National Ploughing Championships 2016!

Poetry Readings.

Anna May McHugh, Verona Pentony and Maura Allen

Verona Pentony who was invited to read at this year's National Ploughing Championships holding copies of her recent publications, "Reflections of Time and Reflections from the Heart" with Anna May McHugh of the NPA and Maura Allen, President of Offaly ICA. Verona was secretary of The Meath Writers' Circle for a number of years and can be contacted at her website if you wish to purchase a copy of her poetry.

www.veronapentony.com 

"Leaving Galway" James Linnane.

"Leaving Galway" James Linnane.

This is the fourth book to date by James Linnane and his first book of short stories. Other books were titled, "Never take an Irishman seriously unless he's armed, The Life and Times of a Gotcha, and The Potless Generation" which was a book of poetry. What they all have in common is their irreverence and humour and often downright honesty whatever the situation and he will take you to places often you'd rather not go. And sometimes places you wish you could. No account of life in Dublin of the eighties would be complete without some reference to McDaids and he was there when anyone who was just about anyone graced its doors. His stories of Boston or New York or of growing up in Meath or Galway make for easy reading and his writing of the West Coast around San Diego is as good as it gets. The Book retails at €14 or $ 19.95 over on Amazon and there is an eBook version as well. Also available on eBay. The link to his website "Bookchat Corner" is over to the right if you wish to purchase a signed copy. James lives in Ballivor County Meath with his wife Karen and daughters Amber and Stephanie.    

THE STRANGER TRAILER

Here's one from RTE which was broadcast on Thursday the 15th of September and is still available over on the Player. It tells the story of  English artist Neal MacGregor who lived alone on a remote Irish island and died when he was only 44 in what was really only a small croft or a stone shed, where he lived without water, electricity or heating. It's from the Irish filmmaker Neasa Ní Chianáin and had its international premier in the Semaine de la Critique Competition at the 67th Locano Film Festival in August 2014. Info from both RTE and youtube.  

Poetry Reading/National Ploughing Championships!

Poetry Reading/Verona Pentony!

Verona Pentony

Verona, whose poem, "The Farmer" came second in last year's competition at the National Ploughing Championship has been invited by Maura Allen, ICA Offaly President to recite some of her favourite poems  including, "The Farmer" and "A Single Black Cross" which was written in memory of Michael Mallin (1916) and was published in a recent anthology by The Meath Writers' Circle, "Centenary in Poetry and Prose", on Stand 278 from 12.30 pm -1 pm on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of September.

Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Championship, was delighted with Verona's news and remembered with gratitude the support received from Bishop Denis Nulty, Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin who spearheaded the Poetry competition last year. She recommended Verona should include, "Leaving Boleybreen 1940"  which reflects on, or highlights the plight of those who swapped their holdings in the west of Ireland for Land Commission farms in Meath, also her poem, "Oh Mother Dear" due to current concerns of suicide in rural areas and how important a role we all have to promote awareness. Verona has published a number of books and has participated in many literary festivals throughout Ireland. 

The National Poetry Competition!

The National Poetry Competition!

From Google Images

The closing date for this one is the 31st of October 2016 and the entry fees are £6.50 for your first poem and £3.50 thereafter. This is one of the world's biggest competitions of its kind and you can enter either online or by post. Details are on their website so check out to make sure that your poems are eligible. Information also available on the Poetry Ireland website competitions page. Link to the right.

Details Here! And the prizes are excellent, £5000 for first £2000 for second and £1000 for third and there are seven commendations of £200. Go for it and good luck!

Boyne Berries/Literary Magazine!

Boyne Berries Literary Magazine, Issue 20/September 2016!

Kites by the Abbey, Rory O' Sullivan
Front Cover

The Boyne Writers invite you to the launch of their literary magazine, Boyne Berries (Issue 20) at The Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Thursday the 29th of September at 8 pm. Sure to be an interesting and entertaining evening. Boyne Berries have more than established itself on the literary scene and attract submissions from all over the world. Orla Fay now edits and links to her blogsite and to Boyne Berries are over to the right. They also have a Facebook page.  

The Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2016!

18th Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award!

Francis Ledwidge

The 1st prize in this competition is the Ledwidge plaque (a keepsake) inscribed with the winner's name plus a cash prize. There are also cash prizes and books for the second and third places with merit certificates for finalists. The first three poems will be entered in the Forward Prize UK. In addition the winner will be invited to read at the annual Francis Ledwidge Commemoration at the National War Memorial Gardens in July 2017.

Poems must be the competitors own work and not previously published or broadcast and not exceed 40 lines. The entry fees are €4 per poem or three for €10 with a maximum of six poems (€20) payable to the Inchicore Ledwidge Society.

Name and address and telephone number on a separate sheet. Stamped addressed envelope or e-mail address for winners list. Poems will not be returned. All entries must be submitted before the 5th of November 2016 to: The Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award 2016, C/O 20, Emmet Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin 8. 

Winners will be notified and results will be announced at our annual awards night. Enquiries to 085 849 7531. Also check out Facebook page: Inchicore Ledwidge Society. 

The Meath Writers' Circle/ September 1916!

The Meath Writers' Circle/ September 1916

The Meath Writers' Circle

About 14 people turned out for the September meeting of the Writers' Circle and with a theme following on from the talk in Ballivor on the subject of trees it proved to be an interesting hour or so. I never knew there were so many poems (or prose) on our leafy friends and though the option of writing something on the nature of sport was there for anyone who wished to avail of it, nobody did. The "final" closing date for the Christmas magazine is September the 10th so everything has to be in by then or that's it. To myself or Máire Ni Mhórdha. The theme is culture/heritage, people or place, particularly in relation to County Meath though it's not a hard or fast rule and if you have an interesting piece on some other aspect of the same why not send it in. The theme for next month's meeting is "change" in whatever way you want to interpret it.