This is a very sad poem. Casimir MacGinley, son of Thomas Colin and Margaret T. Sinnott, was born in Croagh in 1873. He attended the local school where his father taught, and afterwards attended College in Letterkenny, where he was considered a very good scholar.  From the age of 17 however, his eyesight began to deteriorate, and by the age of 24 he was losing the sight of both eyes.  In this condition he lived with his parents in the newly-built Sea Bank Cottage (later named Bruach na Mara) in Killybegs.  The late Bella McGee New Row, Killybegs, remembered him being assisted up the centre aisle of St Mary’s church, Killybegs.  He was a brother of Bishop John B. MacGinley.  Casimir died on 4^th July 1940 at the age of 67.

DARKNESS AND LIGHT.

Shadows have gathered o’er me

While the day has but begun;

Dark is the way before me,

Eclipsed is the morning sun.

Colour and light and shining

Have gone with the glad, sweet day,

Sorrow and sad repining

Have come on my gloomy day.

 

Dark is my cloud, but shining

Beneath it I yet can see

The light of silver lining-

Sweet shining with hope on me.

And through the darkness gleaming

Comes a heavenly radiant light,

With smiles upon me beaming,

And guiding me through the night.

 

It is the lamp, brightly burning,

That lighteth me through the night,

Of hope of sight returning

In Heaven’s eternal light.

Shadows have gathered o’er me,

But the light of hope has shone;

Dark though the way before me,

Hope’s beacon light leads me on.

 (T. MacG., Killybegs, September 6, 1897).