We did it again, John!

Launch of 'lovely Flows the Lee'

with John Spillane.

We had a great night at the launch of lovely flows the lee at the fabulous CIT School of Music on Union Quay on the 2nd of December. Authors Tony McGettigan and Frank Twomey gave the introductions and John Spillane did the offical launch with his own composition ' Swimming in the Holy Waters of the River Lee'. He then followed with some more of his classics such as 'Dont need no church made out of stone' and 'Passage West'. Lovely flows the Lee is and account of the river Lee from it small beginnings in the mountains over Gougane Barra to the end of it's 90km journey at Roches Point. John finished up the night with a medley from his present album; 'More Irish songs we learned at school'.

Lovely flows the Lee is available at 026 47069 and at http://www.gouganebarrahotelshop.com/

price € 25.00

Lovely Flows the Lee......

This is a really good book by Francis Twomey and Tony McGettigan which follows the River Lee from it tiny beginnings above Gougane Barra to the Estuary in Cork. The route of this river is well documented in the book along with a great selection of photographs from source to finish.
Excerpts from 'Lovely Flows the Lee'
"On the way to Gougane Barra, the rugged hills
and overhanging trees bear in closer and ever
closer upon the road, until it seems that they will
swallow it up. Then a corner is turned and
suddenly the lake and its garden setting reveal
themselves in the arms of the cliff fringed
mountains. A serenity and joyful uplifting of the
spirit is felt immediately. The experience is like
rummaging through old, treasured souvenirs and
suddenly discovering a splendid jewel".

"The intriguing ruins of a chapel and group of
cells, that one explores today, are those of the
pilgrimage centre built in the late 17th century by
an extraordinary man, Father Denis O Mahony, a
Carmelite priest, who lived as a devout,
contemplative recluse at this spot for 28 years. He
is buried in a low, arched recess or alcove, made of
rough stone, a short distance from the entrance to
the island. The recess is built into the side of the
hill on which the local graveyard is situated. Its
opening looks out upon his beloved place of
seclusion. The Latin inscription on the grave is
dated 1700. The cells were restored in the early
20th century."
Tony McGettigan