Inis Eoghain in poetry and prose

                                                   Moville parish, Co  Donegal.

  There are great views to be had from the top of Cnoc Álainn overlooking the mouth of Lough Foyle if weather condition are suitable. Today many of our local placenames are being lost or worse, forgotten. Some people feel they have the right to change centuries old names at their own pleasing.I have seen the name 'Cookes Hill' used in print and on signage when the place being referred to is Crockaulin or in irish 'Cnoc Álainn' the beautiful hill. The same applies to a local beach which has an old Gaelic name, Cornashamma Bay and is today referred to as 'Sweet Nellies'. It would be nice if the local Authority( Donegal County Council) could see fit to ensure correct signage at these places retaining their Gaelic names for posterity, as they have more meaning from a heritage point of view.

                                                Ó Cnoc Álainn, lá geal sa Geimhreadh.

                 Standing on Cnoc Álainn and looking towards the Moyle
                 Before, the hills of Derry and the shores along the Foyle
                 And eastwards towards the sunrise,Isle Juras' hills so high
                 With Íle in the foreground, where great celtic heroes lie.
                 
                 Cnoc Leithid by Ballycastle, stands o'er the surging sea
                 With the other hills of Antrim,dear Sliabh Mis, proud to be
                 The waters of Bann river empty out upon the strand
                 And the wind swept sands of Magilligan, the mouth of Foyle command.

                 The Spéiríns stretch their highest peaks away into Tír Eoghain
                  Ben Evenagh and Ben Bradagh and Sliabh Gallion on her own
                 The last wild wolf in Ireland howled lonely in these glens
                 Whilst planter cleared the woodlands and the Gael lived 'mongst the bens

                 Southwards o'er Foyle waters stands the Isle of Colmcille
                 Grown to a city now stretching arms up every hill
                 Myroe and the Vale of Faughan, where O Cahan held his sway
                 Abbies,churches and castles now fast falling to decay.

                 And looking now more westwards, hills and glens of Inis Eoghain
                 Each with its' own sad history, and most of it unknown
                 When the Gaelic tongue was beaten down by famine, fire and sword
                 New masters gave the orders; be our prayer sand songs ignored.

                 Turning now more northwards, the great ocean rolls before
                 Gleann Gad, Culdaff and Malin and the Gleann a' Gaibhne shore
                 Inis Trá Thuathail out on the horizon, lighthouse shiny white
                 Beams out its' welcome beacon to guide sailors through the night.

                 Great God! so high in heaven,look down on the work of your hand
                 And teach us by the beauty,to respect this lovely land
                 That our childrens' children may enjoy the hills and glens of home
                 And nature stay unsullied, pure, in the land of Inis Eoghain.

                                                              Gerry Sóna     Eanair 2012