School: Paite Gobha (Pettigo)

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1. Local Poets

   

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   Local Poets

   Long ago there were many local poets around Pettigo. One of these was a man named John Reid who came to visit his friends. Although not born in Pettigo he always claimed it as his home, as his father + mother were Pettigo people and he spent his own early days here. He emigrated to Canada after having spent four or five years at Portora Royal School Enniskillen. He became a famous writer and often signed himself as John Templecarne (Templecarne being the name of the Pettigo Parish).

   In the year 1864 he wrote the following poem. Drumhariff hill is the hill at the bottom of which nestles the village of Pettigo

   Short is the way from friend to friend —
   The quiet village lies below,
   And leading to my journey's end
   The little river windeth slow.
   Like yesterday it seems, and yet
   I meet few faces that I know;
   It is so long, then, since I crossed
   Drumhariff hill to Pettigo.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr Patrick Flood

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   38

   Address

   Pettigoe, Co. Donegal