Derry appreciation thread

[mossbags]

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Digging

Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests; as snug as a gun.

Under my window a clean rasping sound
When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:
My father, digging. I look down

Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds
Bends low, comes up twenty years away
Stooping in rhythm through potato drills
Where he was digging.

The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft
Against the inside knee was levered firmly.
He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep
To scatter new potatoes that we picked
Loving their cool hardness in our hands.

By God, the old man could handle a spade,
Just like his old man.

My grandfather could cut more turf in a day
Than any other man on Toner's bog.
Once I carried him milk in a bottle
Corked sloppily with paper. He straightened up
To drink it, then fell to right away
Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods
Over his shoulder, digging down and down
For the good turf. Digging.

The cold smell of potato mold, the squelch and slap
Of soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edge
Through living roots awaken in my head.
But I've no spade to follow men like them.

Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I'll dig with it.






Jim McKeever
ARGUABLY
Derry’s greatest ever footballer, and one of the all-time great
midfielders, he played for the county for 14 years. Started his club
career with Newbridge before transferring to Ballymaguigan, with whom
he won a senior championship medal. He played on the first Derry side
to win a senior championship game, against Monaghan. Played a huge role
in helping Derry reach the 1958 All-Ireland final. He was Ireland’s
best player that year, winning the Caltex Award. His fielding prowess
was legendary, his athleticism, skill and leadership set him apart.
Tom McGuinness
A NATIVE of
Derry city, he will be remembered as the best fielder of a ball since
Jim McKeever. As a Sarsfields player, he won a 1968 U21 All-Ireland
medal. Winner of an Ulster senior medal in 1970, he played with
Newbridge for several years, his free-running play a nightmare for
defenders.

<tr></tr><blockquote class="templatequote">
I was born in Londonderry
I was born in Derry City too
Oh what a special child
To see such things and still to smile
I know that there was something wrong
But I kept my head down and carried on.

—The Divine Comedy "Sunrise"

</blockquote>
<blockquote class="templatequote">







</blockquote>Well it was Sunday bloody Sunday
When they shot the people there
The cries of thirteen martyrs
Filled the Free Derry air
Is there any one amongst you
Dare to blame it on the kids?
Not a soldier boy was bleeding
When they nailed the coffin lids!
John Lennon



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In 1803 we sailed out to sea
Out from the sweet town of Derry
For Australia bound if we didn't all drown
And the marks of our fetters we carried.

In the rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains
As our good wives we left in sorrow.
As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled
On the English and thoughts of tomorrow.

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.

I cursed them to hell as our bow fought the swell.
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelights.
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight.

Five weeks out to sea we were now forty-three
Our comrades we buried each morning.
In our own slime we were lost in a time.
Endless night without dawning.

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.

Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man
To live out his life in slavery.
When the climate is raw and the gun makes the law.
Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery.

Twenty years have gone by and I've ended me bond
And comrades' ghosts are behind me.
A rebel I came and I'll die the same.
On the cold winds of night you will find me

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry.
Bobby Sands

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[Boxtyeater]

Hard to leave this man out.....

[bald eagle]

Well you learn something new everyday, i always though Neil Hannon of Devine Comedy fame was a Tyroneman, from Clogher!

[bocerty]

that picture of Nell McCaffrey is just all wrong - Sami close your eyes

[mossbags]

Hard to leave this man out.....

Possibly the hardest decision I've ever had to make

[mossbags]

[Jayo Cluxton]

[bocerty]

the second priest from the same parish to pack it in - thats them Derry women for you

[bald eagle]

How the hell did John Hume get on there? The man who had the power to rid us of that God forsaken name and didn't!

I saw him canvasing in the city for Durkan one day and asked him why he didn't change the name when he had the chance, his answer? Nothing! Typical of a politician really

[Jayo Cluxton]

the second priest from the same parish to pack it in - thats them Derry women for you

Priest ???? Jaysus I thought it was your man Julian Simmons of ITV!

[bocerty]

the second priest from the same parish to pack it in - thats them Derry women for you

Priest ???? Jaysus I thought it was your man Julian Simmons of ITV!

he's be safe enough with any woman believe me

[Jayo Cluxton]

Priest ???? Jaysus I thought it was your man Julian Simmons of ITV!

he's be safe enough with any woman believe me [/quote]

I hear what you're saying Boc.... Congratulations on coming out ....

[mossbags]

Word is Nadine is on a diet. Why oh why oh why

[patrique]

I always thought Neil Hannon was from Enniskillen but.........

Hannon was born in Derry in Northern Ireland, the son of Brian
Hannon (born 1936), a Church of Ireland clergyman who was Bishop of Clogher
from 1986 to 2001. He moved with his family to Enniskillen,
in County Fermanagh, in 1982.^[3]
While there he attended Portora Royal School.

[patrique]

[patrique]

By the way, who isthe girl in the photos? Is she from derry?

Might be a relation.

[mugsys_barber]

You's all forgot about angry Gregory

[bald eagle]

You's all forgot about angry Gregory

Ah mugsy, cheers for the laugh!! Angry Gregory is a true GAA man eh? If anyone deserves their own thread then it's him!!!!

[mugsys_barber]

Sorry about that Bald Eagle. But here is a true great of Derry GAA and also has an angry streak from my recollection of him in a changing room.

John Brennan - The Lavey native is one of the most successful managers in ulster club football. Should possibly have been given the Derry job in the past.

[bald eagle]

All i could do was laugh when i saw that pic of Gregory mugsy!!!

I agree with you on John Brennan, should have had the Derry job and is a real character in the game. His record speaks for itself, taken 5 different clubs to County Championships!!

I'll never forget when he was manager of Slaughtneil and they were playing Crossmaglen in the Ulster Club in Glen, there was a bit of niggle between him and Big Joe, who was there with his wife. She gave Brennan a bit of stick and he just turned round as cool as you like and she was the ugliest woman he ever saw! Big Joe went mental as did the Cross lads that heard him!!! They were going mad and all i could do was laugh my head off, i laughed so hard i thought i'd get linched!!!

Probably one of the reasons he didn't get the Derry job, just a loose cannon!!!

[mugsys_barber]

BE, I remember around 2002 or so standing behind the Lavey dug-out at a championship match with Ballinderry in Ballinascreen. Quite early in the game Conleath Gilligan was shouldered off the playing field into the direction of Brennan - Let's just say Brennan helped Gilligan's momentum into the Lavey dug-out with a lovely chrisp shoulder.

I remember laughing my head off at it for a few seconds until suddenly the whole area seemed to darken with irrate Shamrocks supporters who starting hurling abuse in Brennan's direction. The old man stood firm and after a minute or so turned round and said - "Have you'ins boys not a Tyrone match ye could all be standing at"

It was difficult to contain the laughter but one of many funny things that Brennan has come out with on a sideline. Certainly a very unique character with his own way of doing things.

[Jayo Cluxton]

Yaw - the inventor of Mccanno ....

[mossbags]

'Champagne socialism hasn't gone away you know'

[patrique]

Champagne? Eamon?

second greatest man ever to come from Derry.

Watched a TV programme the other night with John Hume, Phil Coulter, Eamon, John Sharkey, Heaney, Deane, Paul Brady and a few others all back at St Columb's reminiscing.

Fascinating.

[mossbags]

He could at least take the hands out of his pockets when trying to rouse the rabble. Trotskytism has gone to fook altogether.

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