Thank you Hollyfort for a day to remember
WE, John, Peter and Karina Casey, siblings of recently deceased poet and novelist Philip Casey, would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those involved in honouring our beloved brother with ‘A Day for Philip’ in Hollyfort on Sunday, June 24.
The large crowd in attendance was a great tribute to Philip and a measure of how much he was loved and held in high esteem.
How fitting it was that this special event was hosted in Hollyfort, by the people of Hollyfort! It was in Grove Mill Hollyfort that Philip grew up. It was his upbringing here and the beauty of the surrounding landscape that shaped his personality, that moulded his imagination. It was always his spiritual home, a place he never really left.
In his poem ‘The Lamp of Welcome’, written to commemorate the visit of President Mary Robinson to Gorey in 1995, Philip describes how, no matter where in the world he was, his thoughts were always between Hollyfort, Gorey and Croghan. On this occasion though, the thoughts of everyone present were of him. He had come home.
Meeting up with kind neighbours and friends from many years ago we felt that we had come home as well. The warmth of the magnifi- cent June day was matched by the warmth of the welcome we received, as memories of ‘Those Distant Summers’ came flooding back.
The sun glistened and danced on the river Bann as the beautiful sound of the uilleann pipes heralded the unveiling of a plaque on Grove Bridge to commemorate our brother for evermore.
Then, as the significance and context of the bridge was being explained and reference made to the Grove Mill Casey brothers of yesteryear, the gathering broke into spontaneous laughter with the loud arrival down the Rock Road of young boys on bikes, oblivious to the proceedings. Someone declared ‘it’s the Casey brothers, right on cue’. It was a joyous déjà-vu moment that Philip himself would have relished.
Hollyfort and environs was resplendent as was St John’s Church and the old Schoolhouse and grounds. Equally stunning was the music and the readings, all delivered with love and reverence for Philip, as was the magnificent exhibition on his life and writings.
Generous refreshments provided by the kind people of Hollyfort were enjoyed under bright sunshine on the Schoolhouse green with Annagh Hill and Croghan Mountain close by. A perfect end to a perfect day. Thank you, Hollyfort.
John, Peter and Karina Casey