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"Ah life's a riddle in this place, with the briars and whin bushes, St Brigid's crosses can't be made, If you haven't got the rushes"
Rostrevor singer/ songwriter Colum Sands has launched a book of his photographs, mostly taken around Carlingford Lough and the Mournes. 'These Quiet Places' is a beautifully printed book, illustrated with stunning photographs of nature at its best, many of them illustrating a moment in time that may have been missed by most others, caught up in another type of rush altogether - lifes rush!
Warrenpoint Library was packed for the occasion last night 25 January. Almost 70 people heard Sands talk about the book and sing a few songs of course, joined by Anne Sands and Anne Harper. Indeed there's no question that those reading the book, will get a renewed interest in his and The Sands Family musical catalogue.
Song words and captions add so much more to the images. The aforementioned lines illustrate a photograph of a St Brigid's Cross in the book, all the more appropriate with St Brigid's Day next week and the first ever Public Holiday south of the border following, a unique chance to find the rushes and lose the rushing at the same time.
A fantastic photograph of a red squirrel standing upright on a wooden bird box looks like the squirrel is playing a piano and the "And on keyboards" caption just sums it up. A moody shot of sun rays shining through thick dark clouds on to the amazing Carlingford Lough is entitled "Full marks to all on the lighting rig above Carlingford Lough". Another shot of an old black bike leaning up against a wall makes you wonder where the owner is, or even who he is. Appropriate words from Sands song "The Man With The Cap" maybe gives us a pointer - "It seems he loved a girl one time, But she must have gone away, Perhaps he was to quiet, Or too different in his ways, For he never bothered after that, Got careless with his looks, Forgot to shave for seven years, and took to reading books. And no one has a photo of this man ..." - Butsure at least we know what his bike looks like!
As Sands himself explains "The book is a walk down lanes and along beaches, and stopping to pause and look at things that we might rush past in our everyday hurry of life, to be somewhere else."
Talking about a photograph of a single leaf in Rostrevor Oak Wood he said "It's like a map of Parishes, Townlands and little roads on a single leaf. It just reminds you how much life there is in tiny things around us."
The singer/ songwriter was thinking about the book for quite a few years before it made it to print, taking photographs here and there. He was encouraged by many people including former BBC Ireland journalist Denis Murray who coaxed him to publish.
"I wasn't really sure what the book was going to be and knowing how well he had interpreted what politicians were saying, I thought I'd ask him to write the foreward so I would know what the book was about!" Sands quips.
Dennis Murray was just one of the many visitors to 'Warrenpoint's only quiet place' for the launch. Murray said "Colum has said I coaxed and urged him, I nagged him to bits! This book really comes from not just Colum's genius for everything he does, but it comes from lockdown and social media" He added "If Colum was relying on me to know what the book was about, it's little short of miraculous that the thing appeared at all"
Sands thanked Oisin Sands who designed the book and also spoke of his appreciation for Arts Council support. He said "I greatly appreciate the support of the Arts Council for NI for making this book possible during these difficult times."
Buy the Book
You can get copies of the book at: Made in Mourne, Kilkeel; The Tuck Shop, Warrenpoint; Belinda's Good Craic Gifts, Rostrevor; No Alibis, Belfast, Bridge Books, Dromore, Spar, Hilltown and Turnip House, Ballyward. You can also order via www.columsands.com
