The Orchard Keeper
The Orchard Keeper by Susan Connolly, published by Shearsman Books in 2017, is a collection of poetry that delves into the life of Francis Ledwidge, a notable figure from Co. Meath. This edition comprises 28 pages and is presented in English. Connolly’s work is inspired by her exploration of Ledwidge’s connections, particularly his friendship with Matty McGoona, an amateur naturalist and musician, and a chance encounter that sparked her interest in his life and poetry.
Readers will find a sequence of poems that reflect on Ledwidge’s experiences and relationships, particularly through the lens of his close friends and family. The collection includes six poems titled Woman in a Black Hat, which evoke personal memories and connections. The themes of friendship and the natural world are woven throughout, offering insights into Ledwidge’s life as a poet and soldier. This edition invites readers to engage with the historical and emotional landscapes that shaped Ledwidge’s work.
Official synopsis Publisher
Francis Ledwidge was a frequent visitor to the McGoona household at Donaghmore, near Navan, Co. Meath. Matty McGoona, an amateur naturalist and musician, became his close friend. A chance encounter with an elderly man beside the orchard at Donaghmore was the catalyst which led Susan Connolly to explore the life of Francis Ledwidge in greater depth, and to write her sequence of poems, The Orchard Keeper.
Francis Ledwidge was born in Slane, Co. Meath, in 1887. He wrote poetry from an early age. He enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1914, and survived the battlefields of Gallipoli, Serbia and Arras before being killed on July 31st, 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres.
The six poems gathered under the title Woman in a Black Hat, warmly recall the lives of close friends and family.
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