Author Archives: Ian Adamson

The Kalevala

JRR Tolkien’s early story The Story of Kullervo has just been published for the first time. The dark tale reveals that Tolkien’s Middle Earth was inspired not only by the mythology of ancient Pretania. the British Isles… but also by Finland. … Continue reading

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Bangor Maailman valo – for J.R.R.Tolkien and the Finnish people

Olet maan suola. Mutta jos suola hänellä mauttomaksi, millä se saadaan suolaiseksi? Sen vuoksi on hyvä vain pois heitettäväksi ja tulla kulkeneet jalkoihin. Olet maailman valo. Kaupunki kukkulalla ei voi piiloutui. Kumpikaan on kynttilä piilotti ja laittaa vakan alle, vaan … Continue reading

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The Motorcycle Diaries

On Wednesday 4th June,1997, two days after I left office as Lord Mayor of Belfast, I flew from Belfast to Seattle. Kevin McBride recognised me and I got an upgrade to Business Class, which was very helpful as I was embarking on a … Continue reading

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Bangor, Luz Shinami Canguichij, for my Indian friends the Quechua (Peru),

Cancunaca cai pachapica, cachi shinami canguichij. Cachi jamllayajpica, ña imahuan mana cachi canaman tigrachipajchu. Imapaj mana valinchu, purijcuna saruchun, ñanpi shitanallami.Cancunaca cai pachapica, luz shinami canguichij. Urcu jahuapi tiyaj huasicunaca, mana pacallachu. Pipish lamparataca, cajonta urisingashpa, chai ucupi churangapajca, mana japichinchu. … Continue reading

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The Walrus and the Carpenter, a poem to the Oyster Loyalists, Greek Oxi-Morons and English Jeremys by Lewis Carroll

  “The sun was shining on the sea,       Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make       The billows smooth and bright — And this was odd, because it was       The middle of the night. The moon … Continue reading

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Ode to an Ulster Politician in the Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns on the latest but not last crisis to hit Stormont

Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty Wi bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee, Wi’ murdering pattle. I’m truly sorry man’s dominion Has … Continue reading

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The Queen of Pretania – the Brytenwalda

Main Street, Conlig, where I learned everything I know. The Telephone Kiosk  is beside my house. My two sisters and I are on the right. Today Queen Elizabeth celebrates the 63rd year of her accession to the British throne, making her the longest … Continue reading

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Bangor Goleuni’r Byd…For our beloved Queen and the Prince of Wales in the Old British (Welsh)

Rydych chi yn y halen y ddaear. Ond os yw’r halen hwn a colli ei arogl, a’r hwn bydd yn cael ei halltu? Mae’n hyn allan yn dda i ddim ond i’w fwrw allan, ac i gael eu sathru dan … Continue reading

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The Virgin of Guadalupe

Leaving Sioux City in August 1965,  I travelled by Greyhound bus up to Calgary, Alberta, over to Vancouver where I studied the Haida, down to Seattle,  on to San Francisco, where White natives called “Flower Children”, young and not-so-young White persons, practised strange rituals called … Continue reading

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Bangor, tlanextle ixko yin tlaltikpak, for the Nahua Guadalupe (Aztecs) of Mexico and David Costello

’Namejwan ankatej ken istatl ixko yin tlaltikpak. Pero tla in istatl kipolos ipuyeka, ¿kenik oksemi puyeyas? Mach ok kuale, sa se kitlamotla ipan ojtle iwan in tlakaj sa ipan tlajtlaksaj.  ’Namejwan ankatej ken tlanextle ixko yin tlaltikpak, ken se weyikan … Continue reading

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