Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence [Official Music Video]

One of my favourite ballads from the sixties and one of the best ever by Simon and Garfunkel, this version by David Draiman of Disturbed is a classic in its own right. Over three hundred and fifty million hits on youtube and just give a listen! With thanks to Youtube and the share button!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ March 2018!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure/Ardbraccan, Navan.

The theme for last Tuesday night's meeting was either satire or romance and just about everyone managed a poem or two that was either one or both. Some of the more interesting included Thomas De Quincey's, On Murder Considered as one of the Fine Arts, first published in 1827 and Willie G. Hodgins', Romance with a Difference.  She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron was very well read by Sean Reilly and if I remember correctly he did a take on Julie Andrews', My Favourite Things. All had interesting stories attached. Other pieces read included, Song of Wandering Aengus by W. B. Yeats, Base Details by Siegfried Sassoon, The Hospital by Patrick Kavanagh, and also his poems, Come Dance With Kitty Stobling and Consider The Grass Growing, so he was the most popular on the night. Myself I read, A Knight's Tale and A House of Cards and Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth also got a reading. The theme for the next meeting in April is, Pastimes.

Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair dom do laimh - Planxty 1973

The death of Liam O' Flynn last week brings to an end, in some way, an era where only a few musicians would have such an effect on the popular culture of the time that their original "Black Album" is still considered one of the greats of Irish recordings and the piping of Liam O' Flynn contributed in no small way to that. What Planxty brought to the traditional Irish music scene or culture was perhaps only matched by the Clancy Brothers or the Dubliners, or in more recent times, Riverdance. They got it by the scruff of the neck and said, "Wake Up!" There are all sorts of influences playing above and Planxty blended them together to bring you a little magic. He will be missed. Enjoy! With thanks to Mick Connell who loaded to youtube.

The Last Straw - Tom French

Book Launch/The Solstice - Navan.

Tom French and Peter Fallon

Made it into the Solstice last Thursday night for the launch of Tom French's fifth book of poems, The Last Straw. A collection of poems that touches on almost everything from place to person and is available in both hardback and paperback editions. Tom was born in Kilkenny and now works for the local studies department of The Meath County Library. He was a winner of the Forward Prize for his first collection, Touching the Bones (2001) and received the Dermot Healy Award in 2015 and the O' Shaughnessy Award for Poetry in 2016. His other books, The Fire Step appeared in 2009, Midnightstown in 2014 and The Way to Work in 2016. Published by The Gallery Press in Oldcastle the book is one for your collection and is available in all good bookshops. Peter Fallon who is the editor of The Gallery Press did the honours on the night.

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2018!

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2018!

The above is for a single unpublished poem written by an adult for children and will feature in the summer 2018 issue of The Caterpillar magazine. The details for entry into the competition can be found on their website so please read the rules before sending in your entry. The entry fee in €12 per poem  with  cheque or cash, (made payable to ( The Moth Magazine) - money or postal order €12, credit or debit card via PayPal. The annual subscription to the The Caterpillar is €28.

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2018

C/O The Moth

Ardan Grange

Miltown

Belturbet

Co. Cavan

Ireland.

Link: www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com       and Good Luck!

Mary Chapin Carpenter : Houston

Watching the Foo Fighters, "Sonic Highways" episode on New Orleans reminded me of this. Also there's another storm outside and no letting up. (A blizzard in March!) With thanks to "paganmaestro" who posted and youtube.