Volunteer of the Year/ Scurlogstown Olympiad 2016!

Volunteer of the Year/ Scurlogstown Olympiad 2016!

Joe Conlon / Noel Fitzsimmons

A night of music, poetry and song was held in Jack Quinn's of Scurlogstown last night to honour Noel Fitzsimmons who picked up the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Trim Municipal District Awards, which were held on Thursday the 6th of October last in the Johnstown House Hotel Enfield, County Meath. Joe Conlon presented him with a plaque in recognition of his contribution to the Scurlogstown Olympiad group. Another prize winner there on the night was James Linnane of Ballivor who is launching his collection of short stories, "Leaving Galway" in Jack Quinn's on Saturday the 3rd of December but more on that to follow. Our own magazine will be launched there on Friday the 11th of November and hope to have further details on that shortly. Two of the highlights on the night though were the talks given by Cynthia Simonet and Dr. Noel Clancy on the history of the locality, in particular the coming of the Normans and the battle of Dungan's Hill, which Dr. Clancy covered in great detail. Although I suspect little is known of the event at least one of descriptive term on some of those who took part in the battle has come down to the present day, though whether it's complementary or not I don't know.

  

Strokestown International Poetry Competition 2017!

Strokestown International Poetry Competition 2017!

From Google Images

The Strokestown Poetry Competition for 2017 has a closing date of December the 2nd and a number of different categories of entry. The fee is €5 per entry for each poem and you may submit an unlimited number in any of the categories of your choice. For every five poems entered, a bonus poem may be entered free. Payment to be made in Euros and personal cheques, postal orders, bank drafts and international money orders are acceptable. No more than one poem from any entrant will appear on the shortlist. The judges' shortlist will appear at the end of February in 2017 and all entries will be read by the judges. Short-listed poets will receive a generous reading fee and the prize-winners for each category will be announced and awarded during the Strokestown International Poetry Festival, Strokestown County Roscommon, Ireland  which runs from the 27th to the 30th of April 2017. Competitors may also enter online and best to check out the full details at: www.strokestownpoetry.org . And good luck!

Centenary In Reflection/SiarScéal Anthology 2016!

Centenary In Reflection/SiarScéal Anthology 2016!

Many of the contributions here have something of a personal feel to them whether it is in remembrance of times past or of the events that shaped us as a nation and perhaps it is that absence of comment that was noted in our own anthology on the part played by women throughout the Rising, or afterwards, that is more than redressed here, that lends something towards that. The new state though was not kind to women. The "Letter of Comfort" by Mary Higgins towards the end of the book and other pieces tell their own story. There are contributions here as well from participating Rocommon schools both Secondary and National that draw something from the Hanna Greally experience and noted now in relation to where she was incarcerated, it is a story that just won't go away. Some of Ireland's best known poets and writers are included here as well and maybe George Walker's poem, "Reflections in a Glass Darkly" on the centenary of Einstein's General Theory of Relatively says it all. The Book is published by The Manuscript Press.

www.themanuscriptpublisher.com 

www.SiarSceal.com

Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust (With Lyrics)

So Bob wins the Nobel Prize for Literature and those early protest songs... he wasn't afraid. And then he went off and did something different. Now who says poets don't make a difference? Nice one. This is a tribute from Joan Baez. With thanks to Dave Bing who posted and youtube.

Centenary In Reflection/SiarScéal Anthology!

Centenary In Reflection/SiarScéal Anthology

Kieran Furey. Poet

Victor Feldman, Actor, Director and Play-right

Carmel Kelly Palmer (Centre) and family

A few photos from the launch of "Centenary in Reflection" an anthology  inspired by events from the past hundred years through two world wars, emigration, 1916, and much more. The anthology includes contributions from writers and students both local and international and was launched in Roscommon County Library on Saturday last. Check out the link below for loads of info!

www.SiarSceal.com

Boyne Berries 20/Launch!

Boyne Berries 20/Launch!

Ken Davis the former editor of The Meath Chronicle launched the above on Thursday the 29th of September in the Castle Arch in Trim and on a once through there's some very interesting material here. Sinéad Mac Devitt in her poem, "Colooney Street, 1904" remembers the boycott of the Jewish community in Limerick and reflects on the change of name and perhaps the irony of that, though I'll have to read up some I think. There is also a fine "Road Poem" here from P.D. Lyons, "Full Moon Not Since Ohio" and there's been one or two of them in former issues if I remember correctly. By some coincidence I was reading Brian Kirk's, "In My Day" while Sandy Dennis was playing on the radio, "Who Knows Where The Time Goes", and there's a  fine poem here by a Carl Boon who lives and works in Turkey called, "Thames". Have to be added to those river poems I guess. In the prose section, "The Stolen Child" by Stephen Wade reflects on what was held in some truth by country folk not so very long ago and perhaps still is and he reminds us that "anything is possible" - in every sense. And that's just some of what's between the pages. The magazine also includes contributions from The Boyne Writers and the meticulous attention to craft and detail is there as usual. The art work on the cover is by Rory O' Sullivan. To purchase a copy link to the right: Boyne Berries.     

The Meath Writers' Circle/ Meeting October 2016

The Meath Writers' Circle/ Meeting October 2016!

Poster from Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival

About eleven members turned out last Thursday evening for the October meeting and planning for our Christmas party and the launch of our second annual magazine was the order of the day, though we read some poems and short stories as well. The magazine should be ready by early November though the launch date is yet to be confirmed. Should be an interesting night as there is some great variety in there. Hopefully all goes well. All are requested to be there if possible on the first Thursday of November to finalize details and any other business as they say.  

Boyne Berries 20 Launch/Photos!

Boyne Berries 20 Launch/Photos!

Anne Crinnion and Ken Davis

Orla Fay and P.D. Lyons

Stephen Wade and James Linnane

Michael Farry and Siobhan Daffy

Some photos taken at the launch of the Boyne Berries literary magazine. Hope I got the names right. Will have a read through and get back to later.

Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival 2016!

Dunshaughlin and District Historical Society.
Sunday 25th September.

Frank Murphy and Sean Boylan

As part of the Harvest Festival there were any number of interesting talks and exhibitions in the Pastoral Centre including presentations by guest speakers Noel French and Sean Boylan, who talked of his grandfather's involvement in the 1916 Rising and after-wards. Padraig Pearse appointed him as O/C for the Meath area and he later became one of Michael Collins most important associates. He was the Brigade Commanding Officer of The Meath Brigade, IRA in 1920 and he later became Commandant General. There were many interesting stories told and and some of them relating to the present day but it was only by accident I happened along. Sean above was the "Meath County Football Manager" in the glory days when you could walk around a corner in some distant place to be met by a tee-shirt that said "Meath are Magic".  There were copies of Noel French's book on 1916 for those who were early enough but that wasn't me so I'll have to pick up a copy next time I'm in Trim. Also of interest was a map of the Village back then and the backdrop of Jo Stanley's involvement in the Rising. The girl doing the presentation was very good indeed. An exhibition of 1916 memorabilia and crafts was in the Main Hall and David Murnane talked of his grandfather and of his father  who was Dr Murnane and who had a dispensary at Belper. In the Coffee Dock there were Teas and "war" fare such as Trench Cake which was sent to Irish soldiers in the trenches during WW1. Anything I tried tasted fine! Other speakers included Tola Collier on The Battle of Ashbourne and Cecily Murray on The Gaelic League in Meath and that was just a small part of The Harvest Festival in Dunshaughlin which is huge. Finally congratulations to Linda Reid of Kilmessan who was the Dunshaughlin  Harvest Queen 2016.