Fuinneog Earraigh Irish Poetry Launch

Fuinneog Earraigh, (Spring Window) Coiscéim 2022 A collection of poetry in Irish

To be launched in The City Library, Grand Parade, Wednesday 30 November @ 6.00 pm. Everyone welcome!

Bart Bambury was a force of nature. He lived a life of adventure, challenge and discovery. He was a ‘Renaissance Man’ in the truest sense of the word. It was only fitting that he returned in his final decade on this planet to express himself through the medium of the Irish language and compose more than fifty poems in celebration of a life well lived.

The title of his book of poems ‘Fuinneog Earraigh’ (Spring Window) is particularly apt and in keeping with the outlook of the poet that composed them. It is a fitting and a lasting epitaph to a man for all seasons (but the season of Spring in particular) who was always bubbling with creativity and enthusiasm. It was apt also that he should be surrounded by poets, writers and artists from Cork and Kerry and became close friends with all of them during those years. Bart was a natural poet and had all the attributes necessary. He had a great eye for beauty and had a deep understanding and empathy for human nature, for the lives of others and for the human condition.

In these wonderful poems he pays homage to the birds of the air and the fish in the sea, to wildlife, to the seasons, to St Finbarr’s Cathedral, to the Beamish-Crawford Brewery, to the Mardyke, to the people he admired and respected, to the city by the Lee which energised and sustained him for most of his adult life, to sport and to family and friends whom he loved and much else besides.

Writing in the Irish language, he rediscovered his real self and excelled in reading other poets, attending workshops, taking part in the Mentoring Scheme and learning his craft. He rediscovered his confidence and his ‘mórtas cine’ (pride of race). Most of all he rediscovered the language in which he could write his poetry. The language and the imagery in his poems are original, rich and striking.

In writing these poems, he has left us a wonderful legacy for to enjoy. ‘Fuinneog Earraigh’ (Spring Window) – this wonderful book of poetry will keep his memory alive in our hearts and ensure that he will be forever young in our eyes.





Fuinneog Earraigh Coiscéim 2022 Cnuasach dánta Gaeilge



Le seoladh i Leabharlann na Cathrach, Sráid an Chapaill Bhuí, Dé Céadaoin 30 Samhain @ 6.00pm. Fáilte roimh chách!


Fórsa nádúir ab ea Bart Bambury. Chaith sé saol eachtrúil, dúshlánach agus follasach. Renaissance Man gan aon agó. Bhí sé tráthúil gur fhill sé i mblianta deireanacha a shaoil ar an teanga Ghaeilge mar mhéan cumarsáide chun é féin a chur in iúl agus chun leathchéad dánta den scoth a chumadh chun an saol a bhí caite aige a cheiliúradh.

Tá teideal an leabhair – Fuinneog Earraigh – thar a bheith oiriúnach agus tá sé go hiomlán i dtiúin le dearcadh an té a chum na dánta atá ann. Seasann an teideal mar fheartlaoi d’fhear a bhí i ngrá le gach séasúr ach le séasúr an earraigh ach go háirithe agus a bhí lán de bheocht, de chruthaitheacht agus de joie de vivre. Bhí sé tráthúil freisin go mbeadh sé i gcomhluadar filí, scríbhneoirí agus ealaíontóirí ó Chorcaigh agus ó Chiarraí agus go raibh siad mar dhlúthchairde aige. B’fhile déanta ab ea é agus bhí na buanna go léir aige. Bhí sé ar fheabhas ag cur síos ar an dúlra agus léirigh tuiscint do nádúr an duine agus comhbhá le saol a chomhshaoránaigh agus le háit an duine sa chosmas.

Sna dánta iontacha seo léiríonn sé grá agus ómós d’éin na spéire, éisc na farraige, don fhiadhúlra, na séasúir, d’Ardeaglais Naomh Fionbarra, do Ghrúdlann Beamish-Crawford, don Mhuirdíog, do na daoine a raibh meas aige orthu, don chathair cois Laoi inár chaith sé formhór a shaoil agus a spreag é chomh mór sin, do cúrsaí spóirt, dá chairde agus dá chlann a raibh sé bródúil astu agus do nithe eile nárbh iad.

Ag scríobh as Gaeilge d’athaimsigh sé a spiorad féin agus bhain sult as saothar filí eile a léamh, as freastal ar cheardlanna, as an Scéim Meantóireachta agus as a cheird a fhoghlaim. D’athaimsigh sé a fhéinmhuinín agus a mhórtas cine. Thar aon rud eile d’athaimsigh sé an teanga ina bhféadfadh sé a dhánta a scríobh. Tá an teanga agus na híomhánna ina dhánta úrnua, saibhir agus suaithinseach.

Sna dánta iontacha seo, fágann Bart oidhreacht shuntasach againn le go mbainfimis taitneamh aisti. Coinneoidh ‘Fuinneog Earraigh’ cuimhne Bart beo inár gcroíthe agus cinnteoidh sé go mbeidh sé i gcónaí óg inár súile.