead and shouldn’t be. Séamus Ennis – on his bike, with his jotter and the stub of a pencil, rambling around Connemara at the behest of The Folklore Commission, stirs up similar memories. I believe too that we cannot catch the richness of faith/or Scripture, unless, we are awakened, to the layers of language and meaning. To an understanding of Story. The formality of faith and Liturgy is riddled with literalism. And misses the sub-soil of every ritual. It can only hint at the deeper meanings, but we are so prosaic, most of the time. We have to respect mystery. (A Question: Can such stories wake up our own deeper reflections in faith?)
The Days of Ash; Easter Lily.
U2 are ancients. But they continue to surprise us. ‘The Days of Ash’, came out for Ash Wednesday. ‘Easter Lily’ arrived on Good Friday. How connected the song/music is to those days I don’t know. I hear that Ash is very political and wonders on the chaos of today’s world. Renee Good. Ukraine. That girl in Iran. A Palestinian activist. An Israeli poet. And then Michelangelo speaking with David. Easter Lily – is dealing with friendship; loss; renewal. I claim no knowledge on U2 but I am intrigued by the themes dealt with by the band. I have no idea what Ash Wednesday or Good Friday or Easter Sunday means for the group, but I reflect on how little those days now mean to the general population. (A Question: Can the reflections by U2 wake up a response to the deeper issues of life?)
Brian Cox. Dundee and the 3Js.
I got today’s paper (Holy Saturday). Brian Cox featured in the magazine. I don’t know much about his work, but I know that he comes from Dundee. That is sufficient to attract my attention. My own nine years in Dundee still stirs up affections in me. The mention of any Dundonian brings me back to that place, and to the many characters I recall from those times. ‘The Steamie’ comes to mind. It was evocative of the Wash House (Glasgow) and some of the characters I could see and hear around Dundee, were very familiar like the local Dundee ‘wifies.’ (A familiar term in Dundee!) Many of the women in Dundee, worked in the Jute Mills and were delightful. But going back to Brian Cox – he is loud. His language is wild. Now that he is 80, he believes that he can say anything he wishes. He has many clay-pigeons to shoot at. He does his shooting with great accuracy. Poor, puny (as a personality) and pathetic Trump, is lambasted. Now Macron’s assault is not as dramatic but is also very blunt! Anyway – Dundee was famous for 3 Js. Jam, Jute and Journalism. For me – it was the people. And Brian Cox has many of the qualities and attitudes that endeared me to the Dundonians. (A Question: Can the memories of the people we have met, on our journey in life and in faith – wake us up to see, how much bigger we are than just the present moment?)
Seamus Ahearne osa 4th April 2026.