Poem Inspired by Phrases in Witness Document 1455 (James O'Sullivan, Bantry Company)

by Thomas McCarthy

Messages came through in a world of monochrome –
Some of those whose names I can now reflect:
A cartoon-picture arrives in my head of two
Large stone circles painted white.
And yet, unusual activity in Bantry, Comhola,
Kealkil, Glengarriff, Durrus and Kilcrohane;
Pillow-cases and sheets, an underblanket, a telephone,
A member of Cumann na mBan –
And some of those whose names I cannot recollect.

Reproduced with kind permission of the author. Thomas McCarthy led Poetry as Commemoration workshops at Bantry Literary Festival in July 2023. 

Bureau of Military History Witness Statement: James O’Sullivan, Rock Villas, Bantry, Co. Cork. O/C, Bantry Company, Bantry Battalion, Cork