William Anderson's "The Green Man"
Like antlers, like veins of the brain the birches
Mark patterns of mind on the red winter sky;
'I am thought of all plants,' says the Green Man,
'I am thought of all plants,' says he.
Ardfinnan, Co. TipperaryThe hungry birds harry the last berries of rowan
But white is her bark in the darkness of rain;
'I rise with the sap,' says the Green Man,
'I rise with the sap,' says he.
The ashes are clashing their boughs like sword-dancers,
Their black buds are tracing wild faces in the clouds;
'I come with the wind,' says the Green Man,
'I come with the wind,' says he.
Luggala in Roundwood, Co. WicklowThe alders are rattling as though ready for battle
Guarding the grove where she waits for her lover;
'I burn with desire,' says the Green Man,
'I burn with desire,' says he.
In and out of the yellowing wands of the willow
The pollen bright bees are plundering the catkins;
'I am honey of love,' says the Green Man,
'I am honey of love,' says he.
The Vee, Co. TipperaryThe hedges of quick are thick with May blossom
As the dancers advance on the leaf-covered King;
'It's off with my head,' says the Green Man,
'It's off with my head,' says he.
Green Man becomes grown man in flames of the oak
As its crown forms his mask and its leafage his features;
'I speak through the oak,' says the Green Man,
'I speak through the oak,' says he.
Suir River, Co. TipperaryThe holly is flowering as hayfields are rolling
Their gleaming long grasses like waves of the sea;
'I shine with the sun,' says the Green Man,
'I shine with the sun,' says he.
The hazels are rocking the cups of their nuts
As the harvesters shout when the last sheaf is cut;
'I swim with the salmon,' says the Green Man,
'I swim with the salmon,' says he.
Helen Keller Goat Path, Co. Tipperary The globes of the grapes are robing with bloom Like the hazes of autumn, like the Milky Way's star
'I am crushed for your drink,' says the Green Man,
'I am crushed for your drink,' says he.
The aspen drops silver of leaves on earth's salver
And the poplars shed gold on the young ivy flowerheads;
'I have paid for your pleasure,' says the Green Man,
'I have paid for your pleasure,' says he.
Ardfinnan, Co. TipperaryThe reedbeds are flanking in silence the islands
Where meditates Wisdom as she waits and waits;
'I have kept her secret,' says the Green Man,
'I have kept her secret,' says he.
The bark of the elder makes whistles for children
To call to the deer as they rove over the snow;
'I am born in the dark,' says the Green Man,
'I am born in the dark,' says he.
"Camán" means "hurling stick" in Gaelic. Gavin down at The Local Bar in Ardfinnan got me this used hurling stick and Amanda (below), who barkeeps at The Local Bar, just so happens to be a hurler...so she signed the stick for me. Hurling's the national sport of Ireland. After watching the boys play Gaelic football (and seeing the bruises on Amanda), I'm not sure I'd be interested in partaking in a sport where they use this stick. Ouch.
There's Amanda...serving me up a Guinness!
Perfect poster girl for Guinness. To Arthur! And Amanda!
Just watch the video through the two-minute mark. What's really a hoot is listening to the crowd behind me and to my right. You think American fans go a little berserk? And click on 
Ardfinnan Minors - South A Champions - 2009. 
Michael made dinner a couple nights at the cottage. 
Michael wanted to take a series of pictures of me walking through this arch. He likes to take series of pictures of people walking. Here I'm waiting for that boxer to get its ass out of the shot. (If you click on any picture in this blog or others, you should be able to see a larger version of it. Sometimes it works - sometimes not.)
Resolved to the fact that the dog ain't goin' anywhere, I start walking. Said boxer turns to eyeball me.
I sort of turn to eyeball said boxer. Not sure who was vying for their Cecil B. DeMille moment - me, the boxer or Lord Michael.
One of the prettiest Irish lasses we ran into. She works at a pub - somewhere. They all run together. The pubs, that is.
Not sure what this building was used for.
Storage.
West Clare, Co. Clare 
Kinsale.
Cahir, Co. Tipperary
5.
6.
Cahir. Click on 
