Past Master

Publication Instance Details #3062

Publication Overview

Translation	Is Multilingual	Explicit Irish Context?	Ekphrasis	Has Paratext?	Reference to News, Media or Technology
Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No

Details

Human Rights Issues	War
War / Genocide Referenced	War: Vietnam War
Irish Context	Colonization and Colonial Legacy (Ireland) Specific Irish place or place-name mentioned The Troubles/Sectarian Tensions (Ireland)
Languages	English
Original Language	Irish
Original Poem	Máistir Dána
Original Author	Louis de Paor
Genre	Short Lyric
Medium	Print Collection
Notes	Translated by Anderson, Jenkinson, O'Donoghue, and de Paor. The speaker of the poem describes a previous teacher he had, who didn't believe in lying to children about the realities of war and bloodshed. Several military engagements and characters are mentioned in the poem; the Battle of Lepanto, Don John of Austria, The Charge of the Light Brigade, and the Siege of Athlone. Notably mentioned is the Vietnam War, as well as Bloody Sunday in Derry, 1972. There is a mythological reference to 'Ferdia's Ford', which refers to the battle between Cúchulainn and Ferdia during Queen Meadhb's invasion of Ulster.