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about

Darrell Figgis came to Achill circa 1913 and was responsible for setting up Óglaigh na hÉireann in the area together with An Paorach. They appointed John Twin's father Anthony as their first captain in Achill. Figgis wrote numerous poems about Achill, one of which is named Anach, a secluded beauty spot on the island. Local folklore has it that he was planning that Anach would be used as a landing place for arms. He was arrested in Achill in 1916 for his involvement in The Rising.

There is an old ruin of a building in Anach called the ‘Scotch House’ which was used by the fishermen employed by Alexander Hector who owned fishery rights in Achill at the time.

Four of the fishermen are named in this short rhyme:
'Tommy White the foreman, Cassidy the Cook, McNamara was the stoker and Mickey Eamon drawing bruachs.'

There is a carving on a stone in the Scotch house “TW 1879” which indicates the time period.

lyrics

There is no peace now however things go,
No peace where the ways of men ring loud,
Save in a secret place that I know,
Hidden as in a cloud.


All the high hills stand clustering round,
Arched to protect it from trouble and noise,
Those great strong hills that sing without sound,
And speak with no voice.


There lies Caoróg, the mute low lake
And Bun a' Fréamha lying aloft,
Peacefully sleeping, or even if they wake,
Lapping low and soft.


Upon the high hilltops the heather may be crying.
And over the hilltops the voices of men are heard,
But here only water lapping and sighing,
Or the wail of a bird.


Peace, peace and peace from the inner heart of dream,
More full of wisdom than speech can tell,
Dropt like a veil round the show of things that seem
With an invisible spell.

credits

from Oile​á​n m'Aislingí / Island of my Dreams, released October 24, 2022
Lyrics: Darrell Figgis
Music: John 'Twin' McNamara

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John Twin McNamara

John 'Twin' McNamara is one of Achill’s most important historians, folklorists and collector of songs, poetry and stories associated with Achill and its connections to significant aspects of our local and national cultural heritage. His life has been dedicated to the promotion of Achill and in particular its language, music, and culture. He was the driving force behind the revival of Scoil Acla, ... more

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