From Cork With Love - by Paul O'Mahony

You hear the voice of a man who’s all over the place - as he wakes up in his brother’s house, stretches, and greets the cat.  Tea-making & “Composing himself”.   Not long after the awful event on Thursday evening.  #DecPodPoMo 

GREAT NEWS - expert roofers on board.  Shoddy work done 10 years ago.  The leak will be fixed by tomorrow.  You hear Paul O'Mahony talking about the problem and the solution.  You hear hammering.  As an appendix, Paul reads the testimonial sent to Anthony Roofer by an extremely satisfied customer. Correction: whenever you hear "Ukranian". substitute "Polish".  Paul's memory isn't the best.  Contri...

You hear Paul O’Mahony struggling unsuccessfully against Alexa - in this 7th episode of #DecPodPoMo.  Bothered by past experience of Spotify deleting an episode which contained music that was alleged to be copyrighted 

You hear Paul O’Mahony satisfied after a meal that’s filled him up and put him in improved humour.  Washed down with red wine from south eastern Australia, vintage 2023, a fairly mellow little number that claims to have notes of chocolate. The next couple of days will be every bit is important as the last couple of days. #DecPodPoMo 

Image by ChatGPT. #DecPodPoMo 

First Saturday morning in December.  I can’t even remember the cat’s name. You hear Paul talking just after he’s got out of bed. You follow him into the kitchen. You hear him making a cup of tea - so far so good. You’ll be shocked by what comes next as Paul introduces the story of what happened on Friday evening on the main street of Buttevant Co. Cork #DecPodPoMo.  Another episode coming very soo...

You hear, Paul O’Mahony  talking about his early morning while walking his dog Louis. Vignettes include the discovery that 14th of December is world Choral  day - a couple of things about Toastmasters, being stood up, and the big birthday of my young brother #DecPodPoMo -  I almost forgot the weather in Cork today is cold,dry, and sunny

Paul O’Mahony is troubled because Louis has been barking incessantly at the dogminder’s home - where he has the company of several dogs & their minder - for the last three months. Paul has to do something but he can’t decide the best course of action. It was a shock when he got the news today. He is very fond of Louis. #DedPodPoMo 

Continuing the example shown by #NaPodPoMo - Paul O’Mahony vows to carry on - regardless of the dangers, risks, and monsters on the path.   You can hear Paul swallowing the medicine - bolstering the courage that will be needed to succeed with #DecPodPoMo 2025 

With ginormous thanks to Jennifer Navarette - this is the final episode of #NaPodPoMo You hear Paul O’Mahony read his new poem “Thanks to Sean (Dwan)” ———— Thanks to Sean A smile is a weapon of mass destruction  No no no no … A smile is a weapon of mass seduction  Phew  I remember the man who gave me that line. Sean Dwan will be turning in his grave  no no no no Sean will be stumbling on his stave...

You hear Paul O’Mahony introduce TS Eliot reading “The Hollow Men” ——————- THE HOLLOW MEN  A penny for the Old Guy                               I  We are the hollow men   We are the stuffed men   Leaning together  Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!  Our dried voices, when   We whisper together   Are quiet and meaningless  As wind in dry grass   Or rats’ feet over broken glass  In our dry cellar ...

You hear Louis McNiece reading his poem aloud - and Paul O’Mahony reading it twice.  ————- Prayer before Birth By Louis MacNeice I am not yet born; O hear me. Let not the bloodsucking bat or the rat or the stoat or the club-footed ghoul come near me.    I am not yet born, console me.  I fear that the human race may with tall walls wall me,  with strong drugs dope me, with wise lies lure me,  on bl...

You hear Langston Hughes (1901 - 1967) perform his very short & influential poem ‘Harlem’.  You also hear Paul O'Mahony read the poem - twice. (The second reading is a much better listen.)  The poem is to be found In his book of 91 poems “Montage of a dream deferred”. _________________________ Harlem What happens to a dream deferred?       Does it dry up       like a raisin in the sun?       O...

You hear Elizabeth Bishop reading her poem ‘At the Fishhouses” - introduced by Paul O’Mahony.  You also hear Paul doing his best to do it justice. #NaPodPoMo —————— At the Fishhouses Although it is a cold evening, down by one of the fishhouses an old man sits netting, his net, in the gloaming almost invisible, a dark purple-brown, and his shuttle worn and polished. The air smells so strong of codf...

Paul O’Mahony introduces Jackie Kay’s  “Darling”.  Jackie was born in Edinburgh in 1961 - her mother Scottish, her father Nigerian. You hear Jackie Kay reading her poem.  You also hear Paul having a go at reading it #NaPodPoMo —————- DARLING You might forget the exact sound of her voice or how her face looked when sleeping. You might forget the sound of her quiet weeping curled into the shape of a...

You hear the American poet Sylvia Plath read her poem “Tulips”.  She wrote it while in hospital in 1961 after having her appendix removed.  A friend sent her get-well flowers. You also hear Paul O'Mahony's reading - contributed to #NaPodPoMo  (the podcasting challenge led by    jennifer   navarrete ————- TULIPS The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here. Look how white everything is, how quie...

Poem in honour of CongRegation - the unconference. Paul O’Mahony wrote this on Monday morning 24th November 2025 - after reading an email from Eoin Kennedy & replying. #NaPodPoMo 22/30 ———- Listen to the full series at https://napodpomo.org/napodpomo-2025-mega-feed/   Follow me on Spotify, Audioboom, and Apple Podcasts

You hear Theo Dorgan read his poem “Ithaca” dedicated to Leonard Cohen (with whom he shares a birthday). Paul O’Mahony also reads the poem twice. #NaPodPoMo ————- Ithaca for Leonard Cohen When you set out from Ithaca again, let it be autumn, early, the plane leaves falling as you go, for spring would shake you with its quickening, its whispers of youth. You will have earned the road down to the ha...

Day 20 of #NaPodPoMo Paul O'Mahony introduces Derek Mahon  -  he reads his poem Derigibles   Paul reads Derek’s  poem. Today I learned:  It's never too late to come across a word that opens a window. DERIGIBLES We who used to drift      superbly in mid-air, each a giant airship      before ‘the last war’, shrink to a soft buzz      about financial centres surprising visitors,      hackers and bean...

From Trinity College to Anne’s Street South.  Walking up Grafton Street - stopping by buskers - passing shops - capturing a few voices on the street. #NaPodPoMo

Day 18 of #NaPodPoMo Paul O'Mahony introduces Jenny Joseph  -  she reads her poem Warning.  Paul reads Jenny’s  poem. Today I learned: I Jenny Joseph’s reading performance is magnificent - almost as good as the poem itself.  Read with vivacity. ————- WARNING  When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and...

Day 17 of #NaPodPoMo Paul O'Mahony introduces Amanda Gorman -  she reads her poem The Hill We Climb.  The recording was made at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021. Paul reads Amanda's poem. Today I learned: It's a magnificent poem, performed with strength by an extraordinary woman. Listen to the full series at https://napodpomo.org/napodpomo-2025-mega-feed/   Follow me on Spot...

You hear Paul O'Mahony reading his poem " Adoration " - twice.   " Dying to be remembered Dying to be loved Yearning to be celebrated who will prolong my life in a world where so much is forgotten almost before it has been born. ideas characters adventures, history, biography, and I return to dust dust they are, and dust they will remain. On the cutting floor there is no eternity. Good morning, go...

Recorded by Paul O'Mahony on the morning of 17th

you hear Paula Meehan reading her .  You hear Paul O’Mahony reading it twice. “The ghost of my mother comforts me. Do not fear daughter when they lift their sticks, their stones, when they hiss beneath their breaths fallen woman, adulteress breaker of marriage vows made before a holy priest to an honourable man for you daughter; there is no blame, for you no portion of guilt, for you’re made in my...