On an Irish Island (47 page)

    
1
  Above the marquee: McKenna, n.p.

    
2
  Helped settle Jewish refugees: KathFrag.

    
3
  Peace in our time: He was no hero to Thomson. In a letter to E. M. Forster on Sept. 23, George referred to a time “before Chamberlain’s airplane darkened the sky on its flight to Berchtesgaden,” going on to express his hope that the Czechs would fight Germany, Thomson Archives.

    
4
  Air-raid shelter: KathFrag.

    
5
  Showering blessings: George to Katharine, Nov. 1, 1939, Thomson Archives.

    
6
  That my services are indispensable: George to Katharine, April 18, 1939, Thomson Archives.

    
7
  They seemed … safe from the bombs: KathFrag.

    
8
  We have had it pretty hot here: Thomson to Mrs. Stewart, Oct. 1940, quoted in KathFrag.

    
9
  There was a terrific bang: Thomson to Mrs. Stewart, Oct. 27, 1940. Thomson Archives.

  
10
  And cowered in the scullery: Katharine to her mother, n.d., quoted in KathFrag.

  
11
  George remained … very lonely: KathFrag.

  
12
  Tell my factory friends that they were very kind and generous: Lís, Dec. 20[?], 1939, vol. 1944, p. 5.

  
13
  I was shocked … befel or nearly fell: Ibid., Oct. 30, 1940, vol. 1944, p. 9.

  
14
  We are not able … warming ourselves:
LísLetters,
p. 81.

  
15
  You would be surprised … no hope atall:
LísLetters,
pp. 81–82.

  
16
  Continued into the 1950s: The last letter in the Delargy collection seems to be one Lís wrote on March 11, 1957 (Lís, vol. 1945, p. 14G], reporting on daughter Niamh’s return from a trip.

  
17
  If my dreams … friend from London: Lís, March 4, 1935, vol. 1943, p. 45.

  
18
  They did not bring … with no pleasure in your own heart: Lís, April [15?], 1940, vol. 1944, p. 6.

  
19
  To hear all being well: Lís, May 6, 1940, vol. 1944, p. 7.

  
20
  Inscribed copy of Maurice O’Sullivan’s newly published book: Pierre-Yves Lambert to Bo Almqvist, n.d. [c. Sept. 2004], Almqvist papers.

  
21
  It did her the greatest honor: Vendryes, p. 432.

  
22
  At the time of the French defeat: “She was a victim of 1940,” that iconic year of France’s debasement and defeat.
Marie-Louise Sjoestedt,
35

  
23
  A too-late departure:
Quoted in
Celtic,
p. 122.

  
24
  Shaded and softened: Ibid., p. 123.

  
25
  She married Louis Renou: Francoise Bader, “Une anamnése littéraire D’E. Benveniste,” in
Incontri Linguistici,
vol. 22 (1999), Pisa, Roma: Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali, p. 23.

  
26
  Out a window: Bo Almqvist, interview.

  
27
  She submitted herself:
Celtic,
p. 122.

  
28
  I felt … lonely tragedy: Quoted in Mac Conghail, “Brian Ó Ceallaigh,” p. 186.

  
29
  The well itself: Eoin MacNeill.

  
30
  His pen was sharp and he did not mince words: Copy of talk, n.a., “Carl Marstrander’s Work with the Manx Language,” Seán Ó Lúing papers, NatLib.

  
31
  All is first class:
Celtic,
p. 136.

  
32
  He never really believed: David Greene, “A Warm and Generous Friend,” p. 6.

  
33
  A fervent Norwegian patriot: Binchy, “Norse Scholar,” p. 6.

  
34
  Stopped near Gestapo headquarters: Oftedal to Ó Lúing, Oct. 11, 1983, Ó Lúing papers, NatLib.

  
35
  I am myself thinking of retiring: Flower to Best, Jan. 28, 1939, NatLib.

  
36
  The ghastly bombing: Flower to Best, Nov. 13, 1940, NatLib.

  
37
  He kept track of his career: For one example, see Flower to Best, March 4, 1913, Nat Lib: “I’m on private time. I am describing a collection of illuminated mss for which work I have to get £1500, a very satisfactory scale of pay. But the work is very heavy and keeps my nose down on the grindstone. Still it frees me of any
financial cares and that is a great deal.”

  
38
  I know … difficulties of the life artistic: Flower to Best, May 21, 1939, NatLib.

  
39
  My prospects are good: Flower to Best, July 3, 1921, NatLib.

  
40
  Were heavy and confining: Robinson, p. 543.

  
41
  He was more remarkable: Bell, p. 374.

  
42
  He could never resist the attraction of a new interest: Ibid., p. 369.

  
43
  The cares … jests with everyone:
Celtic,
p. 228.

  
44
  He accepted their ways: Seán Ó Criomhthain, obituary of Flower written in Irish, trans. Flower’s daughter Barbara, Lís, vol. 1944, pp. 129–32.

  
45
  He was big-hearted: Ibid.

  
46
  I would confide … I would not reveal to the priest: Ann Lucey, “How Flower Made an Island Bloom,” Blasket Centre.

  
47
  I have had rather a worse time:
  Robin Flower to Idris Bell, Oct. 10, 1911.

  
48
  I have been ill of late: Flower to Best, July 3, 1921, NatLib.

  
49
  I am feeling ill with overwork: Flower to Best, July 9, 1929, NatLib.

  
50
  Great hardship: Lís, Oct. 2, 1941, vol. 1944, p. 77.

  
51
  Sock-knitting machines: Keogh, p. 56. See also Tyers,
West Kerry Camera,
p. 170.

  
52
  The young women weren’t willing: Ó Floinn, in
Reflections.

  
53
  At present nobody thinks of marrying:
LísLetters,
p. 22.

  
54
  Of men who are more lonely: Lís, Oct. 30, 1940, vol. 1944, p. 9.

  
55
  Black cloud:
LísLetters,
p. 84.

  
56
  It’s a hopeless, fruitless year: Ibid.

  
57
  So picture our Island home sinking from day to day: Ibid., p. 85.

  
58
  And left the three … run wild with the rabbits:
Ibid., p. 86.

  
59
  This is the last winter here for me: Séan O’Crohan,
A Day in Our Life,
p. 
27.

  
60
  We have determined at last to leave this lovely Island:
LísLetters,
p. 87.

  
61
  I don’t miss: Ibid., p. 92.

  
62
  “The Song of the Island Girl”: Chambers, p. 7.

  
63
  I was very very lonely: Lís, Sept. 22, 1950, vol. 1945, p. 22.

  
64
  Where is the snow?: Robin Flower,
The Western Island,
p. viii. (George Chambers encouraged Flower to write
The Western Island
. See Patrick Flower, p. 42.)

  
65
  I am still a very long way from actual recovery: Flower to Best, Jan. 21, 1945, NatLib.

  
66
  Didn’t recognize them: Mrs. Flower to Best [?], March 5, 1946, NatLib.

  
67
  I was so sad: Lís, Feb. 10, 1946, vol. 1944, p. 127.

  
68
  It was a cause of grief … no herb or remedy: Appended to Lís, April 7, 1946, vol. 1944, p. 129.

  
69
  To this day I can recall the modest comfort: Mahon, p. 138.

  
70
  It’s going downhill: Appended to Lís, April 7, 1946, vol. 1944, p. 132.

  
71
  Was no place at all: Seán Ó Guithín interview, in
Memories,
p. 161.

  
72
  Loneliness is accentuated: Quoted in Keogh, p. 54.

  
73
  With most of the island community helpless at his bedside: Mícheal de Mórdha, “Bereavement and Bravery on the Great Blasket,”
An Caomhnóir,
2007.

  
74
  Resettle its inhabitants: See Keogh.

  
75
  Two men from the ‘Land Commission’: Lís, May 20, 1953, vol. 1945, p. 30.

  
76
  I’d go down to the slip: Ó Floinn, in
Reflections.

  
77
  A black gloom: Feiritéar.

    
1
  A U.S. Passport: Kindly furnished by Kathleen Arduini.

    
2
  First went to work: Interview with Sister Mary Justin, Sisters of Providence, who furnished Mary Kearney’s record of ministries.

    
3
  Infectious laugh: “Excerpts from the Homily of Rev. Robert W. Thrasher at Sister M. Clemens’ Mass,” Providence Mother House, Jan. 15, 1987, courtesy of Kathleen Arduini.

    
4
  Troubles: Ibid.

    
5
  One of Pats Kearney’s daughters: Lís, May 13, 1951, vol. 1945, p. 5.

    
6
  Laid to rest: Thanks to Seán Cahillane for help in finding her grave.

    
7
  Convened a reunion: Account follows Biuso, “The Poet’s Ring.”

    
8
  A tough, hard lady: Feiritéar, interview. Kathleen Arduini remembers her aunt as “a toughie, really a tomboy.”

    
9
  Trip to America: Account follows Ray Stagles, “A 26-Years Journey”; Stagles, audiotape interview and interviews with the author.

  
10
  He listened very intently: Interview with person who requests anonymity.

  
11
  Loud and incessantly: KathFrag.

  
12
  Her most loving memories: Margaret Alexiou, interviews; also Alexiou, in
Eighty.

  
13
  Indistinguishable from the theory and practice of fascism: Thomson to F. M. Cornford, series of letters, 1941, Thomson Archives. In 1986, Katharine and George sent photocopies of the correspondence to Cornford’s son Christopher, who replied: “I
found myself turning my head left and right like a spectator at a
Wimbledon final, admiring the deftness & power of each shot & each recovery: also moved by the mutual respect, affection & good humour shown by both players.”

  
14
  Exploiting wage labour: Thomson to Christopher Hill, May 1946, Thomson Archives.

  
15
  You’ve got the words: Margaret Alexiou, interview.

  
16
  Yesterday evening: Thomson, China journal, June 16, 1955, Thomson Archives.

  
17
  See how my vision of the Blasket: Enright, p. 150.

  
18
  My mind was carried back: Thomson, China journal, n.d., Thomson Archives.

  
19
  Would never commit … hear how it sounded: Enright, “George Thomson: A Memoir,” p. 126.

  
20
  Which has healed the breach: Thomson to Pádraig Ó Fiannachta, June 21, 1976, Thomson Archives.

  
21
  Troy seen in the morning of the world: Ireland, p. 100.

  
22
  Baking classes: Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, interviews; similar account by Cáit Bean Uí Mhaoilchiaráin [Maurice’s wife], in
Memories,
p. 177.

  
23
  Fine block of a man: Cáit Bean Uí Mhaoilchiaráin interview in
Memories,
178.

  
24
  Has not done harm: Forster to Thomson, May 13, 1934, Thomson Archives.

  
25
  The chattering:
Memories,
180.

  
26
  Of course, Dónal spoke:
Reflections,
p. 46.

  
27
  Couldn’t understand a word:
Memories
.

  
28
  They would have … dance till morning: George to Katharine, Sept. 13, 1937, Thomson Archives.

  
29
  Heartbroken at leaving Kerry: Katharine Thomson to her mother, Aug. 11, 1935, Thomson Archives.

  
30
  Cut turf, collected seaweed: Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, interviews.

  
31
  Place they called Barraderry:
Memories,
188.

  
32
  An islander marooned ashore: Fragment of unidentified newspaper article, Blasket Centre.

  
33
  A man of one book: Ó Faoláin, “Irish Magic.”
  Daniel Binchy held to the same view: “With his remarkable powers of observation he should find materials for many more books in his experiences during the second stage of life—the ‘twenty years a-blooming’
(
fiche blian fé bhláth
)—on which he has now entered” (“Two Blasket Autobiographies,” p. 557).

  
34
  An appalling book: Titley, in
Reflections.

  
35
  The quirky humour: Titley, e‑mail correspondence.

  
36
  But what good was that?: In
Reflections,
p. 46.

  
37
  Contribution to the original: Titley, in
Reflections.

  
38
  Had to take him by the arm: George Thomson, “The Irish Language Revival,” p. 8.

  
39
  He’d cycle for miles: Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, Breandán Feiritéar, interviews.

  
40
  Life in the bee world: Máire Llewelyn Kavanagh, interview.

  
41
  Disappointment followed: Matson, “Blasket Lives.”

  
42
  Sixty pounds a year: Thomson to Katharine, Sept. 15, 1945, Thomson Archives. The book did well thereafter, too, being reprinted in an Oxford World’s Classics edition in 1953, reprinted again and again all through the sixties and seventies, then
by Oxford University Press beginning in 1983, with whom it has remained
in print ever since.

  
43
  Pink glow: Máire Llewelyn Kavanagh, interview.

  
44
  The journey from Liverpool: Account follows Thomson to family, Sept. 7, 1945, and subsequent letters, Thomson Archives.

  
45
  All turned white: Photo in
Eighty.

  
46
  This academic year: See Thomson date books, University of Birmingham Special Collections.

  
47
  Maurice drowned: Telegram displayed at Blasket Centre. (O’Sullivan died the same day the Korean War broke out.)

  
48
  Máire, six years old: Máire Llewelyn Kavanagh, interview, also in
Eighty.

  
49
  Four days before his death: Garda Museum/Archives, Dublin record, in Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid 5, devoted to Muiris Ó Súilleabháin.

  
50
  A strike was on: Ibid., 187.

  
51
  Killed himself: Nuala Uí Aimhirgín, interview. “It’s still an open question,” says Margaret Alexiou. Her father, she says, “couldn’t get it out of his mind that it might have been suicide.”

  
52
  I think he had a heart attack: Maurice’s daughter, in
Eighty.

  
53
  Sixty I may be: Máire Ní Shúilleabháin [Máire Llewelyn Kavanagh], “Do Mhuiris,”
An Caomhnóir,
vol. 25 (2004), p. 3.

  
54
  Barely able to speak: Katharine, in
Eighty.