Eilean Ní Chuilleanáin To Niall Woods and Xenya Ostrovskaia Married in Dublin on the 9th September 2009 Eilean Ní Chuilleanáin

To Niall Woods and Xenya … The poet addresses her son and his Russian wife on the day of their wedding. The poem features many references to traditional stories, especially fairy tales: There is a reference to a story in which a poor mother sends her eldest son off to seek his fortune and offers him a full loaf with her curse or half a loaf and her blessing. He takes the full loaf and receives his mother’s curse. Later, the youngest son sets out after him to assist him and he leaves home with half a loaf and his mother’s blessing. The tale ends with the youngest son marrying a beautiful princess. The poet mentions the story of Sleeping Beauty.

To Niall Woods and Xenya … She refers to a Russian fairy tale about an emperor whose apple trees bear golden apples. Every night one apple is stolen from the tree by the Firebird, a magical glowing bird. The emperor’s son Ivan begs to be allowed catch the bird and is finally given permission. The story ends with Ivan catching the bird and falling in love with a beautiful princess. The “King of Ireland’s Son and the Enchanter’s Daughter” concerns an Irish folk tale about a Prince who meets an enchanter. The enchanter tells the prince that he must accept a challenge or else suffer great misfortune. Whilst performing the challenge the prince falls in love with the enchanter’s daughter. He successfully completes the tasks set and marries the daughter.

What is it about? The poet associates the couple’s marriage with these stories. She suggests that marriage is the beginning of an adventure or an exciting journey together. In keeping with these tales she says that a signal will appear in the sky to tell them when to set out on their journey: “When … you both see the same star/Pitching its tent on the point of the steeple – / That is the time”. She also tells them they will have her support when they do get married: “With half a loaf and your mother’s blessing”

What is it about? The poet tells the couple to be adventurous and not be afraid to journey away from what is familiar: “Leave behind the places that you knew”. Anything they leave behind will be rediscovered, particularly in the stories she references. These are the tales they will encounter again, possibly when they have children and tell them bedtime stories. The poet imagines that a character from the fairy tales assist them in their task, coming to them when they need him and telling the stories associated with their different traditions: “When the cat wakes up he will speak in Irish and Russian/ And every night he will tell you a different tale”

What is it about? This cat is familiar with many tales but the poet says it won’t know of a story from the Bible that she feels is relevant to the couple. The poet does not have time to tell them exactly what happens to Ruth, however, she does tell them that Ruth was brave, honest and willing to place her trust in strangers. This is another story with a “happily ever after” ending. As such, the story has a lot in common with the other fairy tales mentioned in the poem, only the protagonist is female. The poet is probably drawing a link between Ruth who travelled far from her home to find love and her son’s wife who has also found her home in a very different culture. It is perhaps the poet’s way of welcoming Xenya into the family and telling her that has the family’s love and support.

THEME: Love There is a sense throughout the poem that love is something fantastical and magical. The poet uses the world of fairy tales to show this wonder and magic. The different stories the poet mentions suggest a number of things about love. Each story involves a character journeying far from home and overcoming ordeals. Love is seen as a reward for their noble efforts. Love is shown to come to those who adventure and persevere.

THEME: Love The stories are also a celebration of the romantic notion that love is forever. Each story ends with a marriage and a promise that they couple “lived happily ever after” The different stories also involve characters leaving their parents and embarking on their own independent lives. In this way the poem is also a celebration of the poet’s love for her son and her hope that his new life will bring him joy.

THEME: Strong, assertive women Many of Ni Chuilleanain’s poems feature strong, assertive women. In ‘Street’, for example, the poet describes the butcher’s daughter striding down the street with her bloodied knife dangling from her belt. ‘To Niall Woods’ also celebrates strong women. The poet makes specific reference to the Book of Ruth, which describes a woman journeying far from home to begin a new life. There is an implied comparison between Ruth and Xenya, a suggestion that she has been brave to travel far from her native country and put her faith and trust in the poet’s family.

LANGUAGE Imagery: The poem contains a number of fantastical images that lend the poem a magical feel. There is the image of the “star/ pitching its tent on the point of the steeple”. There is also the image of the cat telling the couple different stories each night.

Questions How does the poem give a sense that marriage is an adventure? Why do you think the poet urges the couple to “Leave behind the places” that they knew? What values does the poem celebrate?