Jim Craven 
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Jim Craven's Background

Jim Craven 1935 - 1980

Jim Craven was the Bard of Balregan, the Druid of Dundalk and the Laureate of Louth - he was the epitome of the Irish poetic presence at his death in 1980.

Jim's writings tested the waters and covered a full range of themes and forms, but returned always to traditional subjects and traditional renderings. 

 

 

"Totally Dynamic Genius"....John B. Keane

  

  Impatient with the English language, he created imagistic word magic and often drew on Irishisms to better catch the flavour of the place.

Craven celebrated the momentous events of town and country - the courting of a blacksmith's daughter, the innocence of a Galway man's infant, the death of a murdered friend.

He was both nature poet, singing of first springs , daisies and the harvest moons, and curse-hurling satirist, spewing venom on hard-hearted Civil Servants and creature-comforted clergy.  But, for all that, he was lovely and alone, and he suffered terribly for his art, tortured by a deep sensitivity of soul and a public that sometimes sneered at sensitivity.

I was often moved and easily moved

and the people laughed and the dance went on

And the song continued and I was left

Alone in the arms of emotion

 

I was often sad, but who cared,

I was often mad when inquisitive stares

In public places searched my eyes

And face for a thing to satirize 

Email : info@jimcraven.com

Telephone: +353 42 9337868

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Information supplied by Paddy Craven, Willie & Patricia Tracey, Gerry Murphy & Richard O'Hanlon.