By coincidence

 Today is a holiday in San Sebastián De Los Reyes as it is St Sebastian's day. It is also a federal holiday in The U.S.A as Martin Luther King is remembered on this day.

In this poem Oscar Wilde remembers St Sebastian during a visit to Keats' grave in  Rome.

It is interesting to note that Oscar Wilde discarded his own name and adopted the name Sebastian Melmoth during his exile in France. Wilde greatly admired  the novel Melmoth The Wanderer written by Charles Maturin, his great uncle on the side of his mother, Jane Francesca Elgee.

The Grave  Of  Keats

 Rid of world’s injustice, and his pain,

He rests at last beneath God’s veil of blue:

Taken from life when life and love were new

The youngest of the martyrs here is lain,

Fair as Sebastian, and as early slain.

 A  quote from Ravenna by  a youthful Oscar Wilde:

We see that Death is mighty lord of all,

And king and clown to ashen dust must fall.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

I.C.H.

A Ted talk with subtitles in Spanish.

No one could have explained it better. Thank you Professor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ZHj4ihTog

A New Beginning.

 Beautiful Rihanna from Barbados had a hit with her song, ‘We fell in love in a hopeless place’ and chose to film the video clip in Northern Ireland.This makes me smile because for many people our trouble and strife over the years, our sectarianism, our dourness and our hard-headedness obviate the fact that Northern Ireland is a most beautiful place with stunning scenery, lots of rain and the most inviting pubs. You could choose any location in Fermanagh (where Oscar Wilde attended school),  Armagh, Tyrone,  Down, Antrim or Derry and within the vicinity there would be plenty to do.  No need to go traipsing all over Ireland. Stay in one place and get to know the area. That would be the perfect holiday.

Hum Rihanna’s song and think, no, it isn’t. This is Ireland’s best kept secret.

Happy New Year!