• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CONTRIBUTORS
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

Poem: The Stones of Culdalee

By Timothy Walsh

October 1, 2011 by 4 Comments

Culdalee

We took the winding road west from Aclair,
arrived at where we thought the turnoff should be,
the boreen so overgrown you’d hardly know it had ever
been the way.
We waded down through the uncut field, down the steep
hillside to the wild valley below.
Thankfully, the cottage still stood,
looking much as it did when I saw it last, forty years ago.

“Culdalee,” my cousin said. “Culdalee,”
saying the syllables that had dropped so sweetly
from my grandmother’s tongue.
Culdalee, where I had gone with her once as a boy,
the place already a ruin.
But still the old stone cottage stood,
the roof gables and chimney proud against the sky,
the thatch having fallen in fifty years ago,
the massive hearthstone an earthquake could not unseat.
We could light a fire here and cook a meal
as my ancestors did these three centuries past.
Irish was spoken here, only Irish,
though they had English enough for the wider world as well.
Winnie, Anne, and Austin were the last—
an old picture of them I treasure—
and old Kate Kilmartin—Kate who lived to a hundred and eight,
from before the Great Famine to the Second World War.

We walked across to the ancient ring fort where I’d played
as a child, as my father did before me,
knelt beside the stream where two forks converged,
a brogue of birds in the blackthorn
the hawthorn and hazel obscuring the Giant’s Grave
across the grassy meadow.

Later, back at Tom’s place in Tourlestrane,
we lamented the death of Jack,
wondered who’d tend the sheep farm
high in the Ox Mountains—
a “sky farm” they call it, a sky farm
because up there it seems you must be
harvesting the sky.

The next day, we rode the winding rode west from Aclair,
arrived at where we knew the turnoff would be.
We walked the uncut field, down to the shambling,
moss-grown cottage.
We stood beside the massive walls, rested our hands
on the rounded stones
as if listening to the old place speak.
At last, my son selected one of the fallen stones
at the wall’s base
to trundle back through the airport
and place on our mantel back home.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bertie Walsh says

    October 31, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    I was just introduced to the poem “Culdalee” by Timothy Walsh in your news paper.
    I am familiar with the area and must read more about you as i am community news reporter with The Sligo Weekender.
    Best Wishes,
    Bertie.

    Reply
  2. Timothy Wlsh says

    March 2, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    Hey Bertie,
    Just saw your comment. The photo is the actual hearth of my family’s ruined cottage in Culdalee, which is near the old stone ring fort. This was my grandmother’s side of the family–Cunney. As you may know, there were many Cunnies in Culdalee village, which as far as I know is gone now. At one point, I checked census records and saw that there were about three dozen cottages in old Culdalee village–all gone now, I think. My cousin still owns the land where the ruined cottage stands.
    All the best,
    –Tim Walsh

    Reply
  3. Amanda Sanderson says

    March 3, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    Wow, such evocative beautifully expressed words which depict life there with such pathos so perfectly. A stunning poem, I feel moved and transported.

    Reply
  4. Tim O'Connor says

    January 31, 2023 at 2:45 pm

    Hello and what a beautiful poem; i have a connection to Culdalee as my great grandfather Thaddeus Edward Commons/Commins was from there and he married a Bridget Walsh , so i was wondering Timothy about your Walsh family name ? very best Tim O’Connor

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Bertie Walsh Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • Brian Ruane:  A View from One Wall Street

    Brian Ruane: A View from One Wall Street

    Born in the U.S. and raised in Ireland, BNY Mellon's Brian Ruane represents a new kind of Irish pres...
  • The First Word: The Spirit of America

    The First Word: The Spirit of America

    A letter from our Editor: As I write this the world outside my window is peaceful. It’s Sunday so ...
  • Uncovering Irish History in Lowell, MA and Northern Ireland

    Uncovering Irish History in Lowell, MA and Northern Ireland

    The Irish-American Heritage Archeological Program discovers Irish artifacts in Lowell, MA and Cosso...
  • Study in Ireland Fairs Come to Northeast

    Study in Ireland Fairs Come to Northeast

    A new initiative called Education Ireland asks American students to consider studying in Ireland. E...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in