13 minute read
BOOK EXTRACT
KILCLIEF & OTHER ESSAYS
Below is an extract from Kilclief & Other Essays, by Co. Antrim author Patricia Craig, published by Irish Pages.
It dawned on us gradually (and especially, on me) that the restoration of Isle O’Valla House would be an unworkable undertaking. We hadn’t the resources, of time or money. But the house continued for some time to draw us towards it like addicts to an opium den. Whenever I stayed at Kilclief I’d invite friends down from Belfast and introduce them to the drear delights of Isle O’ Valla House. The wonderful American photographer Rachel Brown (Rachel Giese), who was then based in Ireland, came with me to Isle O’Valla and captured on film its stark fascination. She set her camera on a tripod and photographed the two of us, incongruous intruders, larking before the grey facade, the cracked and broken window-panes, the ominous interior looming beyond the half-open door. Like the entrance to burnt Danielstown, in Elizabeth Bowen’s novel The Last September, the door at that point “stood open hospitably” -- not upon a furnace, indeed, but upon an ultimate darkness and desolation.
Derek Mahon, Paul Muldoon, Douglas and Marie Carson, some old friends from school and art school, all arrived at Kilclief at one time or another, and had the enigmatic hidden house pointed out to them as a local feature. The poet Michael Longley came more than once, and on one occasion he brought with him his friend Michael Allen who was then a lecturer in the English Department of Queen’s University. The three of us, unlikely delinquents, broke into Isle O’Valla House and proceeded gingerly to the top floor, where we entered a room and encountered a sight that made our “flesh to creep the day an’ [our] hair to stan’ on end” (to quote a line from the opening verse of Mrs Alexander’s grisly ballad “Stumpie’s Brae”). In a corner of the otherwise empty room was a table on which reposed a candle in a candlestick. A rickety chair was drawn up to the table, and leaning against the chair was a single crutch.
We were brought up short by the eerie tableau. To the aura of emptiness and neglect was added a qualm of the unearthly. Nobody spoke. An impulse came over me to beat a hasty retreat, but I didn’t altogether give in to it - just backed away slightly, thankful that I wasn’t alone. I don’t know what direful presence I thought I was sensing in the vacant upper room. The ghost of a cripple? A Famine victim? Had we stumbled into an offshoot of Nightmare Abbey? A flesh-and-blood tramp was a rather more likely candidate for the role of trespasser. I’m sure it was a tramp. But a question arises: why would a disabled vagrant stomp all the way up to the second floor? And why, unless he needed to leave in a hurry, would he then abandon his crutch? Did some unspeakable alarm occur in the dead of night, causing him to flee for his life? Safe and snug in my bed at 119 Shore Road, I would sometimes waken in the small hours and think of near-by Isle O’Valla, a candle burning, an occupied chair, wafts of dust and decay, and some supernatural element added to chill the blood.
About Kilclief & Other Essays
This long-awaited selection of essays and reviews from one of Ireland’s leading critics brings together a wealth of reflection, observation and astute literary comment. It ranges in time from William Carleton to Edna O’Brien, and in subject matter from recent Irish poetry to ghosts, children’s books and MI5.
Patricia Craig has some important points to make, and makes them with cogency and wit. Always readable and entertaining (and sometimes controversial), she is possibly the only female non-academic Northern Irish critic who has consistently, and over a long period, contributed to every leading UK and Irish publication (and a couple in the US).
The book begins with the unpublished and partly autobiographical “Kilclief”, which deals mainly with the literary associations – unexpectedly extensive – of a small but distinctive area of Co Down. Next comes a section on books relating to Ireland, “Red Hands and Dancing Feet”. Here you will find insightful essays on some of the great names in Irish literature (Synge, James Stephens, Brendan Behan), alongside others featuring more recent authors (Elizabeth Bowen, William Trevor, Ciaran Carson). Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s exhilarating Cré na Cille is discussed, and another long piece concerns the music-and-song collector Seamus Ennis.
Part Two, “Pious Girls and Swearing Fathers”, presents views and reviews of books connected (loosely) to women and children, and contains lively pieces on Muriel Spark, Iris Murdoch, Harry Potter and so on. And the third section, “Fiddlesticks!”, rounds up some stray, but superlative, miscellaneous articles on subjects as diverse as the enigmatic MI5 officer Maxwell Knight and Robert Macfarlane’s Landmarks.
Kilclief & Other Essays is an altogether memorable collection.
About the Author
Patricia Craig was born and grew up in Belfast. She spent many years in London, and returned to live in Northern Ireland in 1999. A highly distinguished critic, reviewer and essayist, she is the author of two biographies, three memoirs, and (with Mary Cadogan) three critical studies. She has edited many anthologies, including The Oxford Book of Ireland, The Belfast Anthology and The Ulster Anthology. Volume Three of her memoir, Asking for Trouble, is forthcoming.
MARGEY TO STAGE ONLINE ONLY AUTUMN EXHIBITION
North Coast artist Adrian Margey will be showcasing his latest stunning collection of original pieces with an online only autumn exhibition and sale from Friday 19th – Sunday 21st November on his website and social media pages. The artist will fi lm this latest body of work hanging in his Portstewart home, allowing viewers to enjoy a virtual tour of this impressive new collection in a domestic setting.
Celebrated for his inventive approach to capturing Ireland’s landscapes and landmarks, Margey uses expressive brushwork together with palette knife and fi nger painting techniques to create his original pieces. From large-scale canvases to smaller pieces, demand for the artist’s work has soared in recent times.
Forty new depictions of the North Coast, North Down, Ards, Belfast and Donegal will feature in the virtual tour which will be available on the Adrian Margey Art Facebook and Instagram pages, YouTube Channel and www.adrianmargey.com from Friday 19th November at 6pm. Telephone the Portrush Studio on 07841593762 for more information.
‘East Strand Dynamism’ ‘Causeway Mono’ ‘Evening, Bangor Marina’
Free Digital Editions
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN READ BACK ISSUES OF ALL OUR TITLES FOR FREE?
NORTHERN IRELAND’S NO1 GLOSSY
NOVEMBER 2021
UT AWARDS SHORTLIST REVEALED
THE RETURN
OF BALMORAL SHOW
£3.20
ULSTER TATLER AWARDS SPECIAL
ULSTER TATLER INTERIORS
£3.00
INTERIORS
AN ULSTER TATLER GROUP PUBLICATION | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3 £3.00 (€2.49)
AUTUMN 2021
BSH Group is a Trademark Licensee of Siemens AG.
INTERVIEW
TV CHEF PAULA
Leading in design. MCINTYRE Guiding the air. FOCUS ON BALLYHACKAMORE TYRONE
The new Siemens glassdraftAir combines an outstanding design with high-quality materials and excellent extraction performance – perfect for your open plan kitchen.
siemens-home.bsh-group.com/ie The future moving in.
£3.20 (€4.55)
Siemens Home Appliances VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3 2021 INSIDE HOMES IN
Belfast, Barbados Fermanagh
ARCHITECTS
GUIDE 2021
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
GUIDE 2021 MAKING WORKSPACES WORK
WWW.1080.CO.UK
1080 IS PART OF THE ALPHA GROUP SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
MAGAZINE OF NORTHERN IRELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MAGAZINE OF NORTHERN IRELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
AMBITION
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 48 £2.95
CIPR PRIDE AWARDS 2017 - BEST PUBLICATION
IT’S NOT JUST
PORCELAIN, IT’S
ITALIAN PORCELAIN. TO DISCUSS YOUR NEXT PROJECT A GLASS ACT
GIVE US A CALL ON 028 9083 0038 OR EMAIL US AT SALES@BRICKANDSTONE.EU Encirc Managing Director Adrian Curry on the decarbonisation of glass
living design
Autumn 2021
Northern Ireland Architect Designed Homes
Coverspreads - 5 Sections (5mm Spine).indd 1 40225 Brick and Stone Porcelain Ad v1.indd 2 09/06/2021 16:19 livingdesignlivingdesign Northern Ireland Architect Designed Homes
AUTUMN 21
£4.00
) 7.00 € (
11/08/2021 11:55 Perspective
MERCHANT SQUARE CANALSIDE WOKING SACRED HEART CHURCH
TREE TOPS PRE-SCHOOL
£4.00NOVEMBER 2021
05
9 770967 217018
Full Colour Black
GO TO ULSTERTATLER.COM AND CLICK FREE DIGITAL
Reverse
JACKSONS
OF SAINTFIELD & MOIRA
Jacksons of Saintfi eld T. 028 9751 1429 Also at 110 Main Street, Moira T. 028 9261 3660
THE HEART OF CONTEMPORARY LIVING
Whatever you are looking for, Creations offer stylish, top quality home furnishings and decorative solutions.
Creations is a spectacular furniture showroom family run for over 35 years. The main extended flagship showroom is in Boucher Crescent, Belfast and a smaller satellite store in Ballymena.
From living to dining to bedroom you’ll find what you are looking for at Creations. They have luxury sofa brands such as Tedrad and Himolla and many other suppliers of leather, fabric, modular sofas, recliners and more. Not to mention their dedicated divan studio offering brands such as Sealy, Silentnight and luxury brand Hypnos.
Many items are kept in stock which means you can purchase immediately. There is also a fabulous range of giftware and mirrors to add that finishing touch to your room.
Creations have the selection and expertise in their team to make your home a reality and really is a destination not to be missed. With their Autumn Event ending November 20th why not check out their newly designed website to view some of the great pieces on offer at
creations-interiors.com
THE LATEST INNOVATION FROM QUOOKER
The CUBE is installed in the kitchen cabinet next to the Quooker tank and can be added to any compatible Quooker system. The tap that does it all offers all the familiar advantages of a Quooker.
“The average household consumes a whopping 360 plastic bottles a year and people are looking to reduce their waste of single-use plastics which makes drinking good tap water that doesn’t need to be stored more appealing. With the Cold Water Filter and a sparkling water option with the addition of the CUBE, these accessories enable any tap in the Quooker range to deliver quality drinking water, reducing the need for single-use plastics. Since they were launched, 70% of customers on average now take the Cold Water Filter or CUBE options, proving the demand is there. In recent years this marked rise has been largely propelled by the drive for sustainability,” says Stephen Johnson, Managing Director at Quooker UK.
How do I operate the CUBE?
Push-wait-turn and the tap ring will light up blue for a fl ow of fi ltered chilled water. Push-turn and the tap ring will fl ash blue for a fl ow of fi ltered sparkling water. So it’s impossible to dispense boiling water when you want sparkling water.
Do I need an extra tap for the chilled sparkling and fi ltered water?
No, the fi ltered chilled and sparkling water comes from the same tap as the boiling water. So you save space on your kitchen counter and you don’t need to drill any extra holes.
Can the CUBE be integrated into a Quooker system that has already been installed?
The CUBE will work with any systems produced after October 2017. These taps have serial numbers beginning with QW1 or QW0. The tanks have serial numbers beginning with VCW or CCW.
What is fi ltered by the CUBE?
The CUBE is equipped with an active carbon fi lter and a hollow fi bre fi lter. Both fi lters together ensure a better water quality because they fi lter bacteria, chloride, chemicals and pesticides from the water.
How long do the fi lters last?
For hygienic reasons, the fi lters should be replaced every 12 months, regardless of the amount of water used. After 12 months, the CUBE will start beeping and the light on the CUBE tank will fl ash to indicate that the fi lters need to be replaced. The fi lters can be accessed under the sliding panel on top of the CUBE. Instructions for replacing the fi lters are printed on the fi lter cartridges.
How sustainable is the CUBE?
There is no more need for plastic bottles and you won’t have to throw away used bottles of water because they’ve been open for too long and have gone fl at. With the CUBE, you dispense precisely the amount that you need at a given moment. And there is a saving for society too. It will no longer be necessary to transport plastic bottles by lorry.
Why does the water from the CUBE taste so good?
The CUBE is fi tted with an active carbon fi lter and a hollow fi bre fi lter. They fi lter bacteria, chloride, chemicals and pesticides from the water.
A STUNNING TILE COLLECTION
McCall’s showrooms in Clough, Portadown and Carryduff have an extensive range of bathrooms on display from an array of leading brands. The fabulous bathrooms are of course complimented by a stunning tile collection.
McCall Tiles & Bathrooms offer a vast selection of luxury imported floor, wall, kitchen and bathroom tiles. Under tile heating is also available along with a wide range of laminate, engineered and solid wooden flooring. The wide range of mirrors, cabinets and bathroom accessories on display will complete your bathroom makeover.
The staff’s extensive product knowledge, excellent customer service and attention to detail have made J & W McCall Supplies an awardwinning, leading supplier in Ireland. Visit one of the showrooms today to experience innovative, unique tiles and bathrooms to suit all tastes and budgets. Why not take advantage of the free 3D design service to help you bring your ideas together.
For enquiries or to make an appointment please call: 02844 811999 or email info@jwmccall.com.
LOVESNOW
Portadown based photographer Marie Allen is now running her very popular Lovesnow event.
The Christmas shoot which is made up of a range of sets including a snow scene with falling snow, a beautiful Victorian style Christmas living room and a Christmas candy store. Lovesnow will be running in Marie Allen’s studio through from Friday 5th November to Thursday 16th December. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for loved ones.
To book please telephone 028 38351055 or you can find them on Facebook at Lovesnow or Marie Allen Photographer.
Multi Award Winning company dedicated to producing the fi nest free range eggs in the industry
• Multi award winning, including Great Taste, Irish Quality Food Awards and Blas na hEireann Gold awards • Family run business • Farm to fork • All hens are free range • High welfare standards • British Lion accredited
Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd.
58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler Co. Fermangh, BT92 8FH Website: www.cavanagheggs.co.uk Email: hello@cavanagheggs.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk Twitter: @cavanagheggs Phone: 028 6773 7889 Mobile John: 078 5796 4436 Mobile Eileen: 078 5796 4468
Dj Endo.
FIRST EVER MULTI ETHNIC YOUTH FEST
Ormeau Park was an array of colour and talent as youth from all different cultures who are living in Northern Ireland celebrated the fi rst ever Multi Ethnic Youth Fest. The event kicked off with a soccer tournament, with soccer legend Gerry Armstrong and the late, great George Best’s ex-wife Alex Best, presenting the winning teams with their trophy. The evening culminated with a concert hosted by Ibe Sesay from Q Radio and The Voice Kids fi nalist Conor Marcus headlined.
Jay.
Football legend Gerry Armstrong.
Q Radio’s Ibe Sesay.
