Peter O'Connor
Music and archery teacher/coach. (I teach medieval archery).
Now working as an English, and Irish language coach, and occasional business start-up mentor.
Location Glenribbeen Eco Lodge., Glenribbeen, LISMORE, Co Waterford, Ireland
Activity
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
The explanation of why the lower Alpine lakes are so deep is new to me and fascinating.
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Peter O'Connor replied to Peter O'Connor
Agreed. Many locals just don't appreciate what's on their doorstep until others point it out to them.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
In 1977, in the Apuseni Mountains of western Romania, communist dictator Ceaușescu forced the evacuation of over four hundred families in the village of Geamăna to make way for waste from the nearby Roșia Poieni copper mine. As tailings bled into the valley, the church, the houses, and the habitats of birds and insects were all submerged in toxic sludge. Forty...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I've received an email that is too long to copy & paste here but I'll try give the essence - the effect of historical coppermining on the landscape.
As it happens I'm currently in Killarney, near Ross Island - possibly the world's oldest and longest running copper mine"
Poisoned Beauty
by Gheorghe Popa
This place plays with all your senses. The vivid... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I've written about the sites I've been to and then stopped to consider the classifications.
Honestly I can't understand why Brú na Bóinne took until 1993 to make the list, and now it has; what difference has that made?
Perhaps a heightened awareness? Better advertising (bringing more people - but is that a good thing?).
Perhaps for lesser known sites it... -
Dia 's Muire duit a Ineke.
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Peter O'Connor replied to Peter O'Connor
I also lve in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with upland bogs behind us, the Blackwater River in front (South) and Lismore Castle on a height above the Ballyrafter Flats 3kms to the West.
I grew up looking at the Ring of Gullion, in County Armagh, to the North, Cuhulian's Mount (Dún Dealga) to the West and Dundalk House (residence of King William of... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
The 'only' UNESCO registered sites in Ireland (so far) are The Giant's Causeway (I visit regularly - taking tours there), Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange & Knowth) and Sceilig Mhichíl (Skellig Michael), second only to the Blasket Islands as Europe’s most westerly point.. These later two are more difficult to get to, so I've only been to Brú na Bóinne a few times and...
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@PaulKamill yes - though I've noticed that almost all have been patched over now.
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Visit Dublin and see the pockmarks of heavy machine-gun fire in the granite stonework on the outside of the GPO. Centre of the rebellion in 1916. And on the Walls of the Sinn Fein offices across the city during the War of Independence 1918 - 1921.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I've been travelling for two days on The Burren, in Co Clare, Ireland. Its a landscape heavily influenced by the limestone created when Ireland was under a shallow (coral) sea, then by plate activity, ice ages, mankind farming methods, the period of intense overpopulation when the Irish were pushed (to he'll or to Connacht) in the Cromwellian period, then the...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I'm an Irish traditional musician for.60 years and having worked in building and tourism I started work as a Tour Director & guide in 2017.
I have an abiding interest in history and culture, which led m me to complete a diploma in the Archaeology of Ireland during Covid.
This course will I hope add to my knowledge, and assist me with my tour-guiding. -
@KatsiarynaTsikhanovich I found them saved automatically in My Files ... way down at the bottom under Z.
It may be that I ticked a box to save them but I can't recall.
Another way is simply screen-grab.
Hold down; Shift + Windows logo and S together and wait a few seconds. All will be revealed. -
I found them saved automatically in My Files ... way down at the bottom under Z.
It may be that I ticked a box to save them but I can't recall.
Another way is simply screen-grab.
Hold down; Shift + Windows logo and S together and wait a few seconds. All will be revealed. -
@PatriciaERice Lucky you. I've had a torrid time with Teams - however the Zoom chat can be saved and my whiteboard notes are automatically saved to a Zoom file that was automatically set up whin I first started.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Teams just won't open for anyone when I email the meeting link. I'll use the lesson provided to see if I can gain any insight. I do like Zoom though.
I've had difficulty with Skype - they keep asking for money and though I've paid at various times over the years I've never gotten any use from it.
WhatsApp is great for conversation class, and needs very... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
So far I've been using these on Zoom.
However I find Teams dreadful and though I've asked for help. I can accept and join in others meetings I can't start one of my own. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I actually like teaching online. It allows me to work from home (yes there are broadband issues as I live very rural in Ireland) and I enjoy having the Blackboard and all the files on my computer to hand.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Sheinn sé an fhidil.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I used to have reasonable Irish, havinf studied at school, but more importantly been to a Gaeltacht. I traveled Europe and N. Africa with a girlfriend and we regularly spoke Irish so we wouldnt be taken to be British, or American. This was vital in the late 1970's. The status of those cultures was in the decline in the eyes of many.
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Peter O'Connor replied to Paul Malgrati
@ColinFraser A difficult question. I think that 1. It is because in his time pro-slavery was 'acceptable' in a way that we now see as criminal. Remember at this time being left-handed was sseen as God's curse - I had school, friends beaten into writing with the right until mid 1960's.
It's not that long ago that being a (male) homosexual would mean a prison... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I've just started teaching online. I can do with some ideas and tools.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
No not really. I wrote nationalist (I think - I actually initially wrote 9 words) and I feel that stronger now than ever. I hadn't known about his relationships with so many women - most, seemingly, in no position to refuse his advances - and none in a position to advancement - with child in tow. That aspect shocked me. But I've grown to love his Doric...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I find it ironic the see, in many of the statues, the bard lolling back in a comfy chair resplendent in robes - a rather Caesar-like statesman when the reality was most likely he worked feverishly over scraps of paper and perhaps a notebook. Lucky to have a table no doubt.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
If Patrick Kavanagh, from Monaghan, was Ireland's poet that celebrated the dandelions rather than Wordworth's daffodils - Burns must surely be the man that make us woke to the concept that 'a man's a man, for a' that.'. And the concept of rising above petty nationalism.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
An interesting article from The Irish Times: "Burns doesn't so much represent Scotland as act as a dazzling convenor of its contradictions". https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-footprints-of-robert-burns-1.931941
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Peter O'Connor replied to Paul Malgrati
Robert Burns and Ireland
https://www.ijsl.stir.ac.uk/issue6/carruthers.htm -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
LOVE the jug - I wonder how many were made. Is there a patent on that - I could see them flying off the souvenir shelves like hotcakes. I'd buy one - and I don't even drink (anymore). The tail-handle is magnificent.
The 'witches' of course - the church's and medical world tormenting any knowledgeable women. Someone need to have a serious chat with Burn's... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
A photo of the obelisk over Agnes Burns' Dundalk grave can be seen here - along with a description of a Burn's birthday (25th January) reading in Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland. https://thefadingyear.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/burns-night-25-january/
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
A Dutch friend of ours recites this every Burns Night In Mulligan's Irish Br in Amsterdam. It's a treat to hear it in his faux Scottish/Dutch accent.
I do think it was his attempt to promote Scottish fare against the rising tide of criticism against all things not 'English' - this was seen all over the world as culture and language has become homogenised.
I... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I've on occasion (when I drank) toasted Burn's with a whiskey on the night - though as a vegetarian I've never eaten haggis - though I'm assured it's very similar to Irish 'white-pudding' - which I have eaten all of my childhood and 20's. Haggis is surely THE quintessential Scottish fare. We tour guides make great play about telling the US tourists about the...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
The bi-polar nature of Burns is interesting - again I can relate to this in the world of art it's almost the norm it would seem. It would appear that highly functioning artist are to some extent living alternative lives to some extent.
A strange fact I've come up with is that his sister though not bi-polar seems to be buried in two different church-yards -... -
urns was truly a man of his time, a common man with a common touch, but with an eye on the road up, and ahead. I think that no different than his dalliances with the ladies, he was just as liberal with his charms of his 'betters' (as they would have perceived themselves to be) and like many an artist before, and since, he sucked up to them and won them...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I would agree that Burn's is if not THE best known product of Scotland then he's up there with the firewater.
However in areas where alcohol plays a far less dominant role as it does in European-style lifestyle surely then Burn's must be Topgun.
In any case he remains a wonderful advertisement for Scotland and unlike so many of Irish descent can never be... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
My mother taught us 'Coming Through the Rye' as an early start piece when we started playing fiddle back in early '60's - I never know it was a Burns piece!
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Peter O'Connor replied to Paul Malgrati
I believe that we in Ireland always saw it as English Imperialism but using others - be they (other) British, or other even Irish' as proxy to do the dirty-work. A quick perusal of the story of Los Patricios in the Texan - Mexican War will shine a clear light on this.
GB Shaw pointed out that the English could always find an Irishman to to turn the spit when... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I was disappointed to read (in answers to question in previous section "Copyright is a relatively new invention". It was the Diarmuid MacCerbaill ruling against Columba that gave the world the concept of copyright. ...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
All arts (most likely) collect others/new pieces. I've books of collections of collectors who collected from hundreds of years ago. Nothing new under the sun.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
He wasn't afraid to embrace or even pinch another's airs - but we musicians all do that. There are only so many notes (7, and start the next scale) in a scale and he was a poet not a composer anyway.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Excellent course - I've learnt so much.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Yes indeed. My appreciation of Burns has grown exponentially.
Many thanks for this course. As I sometimes visit Scotland I'm sure this will help me further in my appreciation of the culture, the local idiomatic expressions and hopefully help me integrate better with (some of) the locals too. -
So true. and so apt.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
As a house-painter I used to despair of colleagues who would delight in slapping paint on 'wee beasties' instead of helping them escape the chemicals and slow painful deaths from the toxic chemicals.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Yes the 'long s' caught me initially - but I study German and then it suddenly hit me - Dutch/German influence again. A long S.
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I've been criticised for my handwriting - from the get go. And I so would love to practice calligraphy - like everything good - it takes
focused practice, and Time, that most precious commodity. -
Exactly what I got - though I struggled with the last word in line 1 for a while. Aah no - I had mother in place of mottle. Line 1 again.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I'm hoping to visit on a fact-finding trip I'm making early March. A high spot on the itinerary.
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Much of the 'Burns myth' depends on the poet's handling of language, he is very aware of the 'linguistic nuances' he himself created. Does Coila speak in clear tongue to attract the English-speaking literati and persuade them that Coila is no 'twee fay figure' but a serious entity - at least to Burn's imagination?
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Is Coila perhaps from the Gaelic/Gallic meaning the either the cockerel (coilach the early or leader bird), or from Coileán - a whelp/pup or - stretching a point coileán fir youth/scion or even trickster?? An earth-goddess that doesn't really care about humans - except as playthings and manipulates Burns to encourage people to care for 'their' land? Far...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
While Robert Fergusson (and others as Murdoch, Ramsey) had a good influence on the , obviously, well read Burns - I now despair that he was influenced by the notorious James MacPherson a character referred to in my PG paper "Irish Celtism - The Big Lie" (Glenribbeen) His false 'research' and downright lies are still influencing todays perceptions of our...
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Peter O'Connor replied to Janet George
There are many modern musicians that draw on folk and classical music for their reworkings in rock, folk and even heavy-metal. A lot of old Led Zepplin fans (like myself) got into the music of say Haden through rock music and the guitar rifts.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
On the day that Scotland won the Calcutta Cup (Back-to-back for first time in near 40 years) I was singing along with The Flower of Scotland - however when I looked it up I found it ls a modern song and no relationship with Burns (except perhaps in sentiment and accent).
It was in fact written by Roy Williamson of the Corries. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
I think it was 'To a Mouse' that first caught my attention - though as a teenager we played a tune in the band called The Rights of Man' - not Burns' version but it lead me to Burns.
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Peter O'Connor replied to Judith Nott
An anthem for Europe even - and why stop there?
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I LOVE the version sung by the Scottish Parliament - I could wonder how they could resist not joining in earlier!
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
For all his philandering ways - he was a hard worker and appreciated others in a way that is all too often lost by those that should know better.
What he would think of today's modern feudalism in supposedly democratic countries in many countries would be 'interesting'. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
Many thanks for this course - most interesting. Now to make use of the myriad of tools gleaned.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Some great resources on this course - for those, my thanks.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Most useful page - C&P'd and kept close to peruse regularly.
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Peter O'Connor replied to Sandra Kohls
@SandraKohls I'm getting a 404 - Page not found for that link!
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Lesson planning is by far the most important any teacher can employ. I learnt that to my cost and really had to redouble my efforts when I got a second chance. Skills building is all part if the grand scheme.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I think getting the students to develop a kind of 'Elevator-Pitch' paragraph to introduce themselves to an imaginary TED Talk seminar would get them to focus and help them practice public speaking - as well as exploring all kinds of grammatical constructions, and vocabulary.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I agree that the ‘Scotticised’ English gives a powerful grace, and impact - in lessor hands it might come across as 'twee' but here it feels genuine. The poet is showing that though he is well capable of using 'correct' English he can also bring in the language of his love-making. Little endearing, personal, cuddly words like one would use to a lover, child...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Ilka = Each = elke (Dutch).
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I usually (these days) teach adults that are A1+ or A2 with the odd B that wants some business English or a mix off all that want Health-Industry English. Motivation isn’t usually a factor. Anyway I can cater for their direct interests and some more that I feel (as I get to know them) they might find useful. A little bit of humour and role-play is good too.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Leaving so many women pregnant, without any real financial support, is undoubtedly wrong on so many levels.
It's expected of rabbits, but it's hugely inconsiderate of us humans. It's not that he was passing on his genius for future generations, biologically.
I'm no prude, but I cant help worry about the fate of those poor impressionable young girls.
Poor... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
To quote Dugles Adams when Zephod Beeblebrox's psychiatrist was asked to explain Z's action " Well Zephod's just a guy, you know".
Young men are often driven by one instinct, and one instinct only.
Thank the gods I'm beyond that reign of terror now. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
As to the dropping of certain letters in Scots, I'd love to discuss this with a linguist familiar with the Galic.
The main reason Irish people pronounce the sounde as de is simply that there was no H in Gaelic until 196r. Before that we had a séimhiú or lenition in the form of a dot that showed possessive case or male/female ownership and such. It was purely... -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
Code-switching is used a bit in Ireland where the Irish language is used in certain (humerous or romantic) phrases within an ostensibly English text. Mostly for a dramatic effect, or out of a certain fayness to speak aloud the rawness of the emotiin. A well known (Hollywood) example of this is Mary-Kate speaking to the priest of intimate matters to the priest...
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Peter O'Connor replied to Carol Baraniuk
Be it ever thus. Aping our betters (our suppressors) would always seem to be the way. Such an attitude created 'the Royal Courts', sustains royalty, and in the end has crowned heads think of themselves as god.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Perhaps because I met him as a young child (7/8 yrs) I always thought Patrick Kavanagh was a poet to express the 'ordinary' folk and land. I used to spend time in and around his birthplace fishing or visiting friends and grew to love his 'Stony Grey Soils of Monaghan' - or his description of spraying potatoes on a headland in July - when I lived abroad and...
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@CarolBaraniuk Well in Ireland we had/have a lot of (older men) who think that mouthing off and singing so-called patriotic songe will somehow help the situation in Norniron - but it's the youth that spills their blood, or languishes in jail - to lament The Patriot Game - another great (anti-war) song. It's usually the Armchair generals that know it all....
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I prefer student investigation rather than ‘spoon-feeding’, but each above have their place.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
What a varied and interesting life. A colourful mosaic.
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@CarolBaraniuk I don't mean it in the usual derogatory sense.
He wrote stirring nationalist material - without (as far as I know) being bombastic about 'Nationalism' ... he simply moved the hearts of people to look beyond their own horizons! and act as they saw fit.
I'm reminded of the Young Irelander from Mallow, Co Cork.; Thomas Osborne Davis, writer of 'A... -
I do it myself at obligatory meetings l get bored at.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
The calender template is useful.
Thanks. -
Live discussion and pronunciation.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Keeping a class diary is a good way to help keep an eye on progress.
A personal diary is a great tool. If it’s private! -
I’m in West Waterford and though I used to teach in class long ago, I’ve just recently started teaching online.
Might be good to connect and compare notes Maithe. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
Useful links, even now coming to then (aparently) of This virus.
Getting back to’normality’ may prove just as difficult, l fear. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
Excited, constrained (physicallyl), limited (only by imagination).
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Making and keeping to a lesson plan is,I find, even more important than in a live class.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Excellent resources. Thanks.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I chose many words - but the first was patriot. An armchair patriot perhaps but one that motivated armies, and politics to this day.
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@CarolBaraniuk I'm sure the course will be fine - it was the never-ending questions looking for words to define Burns - with no way out that i could see.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I like Zoom (everyone’s friend during Covid) but What’sApp can be useful too nless one wants to use slides or a lot of text. I’ve strapped my phone to a camera tripod (and to trees outdoors) and stood well back and using hand-movements and actualia given lessons to people who’s broadband was too poor for Zoom connection. Having a flipboard or old fashioned…
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True - my wife is Dutch and I generally try (gently) to improve her English, but when we speak Dutch she gets exasperated with my mispronunciation but rarely actually helps. "Just say it in English" - but that's no help. A gently nudge (often) is best I find.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I hear the is/are being regularly mashed on public radio - by so-called professional journalism. Letters to the station are dismissed as old-fashioned I fear.
But it's like nails on a blackboard - I can't focus on the subject it the grammar is poor. -
Peter O'Connor made a comment
Excellent lesson as I too suffer with sequencing my ideas, in real life as well as in class.
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@CarolBaraniuk I don't know. I quit at there and moved on to the teachers introductions. I hope to continue with the course but I'm not going back to that and can only hope that the system holds up. I've completed over a dozen courses via Future learn and never had the issue before. It MAY be my (older) tablet but it was a one-off. Perhaps the tablet was as...
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Well that was an annoying start. After 10 or 11 words provided, the page goes blank and I'm supposed to start all over again. Why?
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Excellent resource.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
I'm still looking for online work but the skills learnt will surely help. Having an action plan is in it's own way a lesson plan - but a life-lesson plan!
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I'd love that class.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
"It is a foundational skill for developing self-awareness, which is an essential quality for students’ emotional growth, interpersonal relationships, and personal development. " This is so true - I wish this kind of thinking was around when I was (a lot) younger. It's true of learning academically AND of relationship-building with family, loved ones and even...
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@SandraKohls Great learning tools here - Thanks.
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
The last time I had regular classes (actually in class) was quite some years ago and I taught 16 Spanish teenagers from 14 to 17 years. Most were absolutely lovely and very eager to learn - but we had some fun too.
I enjoyed the A2 and B1 levels immensely as it meant we could build on what was already known. I brought in some Laurel and Hardy movies (B&W) as... -
That sounds perfect - let me know if you ever want some time off and need a 'fill-in' ;-)
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Peter O'Connor made a comment
Role play and planned scenes of dramatic effort - a mini soap would take careful planning and time but would provide a lot of learning and some grammatical headaches but could be fun.
