The Friar's Curse: A Legend of Inishowen, Or, Dreams of Fancy When the Night Was Dark:

by Michael Quigley

Overview

From the INTRODUCTION.

In presenting this little volume to the patronage of my countrymen, I have only to state, that it was written after the exhaustive labors of the day, by the light of the lamp, as a means to divert the mind from the sterner trials of every-day life. Under more favorable circumstances it might have been less unworthy.

As it is, I am in hopes that many, who, like me, are debarred from visiting in person the far-off hills of holy Ireland, will accompany me, in imagination, to the rude but hospitable hearth of our native glens. To those familiar with the locality of the story, I hope they will deal gently with the inexperienced and untutored hand, that has thus attempted to portray from the tablets of memory — scenes worthy the pencil and genius of an artist, who could contemplate in person the grandeur of the landscape —

"Till from the wondrous wild around,
The soul her inspiration found."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781663546562
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	08/07/2020
Pages:	270
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Michael Quigley emigrated from Inishowen after the Great Famine and worked as a labourer in America. He had a sound elementary education thanks to his attendance at national school before he left but he attended night classes in America and developed an interest in poetry. His poetry fuses a mixture of classical Celtic heroism and local mythology and he appears to have an extensive knowledge of both. Likewise, Druidism and Christianity are close allies. His topographical references are those of the exile, writing alone, unrecognised and exiled in a rented room amid the hustle and bustle of a foreign urban landscape – Foyle, Pollan, Drung, Trabreagy, Malin, Ballagh, Keenagh, Lagg graveyard, etc. Some of the tales were handed down by his mother before he emigrated. In 1870, he put pen to paper, working by candlelight “after the exhaustive labours of the day”, as he put it. He wrote an epic poem of almost 300 pages broken into cantos which rhymed abab. His rhyme is consistent and reflects his pronunciation. Writing three years after Michael Harkin produced his “Inishowen”, Quigley may have been influenced by the imagery and folklore of Harkin. For example, he refers to Dan Doherty, the Keenagh harpist, who was insulted when offered payment for playing the harp at a house party. He smashed his instrument on the floor and never played again. The poem also refers to John Harvey.