Cork International Poetry Festival 2016!

Cork International Poetry Festival 2016!

If you happen to find yourself in the southern capital between February the 10th and 13th the above might be just the place. Now in its fifth year the Cork International Poetry Festival has a host of stars and readers, workshops and such and the programme outline includes everything from readings  and discussions to the prize giving in The Gregory Ó Donoghue International poetry Competition. Check it out at www.corkpoetryfest.net ,

'Immigrant Eyes' ~ Guy Clark & Emmylou Harris; lyrics on screen. Fabulous.

Here's one for the refugees and great song from Guy Clark with backing vocals from the equally great Emmylou. Hard put to choose this from the version by "Girsa" and it you haven't seen that one look it up, but Guy Clark and Roger Murrah wrote this and there's a certain quality to his voice.... with thanks to youtube and Robert Ruhi who posted.

A Poem for Christmas 2015!

Just Deserts!

A dash of venom
A drop of spice
Nine parts of those
Distilled from ice.

Washed down
With old preserves
From jars
Of hot minute
Particulars.

Bad type
A verse or two
Impose.
Thin waffles
Pixelate your prose
Then chant!

A bottle of
Mulled wine
Decant.

Then let it all
Slip down your throat
And feast on
Thespians and
Poets.

Frank Murphy.

A Happy Christmas to everyone!

Lambeg Drummer.m4v

Here's a great ballad sung by Mickey MacConnell and give a listen. His version of "Christmas 1914" written by his brother Cormac is the go to version but he would perhaps be best known for the song "Only Our Rivers Run Free". With thanks to youtube and Chordstrangler who uploaded.

The Dubliner's Barney McKenna Remembered

Listening to the radio this morning I was reminded that it was the birthday of one Barney McKenna of The Dubliners. Born on the 16th of December 1939 he passed away on the 5th of April 2012. For those of you who are musically inclined, his tuning on the 19 fret tenor banjo was GDAE and duplicated fiddle and mandolin fingering and he is credited by many as being one of the most influential players in the world. He is buried in St Loman's Cemetery in Trim County Meath. Also back in November 2012 one of Meath's best known poets Tommy Murray passed away and listening to him reading "Hometown" you're reminded of just how good he was. The poem is on the blog for November of that year. Tommy is also buried in St Loman's in Trim. Men you don't meet every day. With thanks to youtube and RTE News Now who loaded.

The Meath Writers' Circle/Christmas Dinner 2015!

The Meath Writers' Circle/Christmas Dinner 2015!

Noel French

Noel French of The Meath Heritage Centre and Meath County Council was the guest speaker last night at the annual Christmas outing of The Meath Writers' Circle in the Trim Castle Hotel. A night of poetry and song, storytelling, and where the food was excellent, an opportunity to welcome new members and indeed remember those who are no longer with us or couldn't make it for whatever reason. A special word of thanks or mention from the Chairman Willie Hodgins to the staff and management of the hotel who have facilitated or assisted us in any way over the years and indeed extended to everyone that the group has been in contact with in any way in the past year. Also of note was the contribution of both Eugene Kane and Máire Ní Mhórdha in the publication of the first annual magazine and of course Verona Pentony who came second in "Poem for the Ploughing", a competition that attracted over one thousand entries and included such luminaries as both Patrick Kavanagh and Seamus Heaney and indeed a few more. The New Year will hopefully see the publication of a book on the Centenary celebrations, though the date has yet to be set and interesting to see how it will all turn out. The night ended with some Christmas Carols, courtesy of Sean Reilly and Lori Dalton and in keeping with the Christmas spirit, backing vocals once or twice! On that note and to everyone out there a very Happy Christmas and New Year.  

The Life and Death of Tom Kettle

Another of the poets of 1916, though Thomas Kettle died at Ginchy on the Sommne. A close friend of Thomas MacDonagh and many others of the time, he was described by G.K. Chesterton as "perhaps the greatest example of that greatness of spirit which was so ill rewarded on both sides of the channel...". There is a memorial to him in Stephen's Green. Source Wikipedia and youtube and with thanks to CenturyIreland who loaded.

The Meath Writers' Circle/December 2015!

The Meath Writers' Circle/December 2015!

From Google Images
www.irishtimes.com
Sally Gap Co. Wicklow

About ten people turned out for the last meeting of 2015 in the Trim Castle Hotel on Thursday night with most of the time given over to the Christmas Party and the book launch later in the New Year. No date yet for the launch but hopefully some time before Easter. The Christmas party is set for next Friday night (The 11th) and sure to be a great time if last year is anything to go by. The magazine is still selling and I believe there are hundreds of them out there by now. So great success there. Also we're hoping for some event next year that might raise some money for charity but have to see how that "plays out".  The night finished off with poetry and stories and a reminder to everyone to bring a small gift! 

Filliocht agus Amhrain/Scurlogstown 2015!

Poetry and Songs CD/ Scurlogstown November 2015!

 

The above CD was recorded live at the Haymaking Festival in Trim last Summer and contains 22 tracks in all, of poetry and song and a little music as well. The production values on the CD are excellent and well worth your  while getting your hands on a copy, with the credits going to a number of people but I think Michael Durkan is the constant over the years. The launch venue was Jack Quinn's of Scurlogstown on Saturday night and almost standing room only, though it also coincided with an event that marked the resettlement of many families from the west of Ireland to counties Meath and Kildare in the past century. The CD is priced at €5 and sure to be a few still knocking about in the Trim area.