Book Launch/Centenary in Poetry and Prose.

Book Launch/Centenary in Poetry and Prose.

Joe Kavanagh/Centre

Noel Ó Grady

Una Ó Callanáin and Verona Pentony

Two of the special guests at the launch of The Meath Writers' Circle, "Centenary in Poetry and Prose" were Una Ó Callanáin, granddaughter of Michael Mallin, the second in command of The Irish Citizen Army and the Commandant at St. Stephen's Green throughout the Rising. She is also the niece of Fr. Joseph Mallin one of the last surviving children of the Rising and now resident in Hong Kong. I believe the Irish Government is to honour him in the next few weeks. The other special guest was Noel O' Grady, noted for his singing in Gaelic and a five times winner of Oireachtas Na Gaelge. He has performed all over the world and his videos and songs are easily accessed on the web. But more on that to follow. A special word of thanks to Joe Kavanagh who kept the musical show on the road and also to Sean Reilly and John Doyle for their fine singing. The guest readers were poets Michael Farry, Edel Gillick and Tom French, who was especially entertaining with his reading and which was one of the highlights of the night, also noting the contribution by Monica Sherlock who is still writing and in her nineties. Finally a word of thanks to Pat Farrelly of The Scurlogstown Olympiad Group who launched the book for us and to Ann Meldon Hugh, Noel French and to Willie Hodgins, Verona Pentony, Eugene Kane and the other members of The Meath Writers' Circle for making the night the success that it was. Not forgetting the staff and management of Trim Castle Hotel and to everyone who came, a big thank you.