Noirin, Spiral & Ray each provided us with a glimpse of the unique celtic culture.
Reference:
Noirin, Spiral & Ray each provided us with a glimpse of the unique celtic culture.
I disagree....That would be like saying Charley Uchea, Alex,Dale ,Dennis or Jen provided us with a glimpse of the unique mainland culture.Reference:
I disagree....That would be like saying Charley Uchea, Alex,Dale ,Dennis or Jen provided us with a glimpse of the unique mainland culture.
Indeed; a worthy response to my (unintentional) sarcasm!
Not watching BB means that from the title of this thread I am guessing Caoimhe came out with some very bad verse which was at the other end of the quality spectrum from the great Yeats and the others, but my apologies if I have misunderstood.
As the thread seems to have expanded to cover Celtic poets, it would seem appropriate to mention the Scottish William McGonagle who was infamous for his appalling verse. His most infamous concoction was The Tay Bridge Disaster (1880) and this is an extract.
It begins:
"Beautiful railway bridge of the silv'ry Tay
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last sabbath day of 1879
Which shall be remembered for a very long time."
I now must conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay
That your central girders would not have given way
At least many sensible men do say
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses
At least many sensible men confesses
For the stronger we our houses build
The less chance we have of being killed"
I don't know what Caoimhe said but the chances are that it couldn't have been worse.
As the thread seems to have expanded to cover Celtic poets, it would seem appropriate to mention the Scottish William McGonagle who was infamous for his appalling verse. His most infamous concoction was The Tay Bridge Disaster (1880) and this is an extract.
It begins:
"Beautiful railway bridge of the silv'ry Tay
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last sabbath day of 1879
Which shall be remembered for a very long time."
And it ends:
"Oh! Ill-fated bridge of the silv'ry TayI now must conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay
That your central girders would not have given way
At least many sensible men do say
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses
At least many sensible men confesses
For the stronger we our houses build
The less chance we have of being killed"
I don't know what Caoimhe said but the chances are that it couldn't have been worse.
Reference:
As the thread seems to have expanded to cover Celtic poets, it would seem appropriate to mention the Scottish William McGonagle
oh McGonagle is class 
Celtic poets and goalkeepers are equally welcome here.
El Loro 
I`m a member of The William Topaz McGonagall Appreciation Society.
I`m a member of The William Topaz McGonagall Appreciation Society.
Reference: Scotty
I`m a member of The William Topaz McGonagall Appreciation Society.
This forum is indeed privileged to have a member of this noble society. Bows down before you in admiration.
And have a Dundee Cake on me
So do you still have AGMs where the meal is eaten in reverse order?
And which is your personal favourite piece of McGonagle verse?
Reference:
My other job calls now... see you later, Suze x
See ya later Kaff 
...I'm on an avoidance of responsibility and constructive work day (I'll still end up doing it all as usual though *sigh*).Reference:Lee
I disagree....That would be like saying Charley Uchea, Alex,Dale ,Dennis or Jen provided us with a glimpse of the unique mainland culture.
Scrot!, you forgot Scrot Lee
El Loro ..sorry I took so long to get back. Phone rang.
Thanks for my cake 
I don`t keep up with it much these days so I`m not sure if the AGM`s are still going.
I`ve been to a couple where we had the reverse meal. It`s a hoot of a night!
There`s so many of his poems that I like, it`s hard to choose. Obviously the Tay Bridge Disaster and this is another of my favourites...
Thanks for my cake
I don`t keep up with it much these days so I`m not sure if the AGM`s are still going.
I`ve been to a couple where we had the reverse meal. It`s a hoot of a night!
There`s so many of his poems that I like, it`s hard to choose. Obviously the Tay Bridge Disaster and this is another of my favourites...
A Requisition to the Queen by William Topaz McGonagall
Smiths Buildings No. 19
Patons Lane,
Dundee.
Sept the 6th. 1877.
Most August! Empress of India, and of great Britain the Queen,
I most humbly beg your pardon, hoping you will not think it mean
That a poor poet that lives in Dundee,
Would be so presumptous to write unto Thee
Most lovely Empress of India, and Englands generous Queen,
I send you an Address, I have written on Scotlands Bard,
Hoping that you will accept it, and not be with me to hard,
Nor fly into a rage, but be as Kind and Condescending
As to give me your Patronage
Beautiful Empress, of India, and Englands Gracious Queen,
I send you a Shakespearian Address written by me.
And I think if your Majesty reads it, right pleased you will be.
And my heart it will leap with joy, if it is patronized by Thee.
Most Mighty Empress, of India, and Englands beloved Queen,
Most Handsome to be Seen.
I wish you every Success.
And that heaven may you bless.
For your Kindness to the poor while they are in distress.
I hope the Lord will protect you while living
And hereafter when your Majesty is ... dead.
I hope the Lord above will place an eternal Crown! upon your Head.
I am your Gracious Majesty ever faithful to Thee,
William McGonagall, The Poor Poet,
That lives in Dundee.
Patons Lane,
Dundee.
Sept the 6th. 1877.
Most August! Empress of India, and of great Britain the Queen,
I most humbly beg your pardon, hoping you will not think it mean
That a poor poet that lives in Dundee,
Would be so presumptous to write unto Thee
Most lovely Empress of India, and Englands generous Queen,
I send you an Address, I have written on Scotlands Bard,
Hoping that you will accept it, and not be with me to hard,
Nor fly into a rage, but be as Kind and Condescending
As to give me your Patronage
Beautiful Empress, of India, and Englands Gracious Queen,
I send you a Shakespearian Address written by me.
And I think if your Majesty reads it, right pleased you will be.
And my heart it will leap with joy, if it is patronized by Thee.
Most Mighty Empress, of India, and Englands beloved Queen,
Most Handsome to be Seen.
I wish you every Success.
And that heaven may you bless.
For your Kindness to the poor while they are in distress.
I hope the Lord will protect you while living
And hereafter when your Majesty is ... dead.
I hope the Lord above will place an eternal Crown! upon your Head.
I am your Gracious Majesty ever faithful to Thee,
William McGonagall, The Poor Poet,
That lives in Dundee.
Reference: Scotty
A Requisition to the Queen
William McGonagall, The Poor Poet
William McGonagall, The Poor Poet
That is brilliant - at least he was honest of his work
Do we know how Victoria reacted to this?
I know that Spike Milligan gave McGonagle recitals from time to time.
He was a Celtic genius and of course this is one of his best known.
On the Ning Nang Nong
On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the Cows go Bong!
and the monkeys all say BOO!
There's a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can't catch 'em when they do!
So its Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!
Love that one El Loro!
McGonagall walked to Balmoral to personally deliver his poem to Victoria.
He never got to meet her. He handed the poem to a servant through the gates of the castle.
He received a standard thankyou letter from her and to his great surprise, didn`t get her patronage.
He was also unsuccessful in his application for the post of Poet Laureate.
Reference:
Love that one El Loro!
Me too - Spike was a flippin genius, I tell you
Love Spike too....funnily enough I was watching Monty Python's Life of Brian with my 2 nephews yesterday (at ages 18 and 16 they are just discovering the silly delightfulness of Python) and that one scene where Spike appears had me howling.
My dad grew up on the Goons, and made us watch the Q series from young, and I thank him for that
My dad grew up on the Goons, and made us watch the Q series from young, and I thank him for that
I had one of his books of verse from the library when I was a kid - I especially remember an illustration of Fluffybum the Cat, seen from behind...
Reference: Toid
Me too - Spike was a flippin genius, I tell you
He was that Toid. I know the book you`re talking about. 
Reference: El Loro
I wonder why
Reference:
He was that Toid. I know the book you`re talking about
That's it! Fluffybuuuuum... 
The only poem that I can recite from memory is this classic
The sea is big, the sea is blue
It's big enough for me and you
It's big enough for everybody
So come and splash with little Noddy
Enid Blyton.
The sea is big, the sea is blue
It's big enough for me and you
It's big enough for everybody
So come and splash with little Noddy
Enid Blyton.
The more it snows
(tiddly pom)
The more it goes
(tiddly pom
The more it goes
On snowing.
And nobody knows
(tiddly pom)
How cold my toes
(tiddly pom)
How cold my toes
Are growing.
AA Milne
(tiddly pom)
The more it goes
(tiddly pom
The more it goes
On snowing.
And nobody knows
(tiddly pom)
How cold my toes
(tiddly pom)
How cold my toes
Are growing.
AA Milne
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I'm still running
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I'm still running
Reference: Toid
That's it! Fluffybuuuuum...
I`ve got it here somewhere Toid. Since you posted about it I wanted to read it again. I`ve almost demolished my house trying to find it! 
No joy yet..the hunt goes on.
Reference:
I`ve got it here somewhere Toid. Since you posted about it I wanted to read it again. I`ve almost demolished my house trying to find it! No joy yet..the hunt goes on.
I've a feeling I'll have to buy my own copy now too.
I love that AA Milne one Toid. (tiddly pom)
Reference:
I've a feeling I'll have to buy my own copy now too.
Same here..can`t find it anywhere! I`ve probably lent it to someone. I do that a lot. Then when I think of asking for stuff back...I`ve found a few have emigrated.
It could be in Oz or America..who knows?
I hope whoever has it, is cherishing it and spreading the word
Reference:
I hope whoever has it, is cherishing it and spreading the word
Yes!
ahhhh, I have the theme tune from the Q series in my head now Suzy
*shuffles off muttering " what are we going to do now? what are we going to do now?" *
Reference:
*shuffles off muttering " what are we going to do now? what are we going to do now?" *
Omigoodness Now have Q8 opening titles pottling around my head: Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait...
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Old age should burn and rage at close of day.
Rage,rage against the dying of the light. (Dylan Thomas)
Old age should burn and rage at close of day.
Rage,rage against the dying of the light. (Dylan Thomas)