BOOK

The book, “Cill Aodáin & Nowhere Else”, is hardcover, seventy-two pages with twenty-eight original poems by poet, Terry McDonagh. Each poem is illustrated – mainly in colour – by artist Sally McKenna. Cost: Euro 30–00. The book ist a limited edition publication of 1,100 copies. Each book will be signed and numbered by the author.
This project is a wonderful example of international collaboration. The poet comes from Cill Aodáin, Co. Mayo and lived in Germany for many years. The artist comes from the USA and lives in Glore Mill Art Centre near Cill Aodáin. The publisher, Blaupause Books is in Hamburg, Germany and the book is printed in Italy.

Yeats said it is “always necessary to affirm and reaffirm that nationality is in the things that escape analysis.” In this personal journey away from and back, and away again and again, Terry McDonagh reaffirms things that escape our analysis in growing up, especially that extraordinary clasp on the psyche of birthplace and places where we have lived. His words will echo in some readers’ memories, or create images for others. Sally McKenna hears in these lines echoes of youth and age; and responds here with images that carry through a lifetime; from brightly coloured celebrations to those delicate swirlings of the ash, thornbush and oak, from her abstract or surreal insights to the actuality of people on the land, within the landscape. All her pictures discover the poet’s place. Here, in conversing word and picture, is Cill Aodáin of the mind, Cill Aodáin of all our minds on this ancient island where our tribes blooded land and people for affirmation, for generation.
(Seamus Cashman)