Originally published in 1925, A Golden Treasury of Irish Verse is an impressive and beautifully put together collection of the best of Irish poetry up to the early 20th century. It features a substantial number of poems translated from Gaelic together with contributions from William Congreve, Thomas Moore, Moira O’Neill, Katherine Tynan, Padraic Colum and many more.
The edition was created by Irish poet and dramatist Lennox Robinson whose main criteria for selection was that each poem should be excellent. He acknowledges the help of both W. B. Yeats and A. E. Housman in putting the book together. With a beautiful, bespoke cover design printed on a real cloth cover, this is the perfect gift for poetry lovers everywhere.
These are mostly long, translated poems. And I am neither a fan of long poems that seem to drag nor is translated poetry something one might particularly enjoy, because the translation into another language messes with the rhythm a tone. However, there were some gems in there, my favourite might be “The Wedding of the Clans” by Aubrey de Vere. Also, this book has an absurdly beautiful cover.
I've enjoyed reading this book of Irish verse. the poetry within is highly evocative, full of sadness and melancholy, but with joy weaved throughout. There is a strong sense of storytelling that is absent in British verse.
'I'm sitting on the stile, Mary, Where we sat side by side On a bright May morning, long ago, When first you were my bride; The corn was springing fresh and green, And the lark sang loud and high - And the red was on your lip, Mary, And the love-light in your eye.'
“Slowly, one by one, Through the damp-smelling, misty air of autumn the delicate leaves drop down, Covering the grass like a carpet— A carpet woven in gold and silver:— And the sun, Shining through the bare black trees, Turns to a glory of gold these dying woods.” 💚I’m so glad i bought this, i’ll read it whenever i wish to go back to this precious island🥹