John Henderson’s April 24 tribute to the Easter Rising of 1916 (“Maine Voices: Honoring the Irish fight for freedom”) was a welcome reminder of the universal struggle against colonial oppression. Foremost in Irish memories of the uprising are those brave souls who occupied Dublin’s General Post Office and sacrificed their lives and liberty in the pursuit of freedom.

Among those rebels were three patriots of the Lawless clan. Their direct descendant is Gary Lawless, accomplished poet and proprietor of the Gulf of Maine Bookstore in Brunswick.

Much of Gary’s poetry contains the underlying theme of the struggle against oppression. His writings are highly regarded in those regions of the world where people have suffered and survived.

Underappreciated in his own country, his books have been published in many languages around the world. Each year he travels to Europe and beyond to attend conferences and poetry readings at the insistence of his many fans.

Gary and his wife, Beth, were invited back to Ireland for the 100-year anniversary of the Easter Rising to rekindle family relationships and read from selected works of his poetry. There will be readings of Gary’s poetry in pubs and other public settings around the town of Dingle.

One such reading, scheduled for Saturday, will take place, according to the organizers, on “day three of the festival, at Dick Mack’s legendary morning of poetry and pints, with … a host of visiting and local performers including U.S. poet Gary Lawless and local singer/songwriter Tricia Moriarty.”

As noted recently by Gary, as he pondered the trip back to his homeland, “There are more Americans of Irish descent in the States than Irish who reside in Ireland.” One has to wonder if the descendants of today’s immigrants will look back some 100 years from now and appreciate the sacrifices their ancestors made to provide a better life for their families.

Lew Kingsbury

Pittston

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