In Flanders Fields

Flanders, a Townland of 394 acres near the river Roe in the Roe Valley. It is in Newtown Limavady PLU; the Civil Parish of Bovevagh; and the Barony of Keenaght.
At this time of year our Townland of Flanders reminds us of that battle so long ago when many of our sons laid down their lives in Flanders fields. 90 years ago this year.

"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most famous poems written during the First World War.
It is written in the form of a French rondeau.Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea wrote it on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death oh his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt down, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Springtime in The Roe Valley

OX-EYE DAISY
(Innocence: Faithful Love.)

Men by reason well it calle may
The Daisie, or else the Eye of Day,
The Empresse and the flowre of flowres all."

Chaucer.


In the days of Chaucer the Daisy was called the E'e o' Daie (Eye of Day) and this name became Day's Eye and eventually Daisy. The Welsh call the Daisy the Trembling Star; In Scotland it is called the Gowan.
In olden times the Daisy was called the measure of love, from the practice of youths and maidens reading their future fates by pulling of the petals and repeating the words, "He loves me, he loves me not."

Daisies bloom in the Spring and Summer.