Liam MacGabhann (born William Cyprian Smith) (1908–1979) was an Irish journalist born at Laharan, Valentia Island, Co Kerry in 1908. He married Phenie (Tryphena) Franklin (b. 1917 Middlesbrough, England) and had three children Jack, Richard and Dorothy. Having started his career as a national school teacher on Valentia, he attended an interview for a post as film critic for the Irish Press. He was honest about his lack of knowledge, explaining that he had only heard of Greta Garbo and had been to a Mickey Mouse film, he was given the job anyway. MacGabhann worked for

The Irish Press ''The Irish Press'' (Irish: ''Scéala Éireann'') was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995. Foundation The paper's first issue was published on the eve of the 1931 All-Ireland ...

, was Irish editor The People Newspaper (1956), News Editor of

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

, worked for This Week magazine and was one of the founding editors of the Sunday World. He died after a series of strokes in 1979 in Dublin. * Travelled to America with

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on a Fianna Fáil fundraising tour. * Travelled to several times to Hollywood – Hollywood Reporter *

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Sail training ship found by MacGabhann on banks of

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, Cornwall and after lobbying for it to be bought back by the nation it was sailed back to Howth on 29 July 1961. It was laid up in the coal harbour for funding reasons until 1969 when keen Yachtsman and future Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles J. Haughey along with others had her established as Ireland's Sail Training ship. * Topical Talks on RTÉ radio. * Documentary on Valentia * Interviews

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

in Cong at filming of

The Quiet Man ''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 '' Saturday ...

* Interviews

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include '' Jesse James'', ...

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in the Irish Press. * Rags Robes and Rebels – book of poems * Visits USSR with

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and

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Connolly poem

James Connolly – Poem by Liam MacGabhann The poem was written by Liam MacGabhann.Rising Poems: 'Connolly' by Liam MacGabhann
''Irish Independent'', 7 January 2016. He wrote in "Rags, Robes and Rebels" that it was based on reading comments made by the son of a Welsh miner who was part of Connolly's firing squad who later asked Connolly's relatives to forgive him. Connolly
The man was all shot through that came today
Into the barrack square;
A soldier I – I am not proud to say
We killed him there;
They brought him from the prison hospital;
To see him in that chair
I thought his smile would far more quickly call
A man to prayer.
Maybe we cannot understand this thing
That makes these rebels die;
And yet all things love freedom – and the Spring
Clear in the sky;
I think I would not do this deed again
For all that I hold by;
Gaze down my rifle at his breast – but then
A soldier I.
They say that he was kindly – different too,
Apart from all the rest;
A lover of the poor; and all shot through,
His wounds ill drest,
He came before us, faced us like a man,
He knew a deeper pain
Than blows or bullets – ere the world began;
Died he in vain?
Ready – present; And he just smiling – God!
I felt my rifle shake
His wounds were opened out and round that chair
Was one red lake;
I swear his lips said 'Fire!' when all was still
Before my rifle spat
That cursed lead – and I was picked to kill
A man like that! VALENTIA
I can hear the wild music of river and fall.
But the breezes are bearing a soft, gentle call.
It's calling me home, 'tis sweet singing stream.
That flows thro' the woodland of lovely Glanleam.
Ah, my heart is nigh breaking with longing and pain.
Dear home! Will you comfort your exile again?
In dawning's clear brightness, in evening's soft gloam.
There's no place on earth like my own Island home.
Liam MacGabhann 1932 Blind Man at Croke Park
Listen, asthore, for these eyes are sealed,
Listen once more, when Kerrymen take the field,
Tell an old man who saw them in days of old,
Do they walk proudly in their green and gold?

Listen, asthore, when Kerry take the field,
Tell me when they attack and when they yield;
Say if they fail; asthore, I'm blind and old,
Tell me they'll not dishonour the green and gold.'

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:MacGabhann, Liam Irish journalists 20th-century Irish poets People from Valentia Island 1908 births 1979 deaths 20th-century Irish journalists Writers from County Kerry Irish male poets The Irish Times people The Irish Press people