Maryfield College

Jackie Clarke Foundation Poetry Award

In November 2015 Ms. Townshend’s First Year computer classes entered a poetry competition that was run by the Jackie Clarke Foundation. Jackie Clarke, from Ballina Co. Mayo, was a business man and collector of Irish historical material. Events such as this poetry competition are run by the foundation to promote a knowledge and love of Irish history in our young people.

To our delight Amy Noonan, Ellenjane O’Brien and Seána O’Grady from 1K received first prize for their poem about the 1798 rebellion.

 

1798 Rebellion

by Seána O’Grady, Amy Noonan and Ellenjane O’Brien

 

 

United Irishmen searched for

Equality and liberty in the hope they would

get unity

 

Protestants, Presbyterians and Catholics

shared the belief of a better life but at times

it was hard for them to do it without the

grief

 

Men struggling to survive, men dying on all

sides

 

Screams of pain, a dusty cloud

Struggling to survive crawling on the ground

 

The inhumanity of it all one last breath, one

last wish one last fall