The Meath Writers' Circle (6) January 2011

Jimmy Peppard

The River Boyne on its journey through Meath passes through a countryside that is dotted with some of the most important archaeological and historical sites in the country.(And you could argue the world!) Anyway for castles and abbeys and battlefields and pre-historic sites and beautiful scenery it is hard to beat! Have a listen to Jimmy Peppard as he reads his poem about the river and enjoy!

Navan Writers' Group: Poetry/Short Story Competition.

Poetry/Short Story Competition.

The Navan Writers' Group are kicking off the New Year with a writing competition that has a closing date that is fast approaching (7th of February). So you need to get pen to paper now! A theme of "Love Lost~Love Found, to get you in the mood, though for most people it might be the other way around, this promises to be a fun event. The details are available at "Sheriff from Navan" or if you e-mail edelnavan@gmail.com . For "Sheriff" just click on the link opposite!

Short Story: Max 3000 words.
Judged by members of the group and an outside adjudicator.

Poetry: Winner will be chosen by audience on night February 10th at 7pm in Navan Library.

One entry per person but you may enter both competitions and the entry fee is just € 5 Euro. The closing date is February the 7th. Prizes include a meal for two courtesy of The Newgrange Hotel Ludlow Street Navan. A meal for two courtesy of The Poseidon, Greek and Mediterranean Restaurant Trimgate Street Navan and finally a special prize courtesy of The Navan Writers' Group for the most original entry from a newcomer to the art of creative writing. Send your entries to The Navan Writers' Group c/o Meath County Library Navan, but check with address on Sheriff from Navan just to be sure and get them in by the 7th of February, and good luck!!

Photo: Writers' Group at Event in Navan Library 2009.

The Meath Writers' Circle (5) January 2011

Willie G. Hodgins.

Willie G. Hodgins is a native of Bohermeen Co. Meath and has been a member of The Meath Writers' Circle for over the past ten years. His book of poems "Sunflower" was launched in The Meath County Library by Tom French a while back and this is his third video poem to be featured here, following on from "My Schooldays" and "What Matters Most". If you scroll a bit further back you can listen to the other two. He had two poems published in The Meath Chronicle over the Christmas period and is hopefully working on his second collection as we speak! (Write).



The Meath Writers' Circle (4) January 2011

Michael "The Sheriff" Sheils.

The story of this poem goes that Finbar Furey of The Furey Brothers was trying to find, or to put words to the musical or instrumental piece "The Lonesome Boatman" for quite a while, but I'll let Michael tell the story. A member of The Meath Writers' Circle for over ten years, his book "Short Trousers Days in Navan" was one of the biggest selling in the county. If you scroll a bit further back you can hear him reading his own poem "Try Talking". He has a number of videos posted on Youtube and his blogsite is only a click away on the right.

Boyne Readings/Kieran Furey

Kieran Furey.

Kieran Furey was the guest reader at the Knightsbridge Village Hall last night. One of Ireland's best known poets and winner of the Feile Filochta in Dun Laoghaire (twice!) as well as the Overall Poem for Europe in 2006. He tagged on others such as The Francis Ledwidge Award for Traditional Verse in 2002 "Day Trip to South Armagh" that's the one I thought I had in the bag but had to settle for a highly commended. Such is life! More information about these awards can be found over on Michael Farry's site, just click on the link opposite! Kieran read extracts from a number of his books last night, including his latest "Linnane in London" and I caught some of his interview with Darragh Nelson on the LMFM radio show. What the Dalai Lama said we will have to wait on his return the next time. Or else I hasten to add, purchase a copy of his account in "In India". A much travelled man, he was followed by Evan Costigan of the Boyne Writers' Group who read a poem about "Udders" (Not Others). You had to be there! A very entertaining night for those who braved the roads! 

Photos: Evan Costigan, Kieran Furey and Paddy Smith, and Kieran Furey and James Linnane.

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) January 2011

Isobel Maisto.

Isobel Maisto has been a member of The Meath Writers' Circle for the past few years and writes beautiful lyrical poetry. A former singer and guitar player this is just one of her many poems and hopefully she'll publish some of them in he near future. So listen and enjoy!

Boyne Readings/Kieran Furey

Kieran Furey.

Kieran Furey will be the guest reader at the Knightsbridge Village Hall on Thursday the 20th of January. A winner of the Feile Filochta Poem for Europe in 2007 he has published over twenty books to date on everything from poetry to satire to travel. Now living in Co. Longford he is a member of the Lanesboro Writers Group and will be familiar to anyone in receipt of the poetry broadsheet ~Riposte~ and I'm sure many other poetry magazines as well. Spent over six years in Latin America and his poem "El Tren" was the winner of the above competition. Much more information about him over on the Virtual Writer website, just click on the link opposite and Michael Farry has a link on his site as well. The evening commences at 8pm and the entry fee is €5 Euro with tea and biscuits thrown in. What more could you ask for!

Photo: Kieran Furey reading at The Steps in Trim.

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) January 2011

Paul Martin.

Paul Martin reads "Solace" in this one and if you go a little further back you can hear him reading both "The Literary Assassin" and "No Redemption Here" . He also posts on the writing4all website and hopefully he'll get around to publishing in the near future. Always very interesting! Again apologies for the quality of the video, but definitely worth a listen to!

The Meath Writers' Circle January 2011

The Meath Writers' Circle

The Meath Writers' Circle had their first meeting of the new year at The Castle Hotel in Trim tonight with a good number attending and I took the opportunity to shoot a few videos, though the light leaves something to be desired and we could do with a spotlight Much of the conversation seemed to be about war, from the American Civil War and the Irish involvement at Fredricksburg, especially those from the Meath area and the number of people from the locality who fought in the First World War, and we finished off with the men of Wexford and their journeys through Meath during the 98' rebellion. Jimmy Peppard read a fine poem about the Somme and hopefully I'll get to upload it at a future date. All in all an interesting night with some very good poems read.

Storm by Tim Minchin (with text)

From "The Blind Watchmaker" to the irreverence of a young nymph going to bed to Tim Minchin's take on irrationality in all its forms, though in this case it seems to be directed against poor old "Storm" and her alternative lifestyle, and what's wrong with a few tattoos in the right places, or even the wrong places and is he right? Well maybe....but hands on or off I came across this over on the "Emerging Writer" website and it is good! But more things in heaven and earth.... 

With thanks to Youtube, Tim Minchin and Emerging Writer for links. And not forgetting the person who posted it!

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift

Jonatham Swift was made Vicar of the small parish of Laracor outside Trim in County Meath in 1700, or to borrow from another description he secured a living from such. In an age when the pen was as mighty as the sword and possibly so because  honour was held in some esteem, as opposed to today when it is held in none the writings and opinions or those who would consider themselves your betters was not to be dismissed lightly. Swift, having the advantage of coming from Ireland where satire was and still is a normal means of communication though often now reduced to bouts of mere colic or bellyaching, (whimsical notions) was bound to make enemies. His sojourn or removal to the "wilds" of Meath was something he seems to have found more than a little enjoyable though and his association with the town is celebrated today in an annual festival which is held every year and attracts visitors from all over the world. A small distance out on the Summerhill Road are said to be the remains of "Stella's Cottage" (Esther Johnson) who was his lifelong friend and companion and remarkable or at least remarked upon that it is not signposted or if it is, difficult to find. Below are a few lines of a fine poem penned by Tommy Murray.

"The thatch has given way
To bramble, sprig and sky
And by the rough door wild potatoes pose

For puzzled passers by

So what ghost stands there now?"

From "Stella's Cottage" by Tommy Murray.

Gulliver's Travels has ensured that the writings of Jonathan Swift are not about to fade off into the distance for some time to come. The latest adaptation is available in more than a few dimensions and is coming to a cinema somewhere near you! Below are a couple of links to Spokenverse. Worth a look!

A Description of The Morning.click here

A Beautiful Young Nymph Going To Bed.click here

With thanks to Google Images and YouTube and SpokenVerse.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Day!

Looking into the New Year I haven't made any resolutions or anything like that, and nothing to inspire, but for the day that's in it and following on from the last post. A Poem!

In Some Divide

In some Divide the answer lies

Between the laws of time and place

A captive form, a chord refined

The very heart and soul of it

The fragments blind.

A catalyst,

To act of word or deed

That single thought

Might rescue all

The prize.

That truth untangled

In its web of noise

Cold forged and tempered with desire

Would fuse the moments touched

And tame the night

In some Divide.

Frank Murphy.

Photo: Google Images/ With thanks.