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Coppers, the Pope and GAA: Irish Twitter is mad for ‘My Ireland’

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My Ireland, a spoken word piece by Tallagh poet Stephen James Smith, took Ireland by storm yesterday as people became enraptured by his words about our Emerald Isle. 

The poem looks at what it means to be Irish, both the good and the bad.

Everything from Copper Faced Jacks to the Magdalene Laundries is mentioned, as the poem draws on both the past and the present. 

Since the release, the video has racked up thousands of hits, as Irish people flock to the video to hear Stephen's worlds flowing melodically over videos of Ireland shot by filmmaker Myles O'Reilly.

The lengthy poem was commissioned as part of this year's St Patrick's Festival.

At almost 12 minutes long, it's commitment to sit down to, but well worth it. 

The poem has broken the internet, or at least the Irish corner of it, and the reactions to the piece are moving. 

Some fans are even calling for the poem to be included on the Leaving Cert syllabus, with the St Patrick's Festival Twitter account agreeing, saying that "students nationwide should hear."

Some picked up on the issues raised by the poem, such as the inclusion of Savita Halappanavar, and linked them back to current movements such as The Repeal Project.

Others simply quoted the lines they felt were most relevant to their lives. 

"I spent the best part of six months on it," the poet told the Irish Independent. 

"It's a labour of love, although it probably is flawed. It's my interpretation of what it means to be Irish today – a celebration of all that's good, but also pointing out all that's wrong."

"The unfairness that's become part and parcel of life today."

If you haven't made the time to watch it for yourself yet, do it now.

 

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