Poetry Corner

The “Forgotten” County By Brid Ewing

A beach for every day of the year,

A pub in every village with music and beer.

Castles and lighthouses, highlands and heather,

So lovely, even in wild, windswept weather.

From Malin Head to Bundoran’s beach,

Donegal has it all, within easy reach.

Majestic Errigal reaching for the sky,

Historic Grianan of Aileach so high.

The strand at Pollan,famous for its surf,

In the bogs of Mindoran the farmers foot the turf.

From the dizzying heights of Mamore Gap,

Far below the waves of Tullagh lap.

Glenevin Waterfall gushes its cascade

By the historic ruins of the church at Straid.

Glenveagh National Park is the jewel in its crown,

The grand mountain scenery displayed around.

Like the landscape, Donegal music is unique,Clannad with Moya’s voice so sweet.

The Campbells of Glenties, fiddle music divine,Mairead Mooney, melodious voice and fiddle combined.

Hugh P and Maria, a versatile pair,

Their distinctive music they love to share.

And of course our wee Daniel, entertainer supreme,

Never forgets his roots, in Kincasslagh he’s king!

Donegal may be forgotten by the powers that be,

But will always be fondly cherished by its people and me.

Gift with purpose

Joan Quigley from New Wool, one of the exhibitors at Gifted in the RDS from 4 to 8 December.

Gifted, the contemporary craft and design fair, is set to return to the RDS in Dublin from 4 to 8 December. This is Ireland’s biggest Christmas craft, design and artisan food fair, featuring 300 designers and makers and over 100 artisan food producers.

The festive fair makes a great day out for shoppers who are passionate about finding unique gifts for loved ones. Meet the makers, enjoy live demonstrations and stock up on tasty festive foods. See giftedfair.ie

Festive charity cards

LauraLynn Christmas Cards.

This festive season, send your greetings with LauraLynn Christmas cards. LauraLynn is Ireland’s only children’s hospice, providing hospice and palliative care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families from all across the country. Each pack features 10 cards with five different designs, created with fingerprints of the children who attend the hospice. By buying these cards, you support LauraLynn families, helping to create precious Christmas memories. See lauralynn.ie

Christmas crafted

Be good to yourself or gift a friend these fashionably festive red and gold porcelain earrings, the perfect way to top off any Christmas outfit.

The pieces are lovingly hand-crafted and designed by Natalie Alers at her garden studio, in Rathvilly, Carlow. Born in Cape Town, she is a self-taught watercolour artist and porcelain jewellery designer. Red and gold porcelain earrings, €35. See nataliealersjewellery.com