Poetic launch for short film

A short film based on a poem about the veneration of holy wells; rag trees; and curiously-shaped stones will be launched in North Clare next week.
Three people based in the area came together last spring to make a five-minute film version of the poem West Cork – Gobnaits’ Bed; Rag Tree; Holy Well, by the late Seán Dunne.
Carles Casasin of Ballyvaughan filmed and edited while Mick O’Riordan of Doolin provided voice and original soundtrack and Tony Kirby of Kilnaboy produced.
“The poem is a remarkable homage to an idiosyncratic form of public worship, which is still practiced in Ireland today: the veneration of holy wells; rag trees; and curiously-shaped stones. The poem is set in the magical St Gobnait’s monastic site in Ballyvourney in Cork, a great magnet for pilgrims right down to the present day. St Gobnait is the patron saint of bees,” explained Tony Kirby.
“The poet Seán Dunne is a sorely lamented voice of Irish poetry. His premature death in 1995 was a major shock in the Irish literary world. Brendan Kennelly said of him ‘Dunne constantly pitted his own values against the pain, suffering, violence and futility of the world. And his values are strong, perhaps lasting ones’. There will be a fine cast of North Clare voices on hand on the evening to enrich the event with song, music and thoughts,” Tony added.
MC on the evening will be John Morgan of Kilfenora and guests will include Fr Denis Crosby from Liscannor and Phil Gaston, Kilnaboy and Susan Daly, Doolin.
The film will be launched at the Courthouse in Ennistymon on Friday, May 18 at 8pm. It coincides with Ennistymon’s first ever Dylan Thomas Literary Festival which takes place over the same weekend. All are welcome to attend the launch.