James Crawford Neil a Poet.. This is the man that would have been my Grandad but never was, because of the tragic love story of my Granny Gypsy, the sister of Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh . She was the Mother , of my Father .
On his way home from visiting her, he was murdered, I was always told it was by the Black and Tans, but my brother found a report writte in his own words that suggest it was a looter.
, who I hope one day will publish them, somehow, in some form to honour that talented life and the unfinished love story, the link below does tell the bones of the story.
The Father had all his love letters, to Granny Gyp and had always intended to do something with them, They are now with my BrotherDave Kenny
Crawford Neil as we were told , tried to marry Gypsy when he was dying in Hospital but they wouldnt allow it……
Dave took my fathers book. The splendid years and revised it a few years ago, to great success and interesting to read , the two voices of father and son, in the same book.
It was Maire s History and story told to my Dad. He was 18 when it was started , he went on to become a career News Journalist and Dave took it on, and further, also becoming the Journalist in the family, with most of the talents of Granny Gyp and Maire for music and the fathers talent for writing and possibly the spiritual gift of Poetry from the Grandfather that nearly was…..
Although, we were all brought up with equality as a norm, I believe because of the powerful women in my Fathers life , which was not of its time and Im including my Mother as well, there had been alot of talk about me becoming a Journalist through the tried and tested method of copy boy or in my case girl. Dave ended up starting his career as a copy boy. I didn’t want to be a Journalist . I am the eldest. It had been talked about alot.
Maires potrait is hanging in The Abbey Theatre as she was not only a Heroine for her part in The Rising , but an accomplished Abbey Player. Granny Gyp was also an actress and another sister Annie Walker. I got Gyps talent for dance and dramatics 📷 So the next time someone asks a Kenny , why we are so dramatic 📷, I think we have form…………
The revised TheSplendidYears is still available, telling the story of Maires Role in the founding of the Abbey and also her role as leader of Cuman Na Mban . Interesting stuff , Powerful Women, are not a new thing, Ladies , the Dna of our Ancestors, runs through us all, GeneticsBaby Itsathing
Hopefully Dave will let the World hear Granny Gyp and Crawford Neils , story.
I’d like to say , that’s only one half of the story, of Wild Women , in the Kenny Family. My mothers side is equally Heroic, albeit a different story, Oddly connected through Spirit and an Ancestral scheme. We must tell our stories and know our truths , as they are already written and past through Unions, to be carried on or for lines to finish a story and finally ascend . DivineUnions
Dave wrote about Gyp here
You can buy the book here, kindle and paperback versions available
