Ledwidge Cottage Museum opens to the public

June 1982

FRANCIS LEDWIDGE, the poet of the blackbird, was remembered on Sunday when “Ledwidge Cottage” was officially opened by Dr. Benedict Kiely at Janeville near Slane.

Between 700 and 1,000 people turned up for the opening which took place in glorious sunshine. Dr. Kiely said that one could no longer say that a poet is not honoured in his own country.

Two bands were in attendance, Our Lady of Lourdes’ Girls and Boys Band from Drogheda and Slane Junior Band together with 25 colourful majorettes in red and white.

The afternoon’s programme opened with five recitations of some of Ledwidges works from Laura Burtagh, Mark Hand, Niamh O’Broin, Sean Cole and Gayle Smith, all pupils of Slane National School. Mr. Paddy Long, manager of the Eastern Regional Tourist Organisation, complimented Slane Community Council on the wonderful work they had done.

The Council was also complimented by Mr. John Curtin of AnCO and Mrs. Mary Murphy of Muintir na Tire. “We get more satisfaction from this than from any other work done by AnCO,” said Mr. Curtin, “I wonder is there any limit to what community cooperation can achieve?” Mrs. Murphy said the rest of Ireland would do well to follow Slane’s lead and she said she was particularly impressed with how well the grounds had been laid out.

Mr. Peter Baxter, Chairman of Slane Community Council and of the Ledwidge Cottage Committee, thanked all those who helped, no matter how big or small their contribution was. He singled out Mr. Harry Naughton, the AnCO foreman in charge of the work, for special praise. “He was terrific, there’s no getting away from it.”

Dr. Kiely spoke of Ledwidge’s “acute and agonising attachment to the home places,” especially the Boyne Valley and recalled how he had once walked 30 miles from Rathfarnham” to his home at the age of 16.

The ceremony was attended by two of the poet’s nephews, Mr. Frank Ledwidge and Mr. Joe Ledwidge as well as Lord Dunsany whose ancestor gave support to Ledwidge.

Local TDs abounded, including the former Minister for Finance, Mr. John Bruton who described Ledwidge as an outstanding poet who developed his ability without formal education. “It shows the vast talent that exists in this country, he said.