Vincent Hanley

Congratulations, Michael - well deserved.

I am a big Gerrah Manley Hopkins fan! Humour me as I indulge in a little bit of poetic nostalgia!  I love the poetry of Fr. Gerard Manley!  As a teacher of English literature, you are always conscious of introducing poets and novelists…

I’m a big Gerrah Manley Hopkins fan!

vinhanley.com/2026/01/27/i...

Finn McRedmond: In this Might is Right world, there’s one group of people who hold more cards than Trump Mark Carney won’t change Trump’s mind about anything. But Philip Glass might

In this Might is Right world, there’s one group of people who hold more cards than Trump

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

This spot is one of the world’s top 25 places to visit — is it Ireland’s most scenic valley? When I was invited to go on an amble with a veteran guide, it felt like serendipity

www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/tr...

Limerick poet Aubrey de Vere - the bridge between Romantic Ireland and the Irish Literary Revival Kieran Beville discovers the life and legacy of nineteenth-century poet Aubrey de Vere of Curragh Chase, Kilcornan, Limerick IN the grand procession of nineteenth-century poets, a few names stride in shining armour — Wordsworth, Tennyson, Browning — while others walk in softer light, their fo ---

Limerick poet Aubrey de Vere - the bridge between Romantic Ireland and the Irish Literary Revival

The Sky is Not Enough by June O'Sullivan The Sky is Not Enough by June O'Sullivan (Poolbeg Press) is described as 'a heart-stirring journey of dreams, danger, and destiny.'

#BookReview of The Sky is Not Enough by June O'Sullivan www.swirlandthread.com/the-sky-is-n...

@maireadhearne.bsky.social

My Mother-in-Law’s tongue… English must be a nearly impossible language to learn – but then again, maybe this applies to all languages. We’ve all heard of the phrases, “It was all Greek to me” or even, “It was all double Dut…

My Mother-in-Law’s Tongue …

vinhanley.com/2026/01/19/m...

Politics and me! I was never that good at Maths, and I’m so old that my Maths education consisted mainly of Geometry, Algebra and Trigonometry!  Some of my teachers may even have been Greek; at least it was all Gre…

Politics and me!

vinhanley.com/2026/01/12/p...

Limerick schools book place in Munster 'B' Hurling Championship semi-finals Scoil Pól Kilfinane and Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West have reached the Munster semi-finals TWO LIMERICK schools have booked their place in the Munster B Hurling Championship semi-finals. Scoil Pól Kilfinane had an impressive 5-16 to 1-21 victory over Scariff Community School in Maguir ---

Limerick schools book place in Munster 'B' Hurling Championship semi-finals

“Roosters” by Elizabeth Bishop – A poem whose time has come again? Taking recent political events in America into account, especially the election of Donald Trump to the White House for a second term and with his incessant sabre-rattling in the inter-regnum period…

A poem whose time has come again!

wp.me/p4cRar-HS

My Favourite Books I’ve always been fascinated by books, although I wouldn’t consider myself a good reader. I’m definitely not a consistent reader, and my iPad constantly berates me for not meeting my daily targets. …

My Favourite Books

vinhanley.com/2026/01/05/m...

Dean Browne announced as Arts Council Writer in Residence at University College Cork | University College Cork Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland's first 5 star university. Our tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.

Delighted that @deanbrowne.bsky.social is joining UCC School of English and Digital Humanities as Arts Council Writer in Residence for 2026

www.ucc.ie/en/english/n...

Where did Michael Hartnett get the idea for the title of A Farewell to English? Abstract: Where did Michael Hartnett get the inspiration for the title of his collection, A Farewell to English?  We believe that Aindrias Mac Craith’s most iconic song, Slán le Máighe (Farewell to…

Where did Michael Hartnett get the idea for the title ‘A Farewell to English’? A theory….

vinhanley.com/2026/01/01/w...

Christmas Family Traditions Childhood memories are mostly of sunny days, but maudlin memories of those Christmases from the late 50s and early 60s still linger.  It was so innocent and naïve, in a way, it was as if Christmas …

Christmas Family Traditions

vinhanley.com/2025/12/29/c...

The Joys of Walking I became a serious walker in 2009! For several years before that, I had been severely hampered by arthritis in my left hip. After years of being told that I was too young for a hip replacement, I h…

The Joys of Walking

vinhanley.com/2025/12/22/t...

Life’s Simple Pleasures I like to spend my lazy days in the garden. When Kate and I set up home in Knockaderry in 1979, we inherited a garden and a red setter called Kelly. Then there was the recently acquired three-quart…

Life’s Simple Pleasures
vinhanley.com/2025/12/15/l...

Blues moon rising - Barrs’ dressing room was a glittering cast like Ocean’s Eleven St Finbarr's glorious eighties era wasn’t distinguished by brilliance alone. At its heart was a colony of leaders and resourceful men.

What an amazing team!

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/ar...

The Hartnett Files I have been posting essays and commentary here over the years on the life and poetry of Michael Hartnett.  The nature of my blog is a bit disjointed and doesn’t have a ready index, so I  have…

For all Michael Hartnett fans - some Christmas reading all together in the one place. Click in and out as you wish ….
vinhanley.com/2023/11/03/t...

SMI Newcastle West power past Ballincollig to book Munster PPS U19 ‘B’ hurling quarter-final spot The Newcastle West side recorded a 3-18 to 1-17 victory over Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig at Páirc Uí Chaoimh's 4G pitch on Wednesday

Another big scalp for SMI today.
www.limerickleader.ie/news/hurling...

Philosophical Thoughts on Glenroe and Knockaderry This is a detail from the 1840 historic map showing the sculpted and structured gardens surrounding Knockaderry House, the birthplace of Sophie Peirce, and the nearby Chesterfield House. It was unu…

The savage (and the blow-in) love their native shore!
vinhanley.com/2025/12/08/p...

The Christmas Tree by Danny Barry This beautiful video has been produced by Danny Barry’s grandson, Dan Barry. The poem is narrated by the poet Michael Hartnett and it is taken from a radio documentary that he did in 1979 for…

The Christmas Tree by Danny Barry

vinhanley.com/2023/12/05/t...

Michael Hartnett’s 26 Pubs at Christmas! Michael Hartnett arrived back in Newcastle West after nearly fifteen years of ‘exile’, around 1975.  He then imposed a further exile on himself by deciding to settle with his wife Rosemary and his …

Michael Hartnett’s homage to the 26 working pubs mentioned in Maiden Street Ballad in 1980. How many are open today?

vinhanley.com/2019/12/18/m...

A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh I One side of the potato-pits was white with frost –How wonderful that was, how wonderful!And when we put our ears to the …

vinhanley.com/2022/12/16/a...

‘There will never be Christmases like those again, I hope to God!’

Michael Hartnett’s ‘Christmas in Maiden Street’ This piece of incisive and insightful social commentary, written by the poet himself, describing life in Newcastle West in the 1950’s, first appeared in Magill magazine in December 1977 and l…

Happy Christmas from Newcastle West!

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Advent by Patrick Kavanagh Advent We have tested and tasted too much, lover- Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder. But here in the Advent-darkened room Where the dry black bread and the sugarless tea Of penance …

Kavanagh’s theology laid bare! Wonderful poem.
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Semple Stadium Glory Days Some like Anfield, some prefer Wembley or the Camp Nou or Santiago Bernabéu; some prefer Thomond Park or Cardiff Arms, but my favourite ‘field of dreams’ is Semple Stadium in Thurles, County Tipper…

vinhanley.com/2025/12/01/s...

Brandon Creek Epiphany – and a Rant! The title of this blog is ‘Reviews, Rants and Rambles’ and since 2015, there have been many reviews and rambles but very few rants – so here’s one:  We are living through the craziest of times.  Li…

vinhanley.com/2025/11/10/b...

This is great news.

Congratulations Dean - fabulous perceptive review of a wonderful collection, still giving up its secrets.