Phizzfest Poetry Award 2012.

Phizzfest Poetry Award 2012!

Phibsborough Church Dublin 

Entries are now being invited for the above award which has a closing date of the 31st of July so there's a bit of time to get the pen out. An entry consists of two poems of not more than 36 lines each and you must be a resident of Ireland and at least 16 years of age on the above date. A prize of €250 will be awarded to the winning poem and a number of €50 runner-up prizes will also be awarded. The entry fee is €5 and may be in the form of a cheque or postal order made payable to "Phizzfest". Only one entry per envelope though you may submit more than entry to the competition. Not only that but a pamphlet of poems selected from the entries may be published and a small fee paid to the authors! So well worth the effort! Details can be found on the website at www.Phizzfest.ie and the address to send your poems to is Phizzfest Poetry Award, c/o 9 Shandon Park, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. But go to website and download entry form! Good luck!   

Dunshaughlin Friday Morning Club!

Paul Hennessy and Peggy Murphy

Video DVD.

Peggy Murphy (2and 1) Rita Cassidy

Yvonne and her helpers!

Paul Hennessy formerly of the "Irish Tenors" and "Celtic Tenors" line up was out last Friday to video Peggy Murphy for her forthcoming DVD of poems. Paul regularly tours the USA with Dublin's Traditional Irish Cabaret and in 1998,1999 and 2000 was invited to sing in Croke Park for The All Ireland Hurling and Football Finals. He also sang for the "International Rules" series and in 2007 completed his 11th season in The Burlington Irish Cabaret with Noel V Ginnity before the show moved to Taylors Three Rock, Dublin. He has recorded two albums and his charity CD "Believe" raised over €6000 for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. His most recent recording " To Be A Child Again" helped raise funds for the Mannix Kane Appeal and is available on iTunes. The recording features students of The Evolution Stage School in Longford where Paul and Tracey Carty of Billy Barry fame are working on their next project and the credits get long here folks! Before leaving on Friday Paul entertained with a couple of songs and promised to return in the Autumn 

Drawn to the Light/Book Launch/Knightsbridge Trim.

Orla Fay

Made it into The Knightsbridge Village Complex for the launch of Orla Fay's Chapbook "Drawn to the Light" and took the opportunity to record her reading one of her poems. This is the third chapbook to be released by the group and a large crowd turned out for the event. Orla is the vice-chairperson of The Boyne Writers' Group and is part of the editorial board of their magazine "Boyne Berries". More info and details if you click on the link over to the right. 

Boyne Readings/Orla Fay.

Orla Fay.

Book Cover

The guest reader at the Knightsbridge Coffee Shop in Trim this Thursday night is Orla Fay and the occasion sees the launch of her chapbook "Drawn To The Light". Orla has been picking up prizes for her poetry and short stories for a number of years now and has been widely published both home and abroad. The start time for the event is 8pm and the admission fee of €5 euro includes both tea or coffee and of course light refreshments. She is the third member of The Boyne Writers' Group to produce a chapbook, the others being Michael Farry and Brendan Carey Kinane back in 2009. More info or details about the event can be found by clicking on the link site over on the right. (Orla Fay) and worth the visit! 

Scurlogstown Olympiad 2012 Haymaking Festival

Scurlogstown Olympiad 2012.

Tommy Murray and Michael Sheils

Made it into the Haymaking Festival yesterday on what turned out to be a sunny enough day and it was great to see all the excitement about. This has to be the place to be especially if you have kids or should that be children. Anyway the girls were having a great time at the carnival end, not to mention the donkey derby and the stalls were displaying everything from a needle to an anchor.. Finally located Tommy and Michael at the Recording Hut and dropped in myself to recite a poem or two. Who knows? Thanks for the glasses Michael! Spotted Paddy Smith and Noel French further down, something to do with a battle, and managed to grab a few photographs of musicians, haymaking, the high kick competition and one or two of the Castle as well.

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) Video June 2012

Vera Tuite.

This is another of those videos I recorded back in April and in this one Vera Tuite recites one of her poems. Vera is a recent member of the group and this is the first poem to be uploaded here. Give a listen. Comments always welcome.

Scurlogstown Olympiad 2012!

Haymaking Festival 2011

Scurlogstown Olympiad 2012!

Haymaking Festival 2011

Haymaking Festival 2011

If you should happen to have some time on your hands this weekend then Trim might just be the place to be. The Trim Haymaking Festival which was launched on Friday the 1st of June by none other than Sean Boylan  continues apace over the weekend with the arrival of the festival torch on Friday and ending in the Porchfields on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a great day out for all the family, if it doesn't rain! This has to be one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Ireland and to label it as  "Haymaking " doesn't do it justice at all, something for everyone here! The Meath Writers' Circle will have their own hut and if you want to listen to some poetry or recite a verse or two yourself, or maybe purchase the odd book, or just drop in if you're passing, all welcome!  For information on all events as they say go to www.trimhaymakingfestival.com  

and be amazed. Admission is €10 and children are free.

Battle Of The Books! Trim Swift Festival 2012.

Battle Of The Books 2012.

Jonathan Swift

Last Thursday night saw the monthly gathering of The Meath Writers' Circle pass without incident though the dreaded word rehearsal was used on more than one occasion. What was pass remarkable, or past remarking on was the rain, and in between the tea and the prawn sandwiches and the minutes of other meetings someone sneezed and it was agreed upon that an agreed definition might be open to interpretation if the National Broadcaster came down. That said, talk turned to the rain and the sound of nibs sharpening and the poisoned wells and that it was necessary to scotch the rumour that this year's event would consist of a series of multiple choice questions for the hard of hearing and would anyone be willing to represent the group at the annual wreath laying ceremony at the grave of the "others". Nervous glances all around. Outside the rain was bucketing down!

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) Video June 2012

Paul Martin

Paul Martin reads a poem here called "The Last Of The Free Men" and they're getting pretty thin on the ground these days, if you listen you can hear the chains! This is the sixth video by Paul to be uploaded here the others being " The Buddha And Me, Greed, The Lake At Night, Solace and The Literary Assassin" and you can give any or all of them a listen if you scroll a bit further back or send Google on search.  

The Meath Writers' Circle (1) Video June 2012

Joan Leech

This is the second video by Joan Leech to be uploaded here the other being "I Drove Down To The Sea" which should come up if you scan a bit further back, or just put the details into Google. Joan has been a member of the writing group for a short while and has retired from the teaching profession. Give a listen!