Noel Monahan – An Píobaire Uillinn

Monahan LE P&W 1 Nov-Dec 2024

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Live Encounters Poetry & Writing Volume One November-December 2024

An Píobaire Uillinn, poem by Noel Monahan.

Translation of the poem from Irish to English.


An Píobaire Uillinn

Is mise Tomás Ó Kerrigáin
Píobaire uillinn as Granárd,
Rugadh is tógadh mé ann
Igceart lár:An Gorta Mór,
Prátaí lofa,lán de smoladh
Caillte udir dhá chultúr:

Na Tithe Móra agus na botháin.
D’éirigh mé as
Mar ní raibh duine fágtha an Píobaire a íoch,
D’éalaigh mé Ar bord loinge
Chuig na Stáit Aontaithe,
M’uillinn píopa Im ghlac agam.

Iontas an domhain orm
Ag caint liom féin go hiondúil:
“An Tú atá Ann “? “Is Mé Go Deimhin”
Seinm mo phíob uillinn
I síbín ceoil, Sráid Daicheadh a Dó,
Nua Eabhrach.
Caillte San port, mo shúile leath dúnta,
Mo cheol aitheantais I gcónaí: “ An Maidrín Rua”


The Uilleann Piper

I’m Thomas Kerrigan
An uilleann piper from Granard,
I was born and reared there,
Right smack in the middle of: The Great Hunger,
Potatoes rotting in the fields,
Caught between two cultures.

The Big Houses and the thatched cottages,
I Got Out: since there was nobody left
To pay the piper, I escaped on board a ship
To the United States of America,
Clutching my Uilleann Pipes.

Wonder of the world
Forever talking to myself:
“Is it you that’s here?” “It is for sure”
Playing my Uilleann Pipes
In a Speakeasy on 42nd. Street, New York.
Lost to the tune, my eyes half shut,
My signature music always:
“The Little Red Fox”


© Noel Monahan

Noel Monahan is a native of Granard, Co. Longford, now living in Cavan. He has published seven collections of poetry with Salmon Poetry. An eight collection, Celui Qui Porte Un Veau, a selection of French translations of his work was published in France by Alidades,

in 2014. A selection of Italian translations of his poetry was published in Milan by Guanda in November 2015:  “Tra Una Vita E L’Altra”. His poetry was prescribed text for the Leaving Certificate English, 2011- 2012. His play: “Broken Cups” won the  RTE P.J. O’Connor

award in 2001and Chalk Dust, a long poem of his, was adapted for stage and directed by Padraic McIntyre, Ramor Theatre, 2019. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Noel had to reinvent his poetry readings and he produced a selection of Short Films: “Isolation & Creativity” , “Still Life”, “Tolle Lege” and  A Poetry Day Ireland Reading for Cavan Library,2021. Recently, he edited “Chasing Shadows”, a miscellany of poetry for Creative Ireland. His ninth poetry collection, “Journey Upstream” was published by Salmon Poetry in April 2024..

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