WATCH: Everything you ever wanted to know about Slane poet and patriot Francis Ledwidge

PAUL MURPHY
As the speeches were being delivered in the beautiful garden of the Ledwidge cottage during the national commemoration marking the centenary of the poet Francis Ledwidge on Saturday, the voices of children playing in a nearby field drifted over the Summer air, echoing the voices of the nine Ledwidge children, now all gone, who played here so many years ago.
Up to 250 people gathered in the garden for the deeply moving occasion when the State gave official recognition to this son of Slane whose poetry, written in the village but also on the battlefields of World War 1, has kept his memory alive down several generations.

The ceremony comprised a significant cultural element, incorporating poetry, music and readings but also recognised his life as a soldier. An Irish Defence Forces piper Vinny Mahon played during the ceremony and the attendance also included members of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, and standard bearers from the Royal British Legion, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regimental Association and the Irish Guards’ Association
The Ledwidge family were led by the poet’s nephew Joe Ledwidge and included grandnephew Frank Ledwidge and grandnieces Catherine Digget and Eileen Wilson Ledwidge, the State was represented by Helen McEntee, Minister for European Affairs, and other guests included the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Gerry O’Connor, Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne, MEP Mairead McGuinness, Belgian ambassador to Ireland Philippe Roland, Colonel Max Walker, UK defence attache to Ireland, Brigadier General Howard Berney, Garda Assistant Commissioner Fintan Fanning, the Cathaoirleach of Laytown Bettystown Municipal District Council Cllr Paddy Meade, Meath County councillors and Fiona Lawless, Head of Finance, Meath County Council and Meath County Council Library staff Ciaran Mangan, Tom French and Frances Tallon.

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The Minister of State was greeted by Rosemary Yore, Chairperson of the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee, Colm Yore (treasurer) and Paul Murphy (secretary) and invited to a tour of the museum given by museum guide Paul Mongey. She also signed the visitors’ book.
Welcoming the guests, Cllr O’Connor said they were there to celebrate the life of a remarkably gifted poet, activist and soldier who, 100 years after his death, was perhaps best known for the brilliance of much of his work, as well as the circumstances of his death. He traced his history from his schooldays when he took and interest in books and literature, through manhood when he became active in trade union and other public affairs, became a member of the Navan Board of Guardians, and worked as a road worker and ganger with Meath County Council.
“It is most fitting that a century later the current staff and members of Meath County Council find themselves central to the organisation of the commemoration of one of their own predecessors,” he said.
The Francis Ledwidge Centenary belonged to everyone in the county, to poetry lovers, scholars and academics, all drawn to the grace and lyrical beauty of the work.

 

Local children Kathryn Yore and Fiona O’Malley read Ledwidge poems (Stanley Hill and A Little Boy in the Morning) and James Doherty of the Ledwidge committee read “June”. Violonist Mary Clarke performed “The Blackbird” and “The Wounded Hussar” and Bob McMahon and Rosemary Yore read from Ledwidge letters (Letter to Matty McGoona 9th March 1915, and extract from letter to Katherine Tynan 20th July 1917).
Frank Ledwidge read Francis Ledwidge’s death notice, published in the Drogheda Argus newspaper on 11th August 1917.
Minister Helen McEntee said that Francis Ledwidge was a poet, patriot and, foremost, a proud Meath man whose poetry brought to vivid life the beautiful Co Meath countryside which so inspired him as a young man.
They were gathering at the cottage where he was born to pay tribute to his life and his contribution to the country. She said that the ceremony must be a deeply personal and moving occasion for members of the Ledwidge family. The poet had lived through some of the most transformative events that shaped the history of Ireland and the modern world.

As an Irish nationalist, Ledwidge was deeply conflicted and troubled by the execution in 1916 of those whose values and beliefs he greatly admired, by soldiers of the army he now served. The Easter Rising and its aftermath changed the political landscape forever. “As we move through this period of historical reflection, we have expanded our understanding of our tumultuous past. As a people, we have shown maturity and understanding as we give all of those who fought in the cause of Irish freedom and in World War One their rightful place in history”, the Minister said.
Slane children Cillian Brady and Cliodhna Brady presented wreaths to Cllr O’Connor, ambassador Roland, Colonel Walker and Joseph Ledwidge which were then placed by them at the Ledwidge memorial in the garden. Minister Helen McEntee laid a wreath on behalf of the Government. This was followed by a minute’s silence, followed by a lament by the piper.