Saturday, September 27, 2014

Table Quiz/The Meath Writers' Circle!

Table Quiz/The Meath Writers' Circle!


A table quiz to raise funds for the Meath Writers' Circle (That's Us!) will be held in Jack Quinn's of Scurlogstown on Thursday night next the 2nd of October, at nine thirty sharp! Well sharpish! Lost of prizes  and other things and plenty of spots for the raffle etc. Easy questions and you never know you and your table might win. Tables of four at €10 each or €40 per table. So if you happen to be in the vicinity why not drop in and try your luck .All welcome. Quiz Master will be Mr Willie G. Hodgins who is chairman of the group and we hope to see everyone there on the night.   

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Scurlogstown Heritage Park/Set Dancing!

Scurlogstown Heritage Park/Set Dancing!


This is a short clip of some of the set dancers at Scurlogstown Heritage Park on Sunday the 31st of August last.  A day of poetry and song and stories of times past

Saturday, September 20, 2014

SiarScéal Festival 2014!

"The Hanna Greally Literacy Awards!




The overall prize winner for this will receive a Publishing Services Package valued at €1000 from the Manuscript Publisher. Your book will be published professionally, in print and e-book editions. Runners-Up prizes will also be awarded in categories that include the National Poetry Winner, National Prose Winner, National Short Story Winner, Highly Commended and National Schools. Presentation of the Ger Hanily Memorial Cup for the best entry on the theme of Coman's Wood.  The above info is off the brochure and the usual conditions of entry apply. For detailed information visit www.SiarSceal.com 
Entries are limited to three poems/prose/stories per person. Poems must not be longer than 100 lines and prose no longer than 1000 words. 

Online or postal entries and at €5 per poem or 3 for €10 great value. Please make your entries payable to SciarScéal Festival Group and include with your group submission.

Send to: SciarScéal Festival/c/o Richie Farrell, County Librarian, Roscommon County Council Library Services, Abbey Street, Roscommon, Ireland, you can also enter online. The closing date for entries is 5pm Friday the 10th of October. So still a little time to get your entries in. But check out the details on the website!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

War Anniversaries (4)

War Anniversaries (4)

Patrick Pearse
from Google Images
Walking through the book section of a supermarket in far off Jeddah once I picked a book off the shelves and opened it to a poem of Patrick Pearse, and it was one of those moments and never having read him before I think my first reaction was could they not see it coming. Pearse almost wrote it up before it happened and it is something that is not often commented on. Others like W.B. Yeats, that play of mine send out, is another question and his poems were part of the groundwork for sure, but I suppose many of them played their part in that minority of a minority. The idea that poetry makes nothing happen was not something Ó Shaughnessy (1844-1881) had in mind when he wrote "Ode" One man with a dream at, pleasure, shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song's measure, Can trample an empire down. And worth giving a read if you've got a few minutes free.. Don't march on Moscow and don't annoy poets is probably good advice. All the parts were in place for an uprising by 1916 but Pearse was probably the key to it and without him few would remember.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Allingham Festival 2014!

Allingham Festival 2014!


Another Ballyshannon man!
From Google Images!
This competition also has a closing date that is approaching fast and you have only about two weeks to get your entries in. If you visit their website there's a nice video for your entertainment "A Walk with Allingham" which is worth a look and will fill you in on the writer's background and history. The competition is for both poetry and flash fiction and you may submit up to five poems, maximum of forty lines per poem and up to five flash fictions, maximum 700 words each. Your entries (whether emailed or otherwise must not have any identifying names on them. Must be typed and you must be over 18. The entry fee for both competitions is €4 for one entry, €10 for three entries and €15 for five entries. Poems and flash fiction must be submitted separately. The competition judges are Donal Ryan and Monica Corish. 

Send your entries to:  Alingham Poetry Competitio or Allingham Flash Fiction Competition
                      
                                 A Novel Idea
                                 Castle Street
                                 Ballyshannon
                                 Co. Donegal

In your cover letter list: The number of entries
                                   The titles
                                   Your name and address
                                   Contact details/Ph number and email.

Cheques made payable to "Allingham Festival".

E-mail entries: allinghamfest@gmail.com  

Website address: www.allinghamfestival.com 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

The Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards 2014!

The Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards 2014!




The closing date for the above is the 30th of September coming so still a little time to get your entries in. Entries may be in Irish or English with three poems for €10 or €4 for a single poem, so well worth the effort. There is a prose section restricted to one entry with an entry fee of €5 and a maximum length of 1500 words. Poems should not exceed 45 lines and fees made payable to "Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards". The judge is the award winning Catalan/Tallagh author Maria Wallace and her decision is final. Winners will be notified seven days in advance and must be prepared to read their work if possible at the award ceremony on Saturday the 1st of November at the Heritage centre in Saggart Co. Dublin. Usual rules about not being published or broadcast apply to entries and they must be typed in plain font Times Roman point 12 single spacing, without decoration or illustration. The entrants name must not appear on the typescript but only on the entry form. Must be the author's original work.

Send to : Margaret Ennis "Teach Guise",
              Boherboy, Saggart, Co. Dublin. 

Saturday, September 6, 2014

The Meath Writers' Circle/September Meeting 2014!

The Meath Writers' Circle/September Meeting 2014!

Eugene Kane, Willie G. Hodgins,  Josephine Marray and Clare Kane

A selection of poems written by members of The Meath Writers' Circle and in tribute to the late Tommy Murray was presented to his wife Josephine on Thursday night last by Eugene Kane who collected the different items and designed the booklet form. The Meath Writers' Circle would like to thank everyone who was there or contributed in any way to the book. The presentation was followed by tea and sandwiches and some lively conversation on times past. Also to thank Trim Castle Hotel for their generosity over the years in providing facilities for the Writers group.  
          

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Scurlogstown Heritage Park/Sunday 31st August!

Scurlogstown Heritage Park/Sunday 31st of August!

Easy Riders outside Jack Quinn's Public House Scurlogstown!
An old Bogey, I remember...
Willie G. Hodgins and the Ladies


Jimmy Peppard

A mix of poetry, song and dancing was one of the many heritage events around the county last Sunday. This time courtesy of the Scurlogstown Olympiad Group at the Folk Park beside Jack Quinn's Public House. And all while Dublin and Donegal went head to head in Croke Park!




Monday, September 1, 2014

A Turn at Tara!

Feis Teamhra/ A Turn at Tara!

Phil Robson and Christine Tobin

The Visitor Centre at Tara was the place to be yesterday and just about this time of the year every year with a host of stars coming for what is perhaps the best free afternoon's entertainment in Ireland. Paul Muldoon, Peter Fallon, Christine Tobin and Phil Robson were the ones I caught on what was a very busy day and if you haven't penciled this one in for next year you should. It rivals events where you would pay an awful lot of money just to see these guys. And if you start adding up the awards the Picnics and the Parks would get more than a run for their money. I would imagine that the only reason the place is not jammed out to the  roads  is that it's not given the big treatment in the social media, either local or national. Guests or performers here have included Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, Hollywood stars, leading musicians, national and international and all free! 


Paul Muldoon