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ArchivesRe: Minnaloushe meaning
in reply to a message by Karen
This is the more accurate of the two responses I've given to this query so far: in the earlier version, I muddled up the Gonnes and the Gregorys!
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/35902 and the text is:
"As far as I recall, Minnaloushe was a cat belonging to the Gregory family, who were "friends of Yeats, and he then wrote what must have been a nonce poem, though it's so "powerful it's hard to imagine that he just saw a playful kitty through a window ...
"Anyway, it's possible that a scholarly edition of Yeats's writings might gloss it. Worth "a try! Please let us know if you come up with anything."
Nobody seems to have found anything more than this, which is a pity. It would be an excellent name for a black (male) cat.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/35902 and the text is:
"As far as I recall, Minnaloushe was a cat belonging to the Gregory family, who were "friends of Yeats, and he then wrote what must have been a nonce poem, though it's so "powerful it's hard to imagine that he just saw a playful kitty through a window ...
"Anyway, it's possible that a scholarly edition of Yeats's writings might gloss it. Worth "a try! Please let us know if you come up with anything."
Nobody seems to have found anything more than this, which is a pity. It would be an excellent name for a black (male) cat.
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Replies
Ooh yes, please do! And I'm glad to know that my long-ago self had some foundation for her belief about the Gregorys ... can't trace the reference now, but it became my firm impression that Minnaloushe was the Coole Park kitty. No clue about the meaning ... perhaps your MIL could ask around the neighbourhood! (Lucky her; what a marvellous place to work.)
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I'll ask her. We both have black cats so she'll be interested. There is a stone with "Wild Swans at Coole" carved on it by the lake there and several stones with a poem by Shaw dotted around as well. I was not familiar with the Minnaloushe poem though I have a degree in English and Yeats featured prominently on the course!
Coole is extremely beautiful - I love going there.
Coole is extremely beautiful - I love going there.
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