Heritage Sunday (Tara)

Heritage Sunday Tara 2013.

Iarla Ó Lionáird and Paul Muldoon

Susan McKeown and Muireann Ní Bhrolchain

Evan Boland

Kevin Barry and Iarla Ó Lionáird

Old Church Tara

On an afternoon of competing interests made it to Tara for the poetry readings or music and in time to catch Iarla Ó Lionard deliver one of his contributions for the afternoon. Described on Wikipedia as one of our  most prominent Sean nós singers, in the setting of the old church the word is probably spellbinding. Though the same would have to be said of Susan McKeown. I'm not sure what the breakdown of these events are but I think Susan and now Paul Muldoon are probably the ones  most responsible for this particular gathering year on year and given the stellar cast that have graced this event over the years it is amazing how little coverage it seems to get in the local or national press. I would imagine to get these particular individuals together in the same place under other circumstance would cost more than a bit of money. Kevin Barry of Impac Literary fame was also there to entertain as was Evan Boland and Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin reminded everyone of where the road was going or had gone and what it cost! For those who drift in on the day though a small programme to reference the material would be nice.

Ballad Session in Glynn Diceys!

Ballad Session/Fundraiser!

The Kavanagh Brothers

Glynn Diceys of Summerhill was the venue for what was hopefully the last fundraising effort for The Meath Writers' Circle upcoming publication. Out there in cyberspace folks and any week now if we're lucky! Tess Ryan is to be congratulated for what must have been a huge effort with all the spots and prizes and not forgetting the ticket sellers and I don't think I've seen that many people together in the same place since the last days of the Celtic Tiger. Heading into disco territory when I left. As for the bottle of champagne, well it returned with me but I don't think I'll get to drink it!

 

"Laughing Streams" by James Byrne

"Laughing Streams" by James Byrne

 A poem from his recent collection "Conflux" read by James Byrne at Navan Library on Wednesday last.. 

"Conflux" by James Byrne

"Conflux" by James Byrne

Book Cover

Described by the author himself as "sometimes funny, often dark, and at times almost prayerful" and I might add perhaps one the best books of rhyming verse published in the last year. James Byrne is a founder member of The Small Impact Writers' Group in Navan and these poems touch on everything from religion to the blues and then some. Rivers of Freedom, Meandering Rivers, Polluted Rivers, Sacred Rivers! It is well worth getting your hands on a copy, though the launch date I'm not sure of, and is I believe to be in the local library in Navan. The lack of a contents page may be somewhat deliberate and leaves you to find out for yourself with the poems gathered in sections of twelve or thirteen though you could argue the toss and perhaps I missed something on a once through. Cost €10. A line or two...

Side B

The claws of a lost cat

Are scratching my brain

And I hear the sad hoot

Of a distant freight train

My transistor radio

Is full of bad news

And rasping my throat

Are these brokendown

Blues.

James Byrne 

Don't Miss A Great Night Out!

Ballad Session!

There will be a live music session followed by a D.J. at Glynn Diceys of Summerhill on Saturday the 24th of August starting at 9pm. Music is by the Kavanagh Brothers and the tickets are priced at €5 each though you can pay on the door I'm sure. Finger food and raffle on the night with the proceeds in aid of a book print for The Meath Writers' Circle. All are welcome! 

The Meath Writers' Circle/ August 2013

The Meath Writers' Circle/August Meeting 

About fourteen people turned out for the August meeting of the Writers' Circle at The Castle Hotel in Trim on Thursday night with a mix of poetry and prose from the forthcoming collection getting a run through for typos and such. Have to narrow down the mistakes! Hopefully all goes to plan or something close. The cover, or choice of, divided the room! Meanwhile the fundraising continues and there will be a ballad session in Glynn Diceys of Summerhill on Saturday the 24th of August at 9pm with music by "The Kavanagh Brothers" followed by a D.J. But more about that the next time. Hoping to get the book off to the printers next week. Last minute corrections and all going well the launch date should be not too far down the road. But never there till it's there!

Edmund Burke/ Great Speeches!

Edmund Burke/ Great Speeches!
On the Death of Marie Antoinette.

From Google Images

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the Queen of France, then the Dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like the morning star full of life and splendour and joy.

Oh, what a revolution! and what a heart must I have, to contemplate without emotion and elevation and that fall! Little did I dream, when she added titles of veneration to those of enthusiastic, distant, respectful love, that she should ever be obliged to carry the sharp antidote against disgrace concealed in that bosom; little did I dream I should have lived to see such disasters fallen upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honour, and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult.

But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded, and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever."

* That is only part of the speech but I'll end it there. Nothing much has changed!

Edmund Burke/Great Speeches

Edmund Burke/Great Speeches.

From Google Images

In the past week or so there have been a number of letters in the newspapers on the gentleman above or should I narrow that down to the Daily Mail. This followed on from an article by Mary Ellen Synon in that he's almost forgotten where his relations come from in West Cork. Or at least not celebrated to any great degree. Now as I sit here I'm not referencing this to any depth and hope the memory is not playing tricks on me with regard to location or whatever but perhaps they could take a leaf out of the Meath copy in relation to Swift and get a Burke trail or festival weekend together for the benefit of the visitor. To say he's held in some esteem is putting it mildly. Not everyone would agree with his sentiments I'm sure but his speech on the death of Marie Antoinette is worth a read. I first came across it in the Oxford Book of Quotes or something like that and the opening lines would be familiar to many. Maybe I'll dig it out of the bottom drawer. One reign of terror to the next!