Open Mic Readings/Knightsbridge.

Open Mic Knightsbridge.

Brendan Carey Kinane and Michael Clemenger

were the guest readers at the December open mic session at the Knightsbridge Village Hall in Trim. Chaired by Paddy Smith of The Boyne Writers' Group, and indeed organised by the same , these readings have provided both an outlet and a focus for many of the writers and poets in the Meath area. Not suggesting that they are not one and the same. You have to be careful with poets.

Brendan Carey Kinane was the outright winner of The Boyle literary Festival in 2007 (poetry) and has won any number of awards since. He provided everyone with a chapbook of the poems he was about to read as did Michael Farry on a previous occasion. A very good idea

too. Michael Clemenger's book "Holy Terrors" is not for the faint hearted though it comes with a happy ending, or so I've been told. Yet to read. Described by the Minister at the launch as a book that should be compulsory reading, it tells of his time in St Joseph's Industrial School and the abuse he suffered while there. Published by O'Brien Press it is available in all good bookshops.

Paddy Smith ended the night with his own version of "We Three Kings" and by far the most interesting I've heard, and wished everyone a Happy Christmas, and so say all of us!

Photo: Paddy Smith and guest reader Michael Clemenger.

Open Mic/Small Impact Creative Writers' Group.

The Small Impact Creative Writers' Group held their Open Mic Session and Christmas get- together at the Library in Navan on Thursday last.

Chaired by Jimmy Byrne this was a lively and humorous event with readings from himself and Sean Reilly, a number of children, and others whose names have escaped me. Edel Gillick whose excert from a short story proved interesting is one of the best readers you are likely to come across. A number of these stories were gift wrapped and ready for Christmas at €6.99 Euro. (CD Copies). Tea and refreshments were served with much buns and biscuits and cakes and the Meath Writers' Circle pitched in with a number of readings themselves. A lovely event!

Photos: Jimmy Byrne and crowd scene to the right.

Meath Writers' Circle.

Meath Writers' Circle.

The Meath Writers' Circle pre - Christmas meeting took place last Thursday in the Castle Hotel in Trim with a good number attending. A mixture of poetry and prose, natural banter, and good wishes for the season that's in it, or until we meet again in the new year. Favourite lines from poets long gone and personal reflections tinged with whatever! You had to be there! Next meeting first Thursday in January.

Photo: Swans feeding at Waterville Park Blanchardstown.

A poem for Saturday

A poem for Saturday.

Nighthawks.

Nighthawks

Postponing tomorrow

Shooting the breeze.

Rustling down

Long acres

Top booted

Like soldier boys

Watching the road.

Making,

The last stand

At a crossroads

Signalling the end.

The milk churns

Sounding out

Hollow notes.

Stopping for the Angelus

Three Fifteens.

Dog-eared turnings

Round a game

On Sundays

Or the Dance.

The Hirschmanns

Pointing north.

And the night time

Creeping....

like a soft wind

In meadow grass.

Frank Murphy.

Photo: Shrine in Tobertynan Woods Rathmoylan Co. Meath.

Open Mic Readings/Knightsbridge.

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Boyne Readings.

The Boyne Readings at the Knightsbridge Village drew a small but attentive crowd with guest readers being Tom French for poetry and James Lawless for prose. Tom French read from his collections "Touching the Bones" and "The Fire Step", while James Lawless read extracts from "Peeling Oranges", and "For Love Of Anna". If the turn out was small the readings more than made up for it. The weather on the night was not good. Anyone looking for something for the Christmas Stocking for those who enjoy poetry or prose could do worse than dipping into one of the above.

Photos: Brendan Carey Kinnane, Tom Dredge and guest reader Tom French. Right: James Lawless and Paddy Smith.

Small Impact Creative Writers' Group.

Open Mic Night.

The Small Impact Creative Writers' Group are holding an open mic night and Christmas Gathering in the County Library Navan on Thursday the 10th of December at 7pm. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. So bring your best poetry and prose. Good luck with the readings!

Photos: The Ramparts Navan.

Boyne Readings and Open Mic.

Boyne Readings and Open Mic.

The next open mic session by the Boyne Writers' Group takes place in the Village Hall Knightsbridge in Trim on Thursday the 19th of November at 8pm. Guest Readers are Tom French for poetry and James Lawless for prose. More details on the Boyne Writers' Site opposite. Just click on the link. All are welcome. Admission at €5 euro.

Photo: Ruins of old church and cemetery at Knockmark Drumree Co. Meath