~Riposte~ 2012.

Poetry Broadsheet

Info part of Broadsheet.

Riposte which is Ireland's longest running broadsheet will now be published quarterly instead of monthly as in the past. The new format will include a total of 30 poems in each issue and the Reader's Poetry Prize of €150 euro will continue to be awarded in 2012. Michael O' Flanagan has managed to keep this coming in through the letterbox for a good number of years now and in that time many writers from Meath have been published in the broadsheet. I haven't got around to reading all of the poems yet but I see Orla Fay of The Boyne Writers Group has one included (The Lazy Harvester) and if you click on the link to the right more info on that! There is also a link to Riposte on the sidebar and their new e-mail address is msriposte@gmail.com.  Reader friendly and goes all the way back to 1996.

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) Video February 2012

Willie G. Hodgins

Here's a lovely poem from Willie to herald the coming of Spring though we're almost into March by now and looking out of the window the cherry blossoms are on the trees, the daffodils are in bloom and the grass needs to be cut and Willie says it much better! Other videos posted if you scroll a bit further back.

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) Video February 2012

Sean Kane

This is another of those videos recorded last November and features Sean Kane reciting "The Heavy Mantle", a poem about loss and times past. Sean has been a member of The Meath Writers' Circle for a good number of years now and has a number of other  poems posted here if you scroll a bit further back.

Celtic Whispers ft. Maria McCool - Mistaken [in HIGH QUALITY] (Ireland E...

Staying local again Donegal born singer and Kilmessan resident Maria McCool will be hoping to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest this year when she takes part in the Late Late Show on Friday the 24th of February. Selected by Edele Lynch to perform her song "Mistaken" Maria has been described by Frank McNamara as "an exceptional talent whose voice is mesmerising and alluring" . Edele Lynch will be best remembered from "B*Witched" who were captivating enough themselves and had four number one hits in the UK. Maria for those who are interested has over 340,300 "hits" on Youtube alone for her version of "Ar Eirinn Ni Neosfain Cé Hí" which was previously covered by the late and great Liam Clancy. Five acts will compete on the night with the winner representing Ireland at the Eorovision in Azerbaijan in May. Her voice has been compared to that of Enya or Dolores O' Riordan of The Cranberies but give it a listen and see what you think. She teaches in Gaelscoil na Ríthe, Dunshaughlin. Wishing her the best of luck! Info from Skane News and with thanks to youtube.

St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Kilmessan: A Short History

A Short History: by Mary Gannon.

Book Cover

Last Thursday night in Navan Library saw the launch of Mary Gannon's short history of the Church of Ireland in Kilmessan. It covers the period of from 1731 to the present day, while acknowledging the existence of what was probably a much earlier church on the same ground. While as it says on the cover it is a short history, it is nevertheless very well researched  and referenced throughout and for history buffs one for the shelves. It includes a number of illustrations and touches on domestic affairs, vicars who administered in Kilmessan, renovations through the centuries and an appendix that includes the burial records of the congregations from 1890 to 1963. The present church was built by the Preston family of Swainstown and the last divine service was on Trinity Sunday 1966 when Canon Perry officiated. Some time in the early seventies it became a branch of  Meath County Library and Jimmy Tully who was a Labour Minister at the time was on hand for the opening ceremonies. This if my memory serves me well was in connection with European Heritage year or something like that. Anyway it closed after a few years and today it is the centre of the Kilmessan Bowls Club. Mary Gannon's book retails at €5 Euro and was printed by Excel Print in Navan. The cover illustrations of the Church are by Michael O' Brien.and it was John P Preston I believe who did the honours at the launch.

Valentine's Day Poetry Competition/ Meath County Library.

Valentine's Day Poetry Competition
Meath County Library

From Google Images

Reading through the "Focus On Trim" magazine I notice that Meath County Library are inviting all who are so inclined to put pen to paper for their Valentine's Day poetry competition. Though you have only three days left to get your entries in. Poems should be 50 words or less if you are aged between 7-15 or 100 words or less if over. Adult in other words! The closing time to get your entries in is 5pm this Wednesday (15th) and if you remember last year when The Small Impact Writers Group in Navan ran the event the winner or winners will have to come up with something good. On the Meath County Library website it says you can pick up an entry form at the desk  So good hunting, cupid and all that!  

Short Story Competitions

Short Story Competitions.



From Google Images

It's not that often you come across free competitions that offer good prizes but The A Vogel Dormeassan "Write a Short Story for Bedtime" might just be one of them. It runs from the 1st of November 2011 to the 30th April 2012 and that gives you plenty of time to get an entry in there. The first prize is €500 Euro and there are others as well. You can get the details over at www.avogel.ie/story/enter.php and good luck with the writing! Another competition that is offering a good prize and is also free to enter, as long as you re a member of a Library is from the Cork County Library and Arts Service "From The Well" Short Story Competition 2012. The prize here is a place on a week long writing workshop at the West Cork Literary Festival 2012 in Bantry. 20 stories will be shortlisted by a panel of judges. So if a week away in West Cork takes your fancy this could be for you. Closing date is Friday 17th February 2012. Details from Sinead Donnelly, County Arts Office on 021-4346210 or sinead.donnely@corkcoco.ie . Not sure whether I'll put an entry in though, on the mad offchance that I won I'm not sure I could sit around for a week in a workshop. Patience and all that, a day would be fine! Came across the info first on the "Emerging Writer" Blogsite. Always good for details! Info about a free poetry competition over at "stammering poet" just click on the link to the right!

Writers' Circle Meeting/ February 2012

Writers' Circle Meeting

Kentstown Church

A crowd of about ten or eleven turned out for the February meeting of the Writers' Circle on Thursday night. An evening of poetry, prose and storytelling though not all of it consigned to the written page. Tommy is working on a collection of short stories due out later this year and his second collection of poems is to be published by Lapwing (Swimming with Dolphins) dates to be announced. Paul Martin is also gathering material for his own collection and that's sure to be of interest given his unique and often offbeat take on the meaning of things. Myself, I might enter a few short stories in the odd competition or two though I gave up on them a long time ago. Unless you're prepared for no holds barred go anywhere do anything, they're best left alone and course you have to be able to write as well. That said I remember very few of the ones I have read, the exceptions being "The Shawshank Redemption and Rita Hayworth, Stand by Me and a few others that made it onto the cinema screen. When it comes to exploring personal issues though Irish women writers are afraid of nothing. Must get back to this when I have time!

The Meath Writers' Circle (1) Video February 2012

Tommy Murray

Tommy Murray here reads "Shanloth" a poem from his collection "Counting Stained Glass Windows" which was published by Lapwing of Belfast in 2009. His new collection is due out later this year and more on that to follow.. Has published many books over the years and if you click on "Meath Books" over to the right you can get details of same.

Shanloth

You could set your watch

By the fields around Shanloth

Especially on warm summer evenings

When the creosote dribbles down the gateposts.

And the rocks in the riverbed

Are painted dry by July

Half past eight and the hawk hangs no hands

Above the acropolis of Neville's old house.

He's spoiled for choice and ops for

A colossus of copper beach ten minutes later

It will be nearing nine when the big shorthorns

Begin to elbow their way

Through the sheep on Canty's Hill

By ten all will have disappeared  under

An avalanche of night

And only the moon will strike the hour

Over the pyramids of Egypt.

Tommy Murray

(From: Counting Stained Glass Windows)

Lapwing/Belfast.