"The Listeners" by Walter de la Mare (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

Here's a great piece of poetry read by Tom O' Bedlam. Although I'd heard it many years ago a recent read at one of our poetry nights in Ardbraccan brought it to mind. Many versions of it on Youtube but the reading above is one of the best. Give it a listen and check out Walter. Beautiful piece of writing.  

Poetry for Pleasure Group ~ An Tobar!

Poetry for Pleasure Group ~ An Tobar!

Leona Rennicks was the generous host for last Tuesday night's meeting of the group, An Tobar being closed for January. Hospitality or greetings was the theme which brought in a few unusual contributions but all grist to the mill. The lead off was a poem about Laytown Races which was written in 1937 I believe, but couldn't get a reference on. The author given as R Kielan? Should keep better notes. Schooldays by Willie G. Hodgins was next followed by my own The Lost Roads of South Meath, the only poem I have where there's any kind of hospitality at all even if it's only a collie dog. I followed this up by reciting Comrades by Eva Gore Booth. To Mattie McGoona by Francis Ledwidge was next and To One Who Comes Now and Then by the same author also got a reading. Summer Poem by Alexander Pope was next (Hope I got that right?) followed by The Guest House by Rumi. Cathleen Reilly read her own piece On Hospitality which was followed by Tom French's The Middle Reaches. Carol Owens read Home, her own piece and Walt Whitman got a look in with A Parting Guest and not familiar with the title I'm getting James Whitcomb Riley for the same title? Fluttering Handkerchief by Maurice Harmon was next followed by Welcome, The Ireland Speaks to The Refugees by Jessamine O' Connor who is from or credited to Roscommon but another poem I'm not familiar with. Antoine O' Raifteirí who was one of the last of the travelling bards (1779 - 1835) was read by Danny Cusack, Anois Teach An Earrach - Spring is Now Coming and the night finished off with Gravities by Seamus Heaney. Now that was a night of poetry!

Poet Pat Boran reads at Kennys Bookshop, 2018

Came across a poem by Pat many years ago in The Irish American Post, if my memory serves me well and it may not, but I'm reading through his New and Selected Poems at the moment and there's the line I remember ~ the Irish between wars ~ . The poem is called The Immortal and is from his collection The Unwound Clock (1990) Not included above but give a listen. Needs no introduction in Irish poetry land and is a member of Aosdana, the Irish academy of artists. With thanks to Kennys Bookshop who posted and the share button on youtube. Enjoy. www.dedaluspress.com

Listowel Writers' Week 2020!

Listowel Writers' Week 2020!

Ireland's oldest literary festival is celebrating its 50th year in 2020 and there are any number of writing competitions and other events here for your enjoyment. The festival runs from Wednesday the 27th of May to Sunday the 31st and the closing dates and terms and conditions for entry are available on their website. So be sure to check out all details. The closing dates for some are coming up very soon. 

The link is: https://writersweek.ie    Good to go and good luck!

Poetry for Pleasure ~ An Tobar/Ardbraccan!

Happy New Year friends

Our next  Poetry for Pleasure  session is on  Tuesday evening at 7.30pm  on 21st January  in Leona Rennicks home in Ardbraccan.

The  Guiding theme is Hospitality/Welcome

Many thanks to Leona for her  generous offer of a venue

The Eircode for her home  is C15 EV7W

We are back in An Tobar for our February meeting on Tuesday evening 18th February. 

May we continue to enjoy the magic and  the deep mystery that poetry brings to us

Jim,
Kiltale,
Navan
Co na Mí
087 9676728

Email: jim@slip.ie

january man

Something seasonal to start the year. There are a number of versions of this out there but I think this one is the best. Written by Dave Goulder who was a former Derby railwayman and dry stone waller. (Info from youtube comments) Christy does a great job here, but give a listen to some of the others and see what you think. With thanks to "securehotel". who posted and to youtube for the share button. 

Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Contest 2020!

Stephen A DiBiase 5th Annual Poetry Contest 2020!

This is one I gave a mention to at about this time last year  and interesting in that there are no entry fees and it is open to all poets worldwide. The closing date is January the 15th so still a bit of time with results sent to you by email in March 2020. The first prize is $500 with $400 for second and $300 for third, $200 for fourth plus cash awards for honourable mentions. So, very generous indeed. Finalists will be invited to a reading near Albany NY in May 2020. 

There is a one poem limit and poems are to be submitted as word or pdf with a ten word bio in the body of the email. All other details about yourself to be included there also and not on the attachment. If the poem is over two pages long snail mail it to Bob Sharkey, 19 Hunter Avenue, Latham NY 12110 USA.

The email address is  riverrun@nycap.rr.com 

Check out their Facebook page for the original details and for further information. Checking through the finalists from last year it was interesting to see two Irish names there, including one very local indeed. "The War Room" by John Paul Davies from Navan, County Meath. Congratulations there! Finalists from abroad if unable to attend are encouraged to attend one open mic or other event they would not normally be present at. Some interesting pieces on their Facebook page.