"Flashbacks" By Paul Martin

Paul Martin

Paul Martin has a number of other videos on this blog and contributes regularly to the "Deep Underground Poetry Site" Just type into Google. Must add a link myself across the way. Good listening!

Launch of Boyne Berries 15.

Launch of Boyne Berries 15

Michael Farry

Tomorrow night at the Castle Arch Hotel in Trim sees the launch of the latest issue of "Boyne Berries" and marks something of a transition with the stepping down of Michael Farry who has been its editor since 2007. Michael created the magazine back then and with the support and no doubt the input of other members of the group has watched it become one of the most successful literary magazines in the country. His writing has been widely published and his history publications have become source material for both television and other forms of media. A winner of numerous awards for his poetry his first collection "Asking For Directions" was published in 2012, and information on that and other books can be had by clicking on the links over to the right. No doubt moving on to other things he is handing over to Orla Fay who is another of the fine writers in the group and is sure to bring her own shapes and shades to the next and future issues. So congratulations to Michael on a job well done and to Orla on that editing desk. The start time is 8 pm and the magazine is on sale at €8 or perhaps less on the night. Can be purchased from the site and will be on sale in both Antonia's and the post office in Trim. So if you're in the south Meath area on Thursday night, sure to be a welcome! 

Poetry Reading Shamrock Festival Navan.

Poetry Reading Shamrock Festival Navan

Gemma Macey here reads a poem by Jimmy Byrne from his recent collection "Conflux".

Navan Shamrock Festival/Poetry Readings.

Navan Shamrock Festival/ Poetry Readings.

Some members of The Meath Writers' Circle and Small Impact Writers' Group Navan

A small though appreciative number turned out for the poetry readings at the Meath River Rescue Boathouse in Beechmount last Friday night and with tea to follow. This was part of the Navan Shamrock Festival and only one of the many events celebrating the feast day in the town. Though perhaps a more central venue might have proved better for those not too familiar in the surrounds! The Boathouse though is impressive enough and with a sign or two who knows. Some of the poems were very good and I managed to record a few of them, so see how they turn out! Paul Martin did a take on "Majorca" while Gemma Macey gave a fine reading of Jimmy Byrne's "Vision".  Jimmy's book of poems "Conflux" was published last year and is well worth while getting your hands on  He is a member of The Small Impact Writers' Group who meet in Navan Library every Wednesday morning. Videos to follow! 

Behind The Closed Eye - Francis Ledwidge - Anúna

A beautiful poem by Francis Ledwidge from Slane and something for St Patrick's Day. Sorry if the script runs a bit off on the right hand side. With thanks to Anuna and the person who posted!

Great Speeches: Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Great Speeches: Elizabeth Cady Stanton."The Destructive Male"

Surrounded by books and only half read the most of them I was dipping into speeches that changed the world when I came across the above and brilliant it is though whether it's true or not I leave to my betters, few and all as they are. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was a judge's daughter from Albany New York and was someone who campaigned tirelessly  for voting rights for women for over fifty years and helped launch the women's rights movement in the United States, or America as we call it. Her speech on the destructive male is a must read and if you haven't do (1868 at the Women's Suffrage Convention Washington) though if she were looking back from over one hundred and forty years later I wonder if she would hold to those same views. Certainly some of the women who have held high political office here or both here and abroad have left a lot to be desired.  "Through what slavery, slaughter and sacrifice, through what inquisitions and imprisonments, pains and persecutions, black codes and gloomy creeds, the soul of humanity has struggled for centuries, while mercy has veiled her face and all hearts have been dead alike to love and hope!". That, of government by men, and who can disagree. Another excerpt from further on: "Here that great conservator of woman's love, if permitted to assert itself, as it naturally would in freedom against oppression, violence and war, would hold these destructive forces in check, for woman knows the cost of life better than man does, and not with her consent would one drop of blood ever be shed, one life sacrificed in vain". Her reference to nature like " a loving mother" and the constant effort to maintain an equilibrium of forces and in comparison to the present disorganization of society, warns that in the dethronement of woman we have let loose the elements of violence and ruin that she only has the power to curb. And that was then! Things have not improved much in the intervening years except that maybe we have got more comfortable at killing each other. And those women in high office Elizabeth? Anyway it is a great speech and you should dig it out and give it a read 

The Meath Writers' Circle (Meeting) March 2014

The Meath Writers' Circle March 2014

A small crowd turned out for our meeting last Thursday night with a number of notable absences from the roll. Gone walkabout duties or something like that. Anyway about eight of us managed the odd poem or so and with much discussion on what to do for the coming year. The snowball downhill effect was mentioned but best left to Merle and he can sing. It would be difficult though to follow on from the success of last year and the book launch and I doubt if we could put in the same effort on something similar. Even after the launch some people have sold an extraordinary number of books and are still selling. So next meeting should decide where we go. The next upcoming event for the Writers' Circle is the Navan Shamrock Festival on Friday the 14th of March at the People of Meath's Boathouse in Beechmount Homepark and all members are invited to attend. An evening of poetry and song. Start time is 7pm!

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The Golden Pen Awards 2014.

The Golden Pen Awards 2014.

Athenry Castle
From Google Images

 Poems and short stories are now being accepted for the 16th Annual Golden Pen Competition and with a closing date of April the 1st time to get writing. This is a competition that has been good to local writers and I remember Gerry Willis winning it back about ten years ago. Also a number of people in the local writing groups have had poems or short stories listed in the event. The first prize is €100 for adult and €50 for students with prizes for second and third placed writers plus publication in the Festival Magazine. An entry fee of €5 (€4 or $5 UK/USA). Students pay €3 or £2. Now I would imagine that it's per item though not clear from info. No entry form is required and open theme with stories being limited to 2000 words and poems to 70 lines. Put your name and details on a separate sheet and sens your entries to: The Golden Pen, Gurteen, Ballinasloe, County Galway. Above info from the Poetry Ireland website Competitions page. Link to the right.

Local Songs and Poems C.D.

Local Songs and Poems C.D.

The above is a cover of the Scurlogstown Olympiad Recordings from the Haymaking Festival in the Porch Fields last summer and includes a number of local artistes as well as a few of us from the Writers' Circle. It was recorded by Ronan Gorry with the photographs being were taken by Michael Durkan and there are twenty five tracks in all on the disc. A mixture of poetry and song including traditional favourites by Margaret Geraghty such as The Boys of Barr na Sráide and The Old Bog Road by Breda Rodgers and with John Quinn giving a fine rendition of Goodnight Ballivor . But there are many many more. The one that steals it though is probably the last and I would say the youngest contributor on the disc but sure get a copy yourself and have a listen. €5 each and I would say easily sourced in the Trim area.