The Meath Writers' Circle (4) Video April 2012

Fergal O' Reilly

Fergal O' Reilly is a one time member of The Meath Writers' Circle who returned with a few poems and you can listen to two of them here. "Sometimes The Winter Is Warm" and "City Of Dreaming Shadows". Over the years any number of good writers have come and gone, but there were some great stories and poems! 

Swimming With Dolphins

Tommy Murray

"Swimming With Dolphins" is the second book of poems by Tommy Murray to be published by Lapwing of Belfast and will be officially launched in Navan Library on Thursday the 24th of May at 7pm. A collection that is laid out in almost alphabetical order, there are forty three poems here that touch on everything from mixed marriage to the most casual of observation on that extra fraction of an inch. His ability to play with words and ideas is a lesson or example to anyone who would try their hand at writing poetry and is something that is seldom turned inward. More info and details on both the author and the book if you click over on the link to Meath Books to the right. This is one for your collection! 

Crow

It's a blacker than black world, ours

A first up best dressed world

Where compassion is a dried up river bed

And the white bones of virtue

Have been picked clean.

So we live for the day, sift

Through the charcoal and cinders

The dust bowl of our dreams

We bicker and bag snatch

Wash our dirty linen

Centre stage.

Tommy Murray.

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) Video April 2012

John Wiseman

The Dubliners are one of Ireland's best known ballad groups though all of the original founding members have now passed on. Barney McKenna the last of these was buried in Trim last week and in this video John Wiseman pays a tribute to the band that more than most put attitude into folk  International stars the Dubliners are still performing today. John Wiseman has been a long time associate and member of the Scurlogstown Olympiad Committee which run the Haymaking Festival each year in Trim, a festival that is one of the largest of its kind in Ireland 

Boyne Readings Knightsbridge Village Trim

Boyne Readings/Michael Slavin.

Just one of Michael's splendid books

Michael Slavin of equestrian fame and who now runs an antiquarian book shop on the Hill of Tara will be the guest reader on Thursday night at the Knightsbridge Village in Trim. He was the Showjumping and Eventing correspondent for many years with RTE Radio and was known for his distinctive voice and broadcasting style. His bookshop on the Hill of Tara is a must for visitors and you are sure to find something of interest should you happen to drop in for while. Many publications to his name that would grace any bookshelf, and to quote from the Book of Tara "Michael Slavin's abiding passions are books, horses and Ireland's ancient legends". So get there by 8pm if you want an interesting and entertaining evening. More info with regard to books and times if you click on the link to Orla Fay over on the right hand side. Other readings and dates below!

Thursday/ May 17th: Tommy Murray   Reading from his latest collection "Swimming With Dolphins"

Thursday/ June 21st: Orla Fay.   Launch of chapbook  "Drawn to the Light" 

The Meath Writers' Circle April Meeting 2012

April Meeting 2012




 Scurlogstown Olympiad 2011



On a night when Macdara Woods was in Navan and The Boyne Writers were in Trim with no less than Barbara Smith giving a workshop, as many as seventeen turned out for the monthly meeting of The Meath Writers' Circle with only a few  of the regulars gone walkabout or sending their regrets. And a very interesting  occasion it was with a wide variety of matters discussed, poems recited and stories told. I picked up a copy of  "Swimming With Dolphins" from Tommy and Carmel Murray kindly gave me two copies of "Local Songs and Poems" which was recorded live at The Trim Haymaking Festival in 2011. Looks very interesting indeed and will get back to both of them. Having the camera along I managed to record a few videos and while the light was great on the early ones , on some of the later ones not so good! Anyway see how it goes. That's all folks!

Festivals, Festivals!

Festivals!

Info on festivals and exhibitions coming in faster than I can keep up with them but here's a few to be going on with.

(1) The John Hewit Glens of Antrim is on from Friday the 20th of April to Saturday the 21st if you should happen to find yourself in that neck of the woods. Give it a chase up on google for further information.

(2) Writers' Week in Listowel runs from Wednesday the 30th of May to Sunday the 3rd of June and I believe it was launched tonight at the Mansion House in Dublin. At least I hope that's where this Mansion House is! A cast of just about anyone who is anyone will be there. www.writersweek.ie  

Statue of Oliver Goldsmith at Pallas County Longford

(3) The Goldsmith International Literary Festival runs over the Whit-Bank Holiday weekend from the 1st to the 3rd of June in South Longford/Westmeath and the theme this year is "Citizens Of The World"-what can my country do for me? Indeed you might say! Anyway it's real countryside down there so not a bad drive. Info hopefully to come at www. goldsmithfestival.ie. 

Emmylou Harris - Jerusalem Tomorrow

A poem for Easter, written by David Olney and performed here by Emmylou Harris from her 1993 Album "Cowgirl's Prayer". With thanks to youtube and the person who posted!

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) Video April 2012

Tommy Murray

Working on his fifteenth book at the moment (Haunted Meath) which should be ready for publication later in the year Tommy is a man who needs no introduction. His most recent collection of poems "Swimming with Dolphins"  was published by Lapwing of Belfast earlier this year and is available now, details of which can be found if you click over on the link to "Meath Books" on the right hand side.  A founder member of The Meath Writers' Circle from some time back in the early nineties he has picked up countless awards for his writing. Give a listen to the above! A number of other videos posted if you scroll a bit further back and well worth the journey.

The Meath Writers' Circle (1) Video April 2012

Pat Bennett

"Washy Woman" is the latest video by Pat Bennett to be uploaded here, the others being "Eerie Moor and Singin Bush". This one was recorded at the February get together and again while light is a bit hazy the sound is what it's all about and Pat knows how to deliver a poem. Scroll back to give the other two a listen.