Paddy Mayne ~ I Keep Waking Up!

Paddy Mayne ~ I Keep Waking Up. 

A conversation with a ghost. From the television series 'Rogue Heroes'.

Poetry all the way.

*To Youtube and Wikipedia.

With thanks to 'Crashment' who posted.

The Gift of the View ~ Orla Fay!

The Gift of the View ~ Orla Fay.

Orla Fay is an award winning and widely published poet from Dunderry in County Meath and her new poetry collection will be launched by Michael Farry in the Swift Cultural Centre in Trim on Sunday 31st of May at 6.00pm. Orla was the Poet Laureate (Poetry Town) for Dunshaughlin in 2021 and was the editor of the literary magazine Boyne Berries for many years. She now edits her own online and hard copy magazine at Drawn to the Light Press, which is both excellently presented and laid out, but also easily accessible. Her poetry just doesn't reflect on the world that's around her but also has the insight to make some very keen observations and the thread of virtues such as kindness is never far away. She can craft together a piece on any subject presented and her new collection 'The Gift of The View' is sure to offer new perspective.  

 

Christy Moore ~ Viva La Quinta Brigada.

Christy Moore ~ Viva La Quinta Brigada.

Christy Moore is one of Ireland's leading performers and  is probably the most important, if only for the stance he has taken on many controversial issues over the years where others were afraid to stand up. Banned by the National broadcaster for his song about the Stardust tragedy he was stopped and detained by the Special Branch at Hollyhead with regard to some of the lyrics in his songs. Here he sings about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War and this was after he was inspired by a book he read on the subject. He was also instrumental in stopping a nuclear power plant from going ahead at Carnsore Point in Wexford. You could go on and on. He was born on May 7th in 1945. So happy birthday there. This video was loaded by 'StoptheWarCoalition'. Amen to that. To Youtube for the comments and many other videos. 

 * The absolutely excellent guitar playing is by Declan Sinnott.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ May 2026!

 The Meath Writers' Circle ~ May 2026.

The next meeting of our group takes place this Thursday night coming in Trim Library at 6.15 pm and new members are always welcome. So whether you write poetry or prose, short stories or novels or just play a little music now and then, we'd love to see you there. Membership is free and the Library facilities are excellent. All the best. FM. 

Bealtaine Explained!

Bealtaine Explained!

Something for the day that's in in and a little explanation for those of us who may not be too familiar with the wheel of the year from Celtic mythology. From Candlelit Tales and with thanks. 

 

Would You Jump Into My Grave As Quick by Paula Meehan!

A warning to all of ye by Paula Meehan. Loaded by RamboEire and with thanks. Paula Meehan is one of Ireland's leading poets and playwrights and was installed as Ireland Professor of Poetry by President Michael D. Higgins in 2013. Many other honours and credits to her name and a visit to Wikipedia and Youtube is a must.

'Walkabout' Film Finale.

'Walkabout' Film Finale.

Australian masterpiece and one of the most visually stunning films ever made it tells the story of a teenage girl and her brother who are stranded in the Australian Outback after their father tries to kill them. Rescued by an Aboriginal boy on a rite of passage (Walkabout) it begins and ends in tragedy. Directed by Nicolas Roeg and with a screenplay by Edward Bond, starring Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg and David Gulpilil, it was made on a shoestring budget under extreme conditions and released to less than rave reviews. Originally age restricted it was later issued with a parental guidance. The British Film Institute listed it as one of the fifty films everyone should see before they are fourteen, The film finale  sees the girl, now an adult, embraced by her husband as he talks of promotion and office politics and her eyes drift away..... The voice over is of A.E. Housman's poem XL from 'A Shropshire Lad' and the music is from John Murray. It has its critics of animal cruelty, swimming scenes and racial issues etc but as one of the comments on Youtube remarks, "It stays with you" and that's art. Couldn't be made today,

Jenny Agutter was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her charitable services.

Loaded by Peter JP Critchley and with thanks.

Poem XL

Into my heart an air that kills

From yon far country blows

What are those blue remembered hills

What spires, what farms are those?

That is the land of lost content

I see it shining plain

The happy highways where I went

And cannot come again.

A.E Housman