Closing Message: A Bit of Clare And so, as my friend Dr. Paris Mansmann said, ‘The tunes and songs have been told.’ Let us lift our parting glasses and toast all who have been associated with this collection. To our younger generation of musicians, singers, and dancers, may I suggest keep the tradition alive, enjoy life; live, love, and laugh, and always keep the flag flying. Or, as they proudly say in County Clare, ‘Up the Banner!’ Remember, there's a bit of Clare in us all. "A Bit of Clare" was written by Killaloe poet and family friend J.P. "Jack" Noonan. Thanks to Jack's family for allowing me to publish his wonderful poem in this collection. Séamus Connolly Sullivan Artist-in-Residence, 2004-2015 Boston College A BIT OF CLARE There’s a bit of Clare about you That I cannot quite explain. It’s elusive as the fragrance Of wild-woodbine after rain. Or it may be I was dreaming When I first looked in your eyes Of the grey mists o’er the Shannon Mingling with the star-specked skies. With your fingertips caressing I can feel again the thrill Of the breezes that steal softly O’er the turf-banks on the Hill And I hear the lark at dawning When your lilting laughter peals It’s that bit of Clare about you Which your ev’ry act reveals. But whatever is that something It brings back a memory Of the wild rose in the hedges And the berried rowan tree; There’s a breath of Irish Springtime Fragrant flowers and April rain In that bit of Clare about you That I cannot quite explain. -- Jack Noonan <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Connolly%2C+S%C3%A9amus%0D%0A">Connolly, Séamus </a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Noonan%2C+J.+P.+">Noonan, J. P. </a> Boston College University Libraries Séamus Connolly <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" rel="license"><img style="border-width: 0;" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png" alt="Creative Commons License" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=46&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Connolly%2C+S%C3%A9amus">Connolly, Séamus</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=46&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Noonan%2C+J.+P.+">Noonan, J. P. </a>