Ahascragh Village’s New Poetry Trail

Due to Covid-19, the plans of Ahascragh village were put on hold with the annual village Fair Day having to be cancelled however the Ahascragh Development Association sought to implement something for the streetscape that people could enjoy even under Covid-19 restrictions.

Similar to other small Galway and Roscommom places many derelict buildings adorn the village and the Ahascragh Development Association devised a plan to give the village a face-lift all while bringing some culture to the community.
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The idea came about when Secretary of Ahascragh Development Margaret Smyth drove through another Irish town and seen images of famous poets such as WB Yeats, Seamus Heaney and James Joyce and many more accompanied with a couple of lines of their poetry.

In love with the idea, Margaret discussed the idea of implementing it in their village suggesting the of using Ahascragh’s very own local poet Michael Glynn’s poems for the trail. Michael Glynn had recently published a book of poetry entitled “The Man with the Cap” and after discussing the plan with mike he was very enthusiastic about it and willing to allow the Committee  to use his verse around town free of charge.

Poems selected were poems that had a relevance to the area such as “Leaving Killure”, “The Old School”, and “The Rambling House” among the six poems that were selected.

ADA went to local printing company Signs & Systems Ballinasloe to get the poems printed and implemented an excellent stained glass effect put in as a background to the poetry. The poems have been given pride of place by an old garage in the village. The project was paid for by a grant supplied by the LCDC Community Enhancement programme.

“We are getting phenomenal feedback to this project! Signs & Systems printed up the poems for us and most of the poems have a local connection” states Sec. Margaret.

The poetry had gathered attention from people outside the village with many coming to the village to experience the trail. This included Councillor Dr Evelyn Parsons who after experiencing the poetry trail turned on the village’s Christmas tree lights in a busy weekend for the Development Association.

The poem was only the start of Ahascragh Development Association’s plans to tackle the problem of derelict buildings they have also placed artwork in the windows of more derelict buildings as part of their enhancement project with images of flowers and fields being put throughout the town.

Ahascragh hopes in the future to add more artwork to the village over the next few months adding more culture for residents and visitors to enjoy.