The Ledwidge Issue/Photos!

The Ledwidge Issue/Boyne Berries 22, Autumn 2017!

Francis Browne, Ciaran Mangan and Orla Fay

Orla Fay, Ciaran Mangan and Caroline Carey Finn

Liam Cahill, Michael Farry and Paddy Smith

Michael Farry and Richard Hawtree

Orla Fay and Ciaran Mangan

Ciaran Mangan of Meath County Library did the honours at last Friday's launch of the Boyne Berries literary magazine in the Castle Arch Hotel in Trim County Meath.  This was a special issue commemorating the poet Francis Ledwidge who was killed at the battle of Passchendaele in 1917 during WW1.  Above are some photos taken on the night.

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure

An Tobar/Ardbraccan, Navan.

The summer break over, the Poetry for Pleasure group at An Tobar recommenced last night with readings on a poetic theme relating to the season of autumn. Poems read included, Autumn by Willie G. Hodgins, Autumn Leaves by Jacques Prevert/Johnny Mercer, The Deserted Village by Oliver Goldsmith, The Wild Swans of Coole by W.B. Yeats, The Diary of a Church Mouse by John Betjeman, The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W.B. Yeats, The Meteorological Fall and The Astronomical Fall by Carol Owens, The Death of a Field by Paula Meehan, Robin Redbreast by William Alingham, All-Hallows Eve by Francis Ledwidge, September 1913 by W.B. Yeats, An Evening by Francis Ledwidge, Ode to Autumn by John Keats, The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth and a prose reading, School Report on the Teacher by George Knightley. The next get-together is on Tuesday the 17th of October and the theme is on something along the same lines. 

Boyne Berries 22 Launch!

Boyne Berries 22 Launch!
                                                       

A special edition commemorating the death of war poet Francis Ledwidge will be launched this Friday night in the Castle Arch Hotel in Trim by Meath County Librarian, Ciaran Mangan. Entry to the event is free and many of those who contributed poems or other material will be there for what promises to be a special occasion. More details and information over on the Boyne Berries and Orla Fay blogsites. Links to the right! Tea and coffee will be served after the readings and the book will retail at €10. So if poetry or war poetry or just good writing or WW1 is your interest, why not come along! Start time 8 pm.  

The Blossom or the Bole/ Pheme Glass

The Blossom or the Bole/ Pheme Glass

Set against the religious difference and community divide of rural Tyrone in the days leading up to and the outbreak of world war one, the friendship of two boys and their decision to enlist will have far reaching consequence and leave no happy ending. The play out of events and expectations on both sides will separate them and the outcome for them and for many of their comrades caught in either of the conflicts will leave too many scars. The turbulent years between 1914 and 1921 would leave a divided country but friendships such as here seem to endure in some way or other.

Pheme Glass is a native of Cookstown, County Tyrone and this is her first novel. She has published a collection of poetry, "Seeds of Memory" in 2013. "The Blossom or the Bole" is published by Shanway Press, Belfast and retails at €12. 

The Meath Writers' Circle/September Meeting 2017!

The Meath Writers' Circle/September Meeting 2017!

Jamie Rennicks and Willie G. Hodgins

Carmel Murray, Jamie Rennicks and Willie G Hodgins

Paul Martin, Gemma Macey, Carmel Murray, Pat Bennett, Jamie Rennicks, Verona Pentony , Willie  G. Hodgins,
Eugene Kane, Patrick Nolan and Rex Lee.

About twelve people turned out last night for the September meeting of The Meath Writers' Circle with a presentation made to Jamie Rennicks of the Meath River Rescue by Willie Hodgins on behalf of the group. Other items discussed at the meeting included the launch of our magazine and a mention or two of our annual Christmas party. We also found time to read a poem or two and Sean read us an interesting take on the television soap opera. There was also a mention of the late and great Benedict Kiely. 

Saggart Heritage & Arts Centre

10th Annual Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards!

Ms Maria Wallace and Mervyn Ennis

The closing date for this one is Monday the 2nd of October 2017 and entries may be in Irish or English. The work must be the author's own original work and not have been published or broadcast. Poems not to exceed 45 lines and must be typed in plain font Times Roman point 12 single spacing on plain white A4 sheet, without decoration or illustration. Entrant's names not to appear on the typescript but only on the entry form which can be downloaded from their Facebook page. A cover charge of €4 per poem, or three for €10 with a max of 6 poems, €5 for prose. Entries made payable to Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards.

Ms Maria Wallace, Award winning Catalan/Tallagh Author and Poet will judge the competition. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified seven days in advance and must be prepared to read their work if possible at the awards night at the Heritage centre in Saggart Dublin on the 28th of October 2017.  

Address entries to : Margaret Ennis "Teach Giuise", Boherboy, Saggart, Co. Dublin.

Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards!

Swords Heritage Week 2017!

Annual Literary Awards 2017!

Cllr. Mary McCamley the Mayor of Fingal
And Pauline Giffney

Made it up to Swords on Wednesday night for the Annual Literary Awards which were presented by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Mary McCamley. The winner of the McDonagh Trophy for poetry went to Pauline Giffney for her poem, I'd Love To Be At My Own Funeral  and the short story award, The Tom O' Shea Trophy went to Anne Lawlor for her story, The Good Suit. The award for "What Swords Means To Me" and the Betty Brown Trophy went to Joseph Smyth for A Sea Town Childhood. Managed to make it on to the short list but that was it. The trophies though are beautiful and Bernadette Marks and others are to be congratulated for what is perhaps one of the best presentation nights in the country. The venue was The Lord Mayor's, Main Street and a lot more information and the second and third places if you click on the link to Swords Heritage below.

www.swordsheritage.com