The church known to the mariners in Dún Laoghaire has transformed into The National Maritime Museum of Ireland. In this location, Gerald Dawe’s casket finds its place amongst the world’s other vessels. A massive light from the lighthouse, cascading through the florally-decorated stained-glass window, scatters sunlight like a kaleidoscope onto his casket. It highlights the ‘The Poet’s Wife’- a selection of yellow roses.
As Gerald Dawe’s spirit embarks on its journey across the sea, we listen to his every poem like a sacred supplication, piloting ourselves through the silent abyss. We have evolved into a vast congregation of seafarers. This month will see the release of ‘Ash Keys: New Collected Poems’, the most recent anthology by Michael Longley.