This section starts with Caitriona bickering with Nora. There's more general chatter - personal grudges etc, current affairs - talk of Hitler. Caitriona notes that when people in the world above talk about the dead having peace, it's a load of rubbish! It's very noisy in the graveyard! They have little else to do other than talk. It must be frustrating not knowing what is going on above ground, hence the excitement when someone newly dead arrives. Caitriona is curious about what kind of funeral she had, but comments that she'll have to wait for the next corpse that she was acquainted with! When Seainin Liam arrives, she is not satisfied with what she hears - Nell has been interfering with Caitriona's funeral.

They are having their own election, with candidates from each plot aligning with the social classes. Nora is standing for the Fifteen-Shilling Party, which causes Caitriona to say 'I'll explode!'!

It's interesting to note that one's social status can actually be improved after death - in 2.4, Caitriona talks about the cross Nora keeps reminding her she has on her grave, and how crosses and railings around a grave are equal to a big slated house with a name above the door, and the big walls around the Earl's house.

What do you think of the character Caitriona? What about her feud with her sister Nell? Do you think we will find out more about why Caitriona hates Nell so much?

The translation 'Graveyard Clay' has several footnotes (at least, my edition does). I've come to understand that 'The Dirty Dust' doesn't. I think the footnotes are useful and add to the experience - see the discussion about the French/Irish word play in the previous scheduled post. I'm going to add a few of the more interesting notes from this section here, in the format 'quote', *footnote.

2.3
'Pearse said, O'Donovan Rossa said, Wolfe Tone said it was Eamon de Valera was right...'
*the listed political and historical figures are here all regarded as heroes of the age-long struggle for Irish independence.

'I do have a fondness for the Old IRA'
*The Irish Republican Army of the War of Independence and the Civil War, as opposed to the IRA of the more recent 'Troubles'.

3.1
'The Trump of the Graveyard'
*poetic or archaic word for trumpet.

3.3
'"oh the black guard" says Fionn....'
*Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Finn Mac Cool) was the mythical leader of a band of warriors, the Fianna; Niamh and Grainne figure in legends about the Fianna.

As always, feel free to discuss any aspects of the book so far, marking any spoilers of you've read ahead.