Ray and Colin Murtagh

Here's a snatch of Ray singing "Mustang Sally" and "Sweet Home Alabama" Catch him on Friday night in the Balreask. with thanks to youtube and guy who posted.

Fundraising Party Night!/Last Hope/Paws!

Fund Raising Party Night!

If you have an hour or two to spare next Friday night why not drop into Teach Na Teamhrach in Navan for an evening of entertainment and song. It is Peggy Murphy's 86th Birthday Party and instead of pressies there is €5 charge on the door. All proceeds will go to the charities above. Some of Ireland's best known artists will be there and hopefully a number of local ones as well. There will be a raffle for a Holiday Break on the night and lots of other prizes as well. Admission includes food and all are welcome! 

Hannah Greally Literary Awards 2015!

Theme: Centenary in Reflection.

Submissions of poetry, prose and short stories on the theme above are invited for this year's competition. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of €200 with runners-up prizes awarded in categories that include International Poetry, Prose/Short Stories, National Prose/Short-Story, Local Winner in both Poetry and Prose/Short Stories categories, prizes for Highly Commended and National Schools. The Ger Hanily Memorial Cup will also be awarded from the entries submitted. There are rules of course and a competition entry fee of €5 per entry; €10 for three entries and cheques and postal orders made payable to SiarScéal Festival Group. Send to: SiarScéal Festival, c/o Richie Farrell, County Librarian, Roscommon County Council Library Services, Abbey Street, Roscommon. You can also enter online and for all details visit: www.siarsceal.com

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday the 23rd of October 2015.

Dromineer Literary Festival/Competitions!

Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions!

From Google Images

The closing date for entries in this is August the 25th so plenty of time to get your entries in. Managed a second in it once and I believe Michael Farry was the outright winner last year. The judges for the above competitions are Thomas McCarthy for poetry and Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen (Tramp Press) for flash fiction. You can enter either by post or e-mail and the entry fee is €5 per poem and €10 per entry in the flash fiction.section. The prizes are very generous with €500 to the winner and second and third prizes of €350 and €150 respectively in both sections. Listen go off and check out the details and competition rules at Here and good luck with your entry.

Swords Heritage Week 2015!

Swords Heritage Week 2015!

Tommy and myself, Swords 2012!
 

Short Story Competition:

The 20th Short Story Competition is now accepting entries from individuals or members of writing groups with a story to tell. It may be fact, fiction or what ever takes your fancy. The best story will receive The Tom Ó Shea Perpetual Trophy, plus a cash prize and also there are prizes for the runners up. the winning story will be published in the annual "Swords Voices" series.

Poet of Fingal Contest:

Now in its ninth year the prize winner in this will receive The McDonagh Perpetual Trophy and cash prize and there will be cash prizes for the runners up.

Send your entries to (Two copies please) to Short Story/Poetry Competition Swords Pride of Place Committee, Carnegie Library, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. Phone 01 8400080 or e-mail at swordsmuseum@gmail.com and not later than August the 14th 2015.

Rules: Short Story/ Poem, Must be a maximum of 1500 words. Be typed on one side of the paper only. You must submit two copies of your work. It must be your own work and should not have been published before. One entry per person (In each category) and you must be over 16 years of age. Do not write your name on story or poem. 

Entry fee: €5 to cover all entries with cheques made out to Swords Pride of Place. The winners will be announced during heritage week August 30th to September the 6th. Call above for entry details and form and good luck! 

 

Navan Junior Writers/Prize Giving Awards!

Navan Junior Writers/Prize Giving Awards.

Paddy Smith

Paddy Smith of the Boyne Writers was on hand last Thursday night in the County Library and entertained all with his comments on both the entries in the short story and poetry competitions although as he hastened to add he was judge only in the former. The prizes were sponsored by The Meath Writers' Circle and selected by none other than Willie G. Hodgins and Paul Martin with Edel Gillick making the presentations. Edel has taken over the group since the death of its founder the late Tommy Murray and they meet every Saturday morning in the local library and have a writing page in the North Meath Herald. Check out for details at the desk. Winners below.

First Prize/Short Story: Abigail Irwin

Second Prize/                 Sharon Murphy

First Prize/Poetry:        Sarah McShane

Second Prize/                Niall Dineen

Most Original Story:   Ian McDonagh

Best Contribution/       Brian Bourke

Prize Winners/Navan Junior Writers Group

Remembrance Evening/An Tobar Navan.

Remembrance Evening/An Tobar Navan.

Willie G. Hodgins, John Doyle and Edel Gillick

A remembrance evening for the Irish students who died in Berkeley California and for all those who died in the Tunisian tragedy was held in An Tobar, Ardbraccan Navan last Thursday night. Arranged by Edel Gillick and Jimmy Byrne of The Navan Writers' Group, musical entertainment was provided by a number of artists with poetry readings by members of the Junior Writers, the Navan Writers and members of The Meath Writers' Circle. Sean Reilly also sang and refreshments were served afterwards with John Doyle closing off the evening with a few songs.  

Bill Slattery, Mick Landers and John Doyle

The Meath Writers' Circle July Meeting 2015!

The Meath Writers' Circle July Meeting 2015!

About fourteen or fifteen turned out for last Thursday's meeting of The Meath Writers' Circle in the Castle Hotel Trim with poems and stories and a verse or two in song. Still trying to get the material in for the book on 1916 and the year runs on. Will it happen? Trophies are ready for the young writers' competition in Navan Library and I think that event is on at 6.30 pm next Thursday night. More on that to come. Deadline for material in next meeting in August!!!

The Dermot Healy International Poetry Competition 2015!

The Dermot Healy International Poetry Competition 2015!

Here's an interesting one in that poems may have been previously published and there is no restriction in length. You need to download an entry form and you have options of payment by either Paypal or you can submit by postal entry. Details at Here and good luck with entry. Peter Fallon to judge.