Eileen’s Story on A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh
I read this poem first at school in 1969 when I was 13 years of age. As I was born and reared in a rural area, it touched me then at such a young age and since then it still has the power to generate in me the pure magic of a child in the country at Christmas. When I hear it recited, especially by Brendan Kennelly it always reduces me to tears because it brings back memories of those simple but magical Christmas times of many years ago. I do love all Patrick Kavanagh’s poetry but this is my best-loved.