Celebrating poet Paddy Farrell at Todd’s Leap

Last weekend at Todd’s Leap, the shrieks of excited children were replaced by the melodious sounds of traditional music which reverberated across the Yellow Field and Hazel Glen, as Errigal Ciaran parishioners gathered for a few days that fittingly celebrated the life of local poet, Paddy Farrell.

Farrell was born in 1856 in the heartland of rural Tyrone, right on cusp of the invisible line where east meets west.

He married his love, Bella McFadden in 1890, and it was near the site where Todd’s Leap is sited today that they raised their family – surrounded by music and song – in an eight bedroom house which Farrell, the stone mason and building contractor, presumably directed the brick-by-brick construction of.

In later years, when enough schools, churches (including the Sacred Heart, Omagh), bridges and barns had been built to bring a content conclusion to his days of toil, he found himself with time to think and reflect, and he poured the contents of his imagination out in ink on the page.

Sean Farrell, Paddy’s grandson, explained how the revival of Paddy’s poetry has occurred, and what led to the institution of this period of appreciation for his grandfather.

“There were always these hand-written notes laying around the house when we were younger, but they meant nothing to us. It’s a wonder that survived,” he said.

But, as if the contents of the notes endowed themselves with the power of self-preservation, they somehow kept themselves alive down the years – until recently, when they were gathered up and pieced together in a puzzle that opened a window to the past.

“These poems are about Glencull and the parish (the school Paddy went to and area he was from), and the fields which were all known by their own unique name,” said Sean.

potential

Capturing the essence of the locality with a lyricism possessed by few, Derrytresk singer/songwriter, Niall Hanna, spied the innate musical potential within these poems.

“When I was asked to put music to Paddy’s poems, I was delighted – particularly with the poem ‘Glencull’s Flowery Vale’,” Niall said. “It’s an insight into what was important in Paddy’s life like nature, sport, and the music.

“He spoke about emigration and longing for people to come back home. These things are still important to people here today.”

The tune that Niall picks for Paddy’s lyrics is beautiful; the tone of his nylon stringed guitar is magical, and the man’s voice and delivery brings Paddy’s rural world to life with genuine warmth and clarity.

The whole arrangement is superb, and Niall’s performance is available for Errigal locals, Diaspora, and posterity forevermore.

But while Niall’s ballad was a focal point of the celebration, entertainment came from a variety of sources.

Some of Paddy’s poems were recited, music was played by his descendents, and old traditions and outdoor activities were resurrected in an attempt to forge a connection with the world Paddy would have known.

It was a great weekend of local history, poetry and music which will hopefully become an annual event at Todd’s Leap.

Story by Emmet McElhatton (e.mcelhatton@ulsterherald.com)