Bruce Springsteen w.Tom Morello - Ghost of Tom Joad - Madison Square Gar...

Had a version of this up before but it got taken down. The above is slightly different but still excellent. Enjoy. Posted by Zarastro 1040 on youtube. With thanks, great stuff!

North West Words - Poetry Competition 2015!

North West Words - English Language and Irish Language adult Poetry Competition 2015!

This one has a closing date of the 27th of November 2015 so still plenty of time to get your entries in. The competition is now in its fourth year and is open to original and previously unpublished poems. The prize is €250 and a perpetual cup. This year's competition sees the introduction of a new category for best Irish Language poem which will have the same format as it's English counterpart with a prize of €250 to be awarded to the entrant who composes the best poem in Gaeilge. The entry fee is €5 and to find out more about the rules and such, best visit their website at www.northwestwords.com and check out entry details. Good luck! Sponsored by Donegal Creameries!

From Google Images

Ballivor Community Library Co. Meath!

Ballivor Community Library.

Michael (The Sheriff) Sheils and James Linnane
 

Thursday night last saw the official opening of Ballivor Community Library in the local community centre, a project that owes much to the endeavours of a few, including James Linnane who is  pictured above. Manned by local volunteers it opens all day on Thursdays and there are other times as well when you can drop in and browse or borrow something to read. A number of local dignitaries attended including Noel French who chaired the event, Ray Butler and of course Caroline Lynch who contributed an allocation of €2,500 from her discretionary council budget. (The Meath Chronicle - Noelle Finegan) Also many well known writers attended including Jax Miller whose book "Freedom's Child" was recently published, Brid Hiney, Michael Farry, Michael Sheils, James Linnane, Willie G. Hodgins and Ronan Moore, whose book "Irishology" was launched in Navan last week by Colm Ó Rourke. The speech by Brid Hiney was impressive I thought and there were others there whose names I'm sure to have missed. Road works delayed me,but such is life! Brid Hiney and M.J. McGearty's book on the history of Ballivor Parish which was published in 2014 is a must have for anyone interested in the history of Meath. 

Limerick Writers' Anthology 1916!

An Anthology of Reactions.

The Limerick Writers' Centre is seeking submissions for 1916 Today: an Anthology of Reactions  to be published in the Spring of 2016 to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. This is material that reflects reactions to the rising and what it means for us today. The material may be historical, or of a contemporary nature and word count is limited to 1500/2000, poetry and graphics can also be submitted and is limited to three poems/graphs per submission. submission is by E-mail only and must be submitted in one attached Word document. The above info is from the Poetry Ireland website; link to the right. Find out more at: limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com 

From Google Images.

Deadline: 31 December 2015. 

Muhammad Ali recites a poem during a interview in Ireland AMAZING

Here's one I came across on youtube. Perhaps the greatest sportsman of them all, and certainly the best entertainer, though Joe Frazier would have argued the point, or George himself, who went on to other things and great wealth. As someone remarked, they were giants. With thanks to Dividehistory's channel who loaded. 

The Gregory Ó Donoghue International Poetry Competition!

The Gregory Ó Donoghue International Poetry Competition!

The closing date for this one is the 30th on November 2015 and with a first prize of €1000 and travel grant of €600, reading spot, meals and accommodation at the Cork International Poetry Festival, why not give it a go! The second prize is €500 with a third of €250 and ten runners-up prizes of €30 and publication in Southward. This year's judge is Patrick Cotter and the entry fee is €5 per poem or five poems for €20. Check out www.munsterlit.ie for further details on rules and such and good luck!

Boyne Berries 18 Autumn 2015!

Boyne Berries 18 Autumn 2015!

The eighteen issue of Boyne Berries is a collection of poems and stories from as far away as New York and California as well as those more local and well worth getting your hands on a copy. On a once through, "The one she never found" by Frank McGivney and "Salma" by Maeve Ó Sullivan make for an interesting read as does "Humility at Last" by Wiltrud Dull, though time and place I'd say! The short story, "The Playlist", is perhaps the best since "Jimmy" in the very first issue back in 2007 and worth buying for that one alone. Though there's one or two you'd like to add to that playlist, (Slipping through the backwoods quiet as a mouse") and where's LaVern Baker ~ Soul on Fire ~, for those long American roads, but it's more than just a fine story by Dawn Fuller. Didn't quite get the, "Just the two of us," at the end of "My cat, my bad , my lot" by Donal Moloney but very entertaining. To purchase a copy of this go to Here .

Or click on the links to Michael Farry or Orla Fay over to the right. Or if you happen to be in a bookshop in Trim County Meath why not!  

Respond - Human Rights Poetry Awards 2015/2016!

Respond - Human Rights Poetry Awards 2015/2016!

Here's an interesting one with a deadline of 20th November 2015. The Universal Human Rights Student Network (UHRSN) is organizing its very first human rights poetry contest and this year's theme is "Refugees and their message to Europe". The above info is on the Poetry Ireland website and you need to enter through the poetry submission form on the website: www.uhrsn.org 

The poems must be in English and cannot be longer than 200 words. While everyone is permitted to participate, students, migrants and refugees are especially encouraged to enter this competition. The first prize is - €300 and a certificate, second prize is - €200 and a certificate and third prize is - €100 and a certificate. There is no entry fee but check out details from websites.  

Photo from northcountryradio.org Google Images.
Taken northern Syria near Turkish border.

The Meath Writers' Circle/October Meeting 2015!

The Meath Writers' Circle/October Meeting 2015!

Killeen Castle Co. Meath

About eleven people turned out for the meeting in the Trim Castle Hotel last Thursday night with about seven  members absent or unable to make it for whatever reason. The magazine should be out by Christmas and a proof copy of the book on the centenary of 1916 should hopefully be ready by the next meeting. If you haven't submitted anything, as of yet for the magazine, better get it in ASAP. I think two pieces are what was agreed and Máire or Eugene are your contacts on that. Apart from the above, poems and stories were read and the Christmas party is probably the next item on the agenda. I forgot the camera so you'll have to do with a different castle!