Mountains To Sea/ dlr Book Festival

Mountains To Sea/dlr Book Festival.

Book Cover

A copy of the above arrived in the post during the week and browsing through it you cannot fail to be impressed. The festival itself runs from the 4th to the 9th of September and promises a host of stars, events, workshops, seminars, films, tours and this year the dlr Poetry Now Festival taking place at the same time. So there! Borrowing from the "Welcome" by Maureen Kennelly, "What unifies our festival writers is that they simply cannot stop taking risks on the page" and that's as good a recommendation as you'll get. More details and info at www.mountainstosea.ie and nice place to spend a few hours.    

The Meath Writers' Circle (4) Video July 2012

Fergal O' Reilly

Fergal recites another two of  his short but thought provoking poems on this video.Further back you can listen to "City of Dreaming Shadows" and "Winter Is Warm Now". Fergal has been writing for some time and was a member of the Writers' Circle back in the early days.

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) Video July 2012

Sean Reilly

"Base Details" is one of the many fine poems written by the poet Siegfried Sassoon about the conflicts or the hardships endured by the men who served in the First World War and is read here by Sean Reilly of The Meath Writers' Circle. Sean is better known as a singer of songs or a writer of short stories but he does this more than justice. If you scroll a bit further back you can listen to some of these and worth the journey! 

Poetry Contests (2) Dromineer 2012!

Poetry Festivals (2) Dromineer 2012!

Shannon Sailing/Google Images

The Dromineer Literary Festival is inviting entries for its poetry and short story competitions and has a closing date of the 17th  of August which is fast approaching. The prize money for this is considerable so it is definitely worth entering and a number of local writers have picked up an award or two.Details and conditions of entry can be had on www.dromineerliteraryfestival.ie/competitions and entries to be sent to Deborah Powel, Secretary, Dromineer Literary Festival, Ballycommon, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. €5 euro for the first poem entered and €3 euro for each poem after that. The short story fee is €10. But check out the details on site and good luck!

Poetry Contests! (1)

Poetry Contests!

From Google Images

The Swords Heritage Week 2012 Short Story and Poetry Competitions have a closing date that is fast approaching (July 30th) so you better get your entries in fast. The winner of the short story competition will receive the Tom O' Shea Perpetual Trophy plus a cash prize, with prizes for the runners up, and the winner of the poetry competition will receive the McDonagh Perpetual Trophy and Poet of Fingal Award with cash prizes of same. Tommy Murray of Trim has won both of these, winning the poetry one three times and I managed to pick up certificates in both a while back so I'll probably make the effort. The entry fee is €5 euro so you might as well support and details can be had at swordsmuseum@gmail.com or better phone 01 8400080. Stories and/or poems must be a maximum of 1500 words and entrants must be over 16 years of age. Send your entries to Swords Pride of Place Committee, Carnegie Library, North Street, Swords, County Dublin. But check out for details! 

The Meath Writers' Circle (2) Video July 2012

Willie G. Hodgins

Here's a splendid poem from Willie recorded a while back and worth a listen. A little reflection on the human condition!  This is just the latest to be posted here and there are a number of others further back if you're interested. Just google for info. Willie has been a member of the group since about 2000 and hails from Bohermeen County Meath. 

The Battle of the Books 2012

The Battle of the Books 2012

Michael Sheils Tommy Murray and Frank Murphy

Yesterday at the Castle Hotel in Trim saw the Meath Writers' Circle and The Boyne Writers' Group square off for their annual competition in The Battle of the Books series, with the Meath Writers' Circle emerging victorious on this occasion though Michael Farry pulled off a perfect ten for his piece on the household charge. The series now stand at two all! It was stage right on this occasion and this  made for a lively atmosphere with the light streaming in, and the crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves. The five minute plays that followed made the actors work for it and Paddy Smith is to be credited with coming up with the idea. Interesting to see where it goes! Anyway that's the festival over for another year. See Meath Books and Michael Farry's blogsite for more info. Just click on the links to the right!  Now bring on the sun!   

Launch of Swift Satire Festival 2012

Swift Satire Festival 2012




Samba Man



Michael Farry



Pat Dunne, Noel Dempsey and friends.



In the absence of President Higgins, Noel Dempsey got proceedings of the ground last night with an interesting speech on the subject of humour or in this instance "satire" and wondered just what Jonathan Swift would make of it if he were to return to Trim of the present day. I'm sure he'd be more than a little pleased with a festival in his honour but you can never tell! A town that throws long shadows and someone famous on every corner. All of this was interrupted by the introduction of the samba band who if any hint of criticism could be leveled was that they were overdressed for the occasion. Tall and tanned and young and lovely and all that and never mind the rain. A number of the "others" mingled through the crowd if that's the correct term of expression and if not then it should be. The wine was plentiful and as the samba band wound its way down Castle Street we decided there was no need to rehearse after all, though the six man midfield might pose the odd problem but what was that to men of our calibre. Meanwhile up the street....











 

The Swift Satire Festival Trim County Meath

Swift Satire Festival

Michael Farry

Street Scene

If Jonathan Swift were to return to his old parish this weekend I wonder what he would make of the festival which kicks off on Thursday night. Difficult to say though I'd imagine he'd have more than enough material to get worked up about. Last year's Battle of the Books would have had him wondering about the ancients and where it all began and what the hell was a tracker mortgage anyway. Credit where credit was due  and when his new school was open everyone would be able to read and write. If the weather holds! Not much to look forward to there. Still one can but hope! Meanwhile both sets of writers are squaring up and a clean contest is promised with no kicking  gouging or biting or as Joe Jacobs said...never mind. Anyway the festival runs from Thursday 5th July to Sunday 8th July with full details at www.swiftsatirefestival.com and more on Michael Farry's blog and Meath Books. Just click on the link to the right. Some of Ireland's leading satirists will attend. 

The Meath Writers' Circle Video (1) July 2012

Tess Ryan

Tess Ryan is one of the more recent members of the group and has written a number of short stories or recollections, but here's a little something for the week ahead and a piece of good advice for all!