Al Pacino Inspirational Speech - Any Given Sunday

Since I mangled part of Al's inspirational speech here it is in its entirety. So with thanks to youtube and "kjetiljo" who posted. Enjoy!

Heritage Sunday/ O' Raghallaigh's Drogheda.

All Ireland Final.
Meath Versus Armagh

Starting Fifteen

Meath Panel

  

Armagh Team

Didn't make it up to Tara but to the O'Raghallaigh's in Drogheda for the All Ireland Minor C Championship Final between Meath and Armagh which was quite a game and as good a way to spend Heritage Sunday as any. It was a game that Meath could have or maybe should have won but life as they say is a game of inches, a second too fast or a second too slow and you don't quite make it, if I can borrow from Al in "Any Given Sunday". It was played with a passion and an intensity that had to be seen to be believed and really was a credit to both teams. For a good part of both the first and the second half Meath seemed to have the game but it just slipped away and Armagh gave them nothing for free running out to a one point win at the end 3-5 to 1-10. Kristina Troy of Meath was player of the Match. Great game! 

Photos: From top, Starting Fifteen, Left: Panel. Right: Armagh Team accepting the Trophy 

The Meath Writers' Circle (6) August 2011

Willie G. Hodgins

The Meath Writers' Circle held their second meeting for the month of August last night with at least one new member in attendance, bringing the number to about ten in all. Having said that at least five others put in an appearance for a short spell, though having discovered that the restaurant was closed made their excuses and left! Good looking that they were! Not forgetting that I took the opportunity to run off a few more videos though this one is from the last meeting. Willie here delves into the intricacies of such as natural progression  and the other order but you'll have to listen for yourself. A very witty poem! A number of his other videos posted further back including "Changing Seasons" and "Lucy".  

The Meath Writers' Circle (5) August 20011

Sean Kane

A long time member of The Meath Writers' Circle Sean Kane here reads "Dear Grandad" and I should have got a few more details off him about the story. This is his second video to be uploaded here, the first being "The Old School" by Val Ledwith and if you scroll a bit further back you can give it a listen. Google search will find! Feedback always appreciated!  

Ewan MacColl - Dirty Old Town

As the blurb says, the original and the best, this ballad from Ewan MacColl (Peggy Seeger) is perhaps the most popular of all the English folk songs, at least in our lifetime, though you might argue for "The Shoals of Herring". Recorded by the Dubliners for their 1968 album "Drinkin and Courtin" it became very much a standard on this side of the Irish sea. I remember hearing a busker or pub singer doing a fine rendition of it in The Black Horse in Newmarket in the late sixties and it was one of those stand out songs. Recorded by just about everyone over the years it is well worth looking up the info about it on wikipedia. Ewan MacColl was born in Salford though his parents were Scottish and he was easily one of the best folk singers and song writers of the twentieth century. So indulging myself and taking a break from making up videos have a listen! With thanks to youtube and the person who posted!

The Meath Writers' Circle (4) August 2011

Tommy Murray

Tommy Murray is a founder member of The Meath Writers' Circle and a man who needs no introduction. A winner of numerous awards for both his poetry and short stories he has published many books over the years including "Counting Stained Glass Windows" (Lapwing/Belfast) and two beautiful books on the  local history of Meath, which are a must for the collection. "Images of Ireland/Meath" and "Meath Voices", both by Nonsuch Publishing. More information on these and other books can be found over on The Meath Books website. Just click on the link opposite! There are a number of video poems here as well if you scroll back a bit and "Ode To A Bottle Of Wine" is well worth a listen anytime!  

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) August 2011

Pat Bennett

"Eerie Moor", is the second poem by Pat Bennett to be uploaded here, the first being "Singin Bush" if you scroll a bit further back on the blog. This one he informs, is both a poem and a song and comes with a certain chill! Anyway it is of the same high quality as the first and well worth a listen! Hopefully there are more to come. 

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) August 2011.

Sean Reilly

Sean Reilly demonstrates what a fine singer he is here with this his own rendition of the Percy French classic "Come Back Paddy Reilly To Ballyjamesduff". A song written about a man who acted as a jarvey or coachman for Percy French before emigrating to Scotland. Much more information over on wikipedia! Sean has a number of songs posted here, if you scroll a bit further back, "The Old House" and "My Lagan Love" and a short story/essay called "Homeless No More".  A member of both The Meath Writers' Circle and the Navan Small Impact Writers Group Sean has been writing short stories for a number of years.  

The Meath Writers' Circle (1) August 2011.

Joan Leech

The Meath Writers' Circle held their monthly meeting at the Castle Hotel in Trim last night with a good number in attendance and I took the opportunity to record some more video, add to the collection! Two new faces in the crowd, though I believe they were part of the group when it used to meet in Dunshaughlin. In this one Joan Leech reads her poem "I Drove Down To The Sea" so give it a listen and see what you think! Feedback always appreciated! For those interested in Heritage Sunday in Trim (August the 28th) be at the Castle at 2pm with poems or stories ready to read. Contact Tommy Murray or Michael Farry. Links to both sites over to the right! 

Feis Teamhra 2011/Heritage Sunday .

Susan McKeown and Daughter and Aidan Brennan
Heritage Sunday/Tara 2010.

A Turn at Tara 2011.

The line up for the fourth annual "Feis Teamhra: A Turn at Tara", on August the 28th makes for impressive reading with some of the best known names on the Irish and international music scene in attendance. The MC for this year's event is Paul Muldoon, and a host of stars include Susan Mckeown, Aidan Brennan, Peter Fallon, Laoise Kelly, Paul Murray and a surprise musical guest who happens to be one of Ireland's best known singer songwriters. I wonder who that can be? Info from The Meath Chronicle! Last year's event hosted some of the best known  writers and poets  in the country and provided some great entertainment on the day. Admission is free but it might be wise to come early if you want to get parking close to the Hill. Susan McKeown is a Grammy-Award winning songwriter and her album "Singing in the Dark" was released in October 2010 and you can check out some of her material over on youtube. Probably some of the others as well!  If the weather holds this could be the place to be! More info in this week's "Chronicle". 

Heritage Sunday/Trim Co. Meath

Another place where there will be poetry readings on August the 28th is Trim County Meath, Tommy Murray of the Meath Writers' Circle and Michael Farry of The Boyne Writers Group are arranging something for the day, but exact details not to hand at the moment! Will post as I get them.

Info: From The Meath Chronicle.