Land of the Ever Young ~ Galway Advertiser/Review!

 Galway Advertiser Review!

 #GALWAY December 2 2021

New anthology of children’s stories by working class writers

 By Kernan Andrews:  Land of the Ever Young,  is a new anthology of writing for children by working class authors - the final volume in a trilogy of working people’s writing from contemporary Ireland.    Land Of The Ever Young , like its predecessors - the poetry anthology,  Children of the Nation , and prose anthology,  From The Plough To The Stars  - have been edited by Galway academic Jenny Farrell and is published by Culture Matters. It also features illustrations by Karen Dietrich.  The book also features writers and stories of Galway interest. Galway’s Moya  Roddy contributed three stories -  ‘Seagull’, ‘The New Friend’, and ‘Your House Is On Fire Your Children Will Burn’ - which are linked by themes of children fighting for things they believe  in and finding their own selves.

Celia de Fréine, who divides her time between Dublin and Connemara, recalls Ireland in the 1950s and a cross border venture for girls wearing slacks. In addition, her Irish language mnemonic sets out to help remember the colours of the rainbow.  Eileen Keane’s ‘On The Mountain’ is a fond memoir of a small sheep farmer’s relationship with his daughter, teaching her the folklore and songs of North Connemara. The authors present children and adults who confront wrongs, challenge superstition and injustice, who often see further than others around them, and who are determined to make their society a fairer place.  The project has been fully supported by the Irish trade union movement in recognition of the importance of creativity and the right of working class people to express their culture and experience of life.   Land of the Ever Young:

An Anthology of Working People’s Writing for Children from Contemporary Ireland  is available via   www.culturematters.org. uk  ; Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop; and Kenny’s Bookshop. 

 

 €12

 

 

                           

 

 

Land of the Ever Young ~ Reviewed/Irish Times!

 Irish Times Reviewed!

Jenny Farrell

Young, gifted and working-class: a different kind of Irish children’s anthology These stories and poems contrast with the middle-class values of mainstream literature

 Land of the Ever Young is the final volume of a set of three anthologies of working people’s writing from contemporary Ireland, published by Culture Matters. This present work is unique – it is the first ever anthology of children’s stories in Ireland penned by working-class writers.

The project is a pioneering venture that has been fully supported by the Irish trade union movement in recognition of the importance of creativity and the right of the working class to express the wealth of their culture and to articulate their experience of life.

In this regard, the 30 stories and poems for children present an understanding of the world that contrasts with the conventional middle-class social values extolled by mainstream children’s literature over a century. For very many children in Ireland and elsewhere, such books do not reflect their life experience.

In this volume the authors present heroines and heroes who confront wrongs, challenge superstition and injustice. Together, they highlight the qualities necessary to make society a fairer, better place, a home for a happy future, a Tír na nÓg, the Land of the Ever Young. A modern re-working of Grimm’s fairytales and Irish folk tales play a novel role in imparting this vision. These writings have a subtext of inclusive humanity that are rooted in Ireland and the Irish imagination.

As in the two preceding volumes, this anthology includes texts in Irish as well as English, emphasising the Irish-language tradition in working people’s writing. This includes Tomás Mac Síomóin’s poem An Teachín Liath/ The Grey House, an appeal to the radical power of imagination. To find your utopia, you must think outside of the box: “Paidrín ná paidir fós ní leor/ ná dlíthe dorcha an tréada/ ach síneann staighre id’ chroí istigh/ chuig a theaichín ar chúl na gealaí.” .” (“stale formulas or with words/ Prayers also will not serve,/ the laws obscure the way/ only the stairs of your heart’s desire/ can bring you to his secret.”)

James O’Brien’s autofiction, A little table for Packy, describes a childhood experience that children who have witnessed the current pandemic can easily relate to: “an epidemic of diphtheria had broken out across the city and claimed scores of lives”. Packy’s father cannot visit him despite his lifethreatening illness, because he has to work in England.

Also set in a hospital is Alan Weadick’s Four Eyes, which explores seeing, literally and metaphorically. Like Packy, the boy at the centre of this contemporary story is away from home, the safety of his world shaken, with a dawning realisation of another, not entirely benign reality outside of his own mind.

Several writers re-tell older texts, both Irish and European. Ross Walsh reimagines three fairy tales popularised by the Grimm brothers, writing grim tales of today. Puss in Boots and the Ogre begins: “Once upon a time, there was a big tall apartment block in a huge city. Most of the people who lived in these apartments did not have much money.” A female cat helps these people set things right. In The Blue Lighter, a magician helps a worker to help the workers in a factory. In Walsh’s version of Little Red Riding Hood, both Wolf and Grandma act decisively faced with a modern-day dilemma. Things in Walsh’s new fairy tales do not have to stay as they are, and the “weak” have power when they stand together.

Eileen Keane tells of a small sheep farmer’s relationship with his young daughter, teaching her about the work, folklore and traditional songs of north Connemara. The people who work the land are its true inheritors. Anne Mac Darby-Beck’s The Fairy Fort tells of a child’s courage in defeating some of the more distasteful characters of superstition, showing that a human child can defeat a fairy king. Gabriel Rosenstock shows in The Blind Ones how superstition and prejudice blind people and remove them from their true heritage.

Blindness of another kind is at the heart of Michael Casey’s Fabled Isle, which leads to the collapse of an island, where only a boy can see what is happening: “He wondered how it was that no one else on the island had known what was going on under their very noses.” Frank Murphy, in his take on class society in A New Deal, shows the decadence and hollowness of the ruling class in the tradition of Dickens and Tressell.

Alan O’Brien, in The Old Man and the Blackbird, and Moya Roddy, in Seagull, explore the kindness of an old man and a young girl towards injured birds. People’s bond with nature is a theme in many of the stories, including Anne Mac Darby-Beck’s re-telling of Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose. Assuming responsibility for the natural world, of which we are a part, is shown to be an aspect of ourselves. Kindness to animals and nature is a measure of humanity.

Several authors explore aspects of Irish history. Gráinne Daly re-imagines the famous meeting of 1593, between the Irish pirate queen Gráinne Mhaol and the English (also pirate) queen Elizabeth. Liz Gillis takes a look at more recent history in her story about three young girls involved in the Irish Revolution, working-class girls who wanted to and did, make a difference. Celia de Fréine’s Wearing the Trousers propels readers into 1950s Ireland and the important question of stereotyping and prejudices against women at that time.

Several authors set their stories in schools, or on the block. Karl Parkinson (Blockhood) uses phonetic spelling to create great closeness to the world of children growing up in working-class estates. Set in Dublin schools, Declan Geraghty challenges the dictate of advertising (Saturn 2000s), and Camillus John’s zany humour informs The Sponsored Cat-Squeeze. Moya Roddy imagines Galway children’s action in helping to save the environment in Your House is on Fire Your Children will Burn. The Covid pandemic, its impact on the lives of inner-city Dublin children, is the theme of Cathy Scuffil’s essay Children Making History. When we look back at historic events, we very rarely hear or read of the experiences of children, especially children from working-class areas.

Children re-read stories many times, often the tales and pictures stay with them for a lifetime. Land of the Ever Young has been sensitively illustrated by Karen Dietrich. Her images expand the humanist themes contained in the texts and help make them truly memorable for children and adults alike. Land of the Ever Young: An Anthology of Writing for Children by Working People from Contemporary Ireland, edited by Jenny Farrell, is published by Culture Matters, at €12, and is available from its website; Connolly Books, Dublin; An Ceathrú Póilí, Belfast; Charlie Byrne’s and Kenny’s Bookshop, Galway.

€12

Thomas Kinsella Reading

Thomas Kinsella 

A message for Christmas. Thomas Kinsella reading at the Gate Theatre ~ July 27th 2007. The video was loaded by Poetry Ireland and with thanks. 

Thomas Kinsella ~ Born May 4th 1928 - Died December 22nd 2021.

Your Sure Hands!

Your Sure Hands ~ Johnny Duhan

A beautiful ballad by Johnny Duhan about his daughter and something for Christmas ~ wherever you may be! Loaded by Johnny Duhan and with thanks. Enjoy. 

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure Group!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure Group.

The next meeting of the above group is on Tuesday the 14th of December at 7.30pm. If you are attending please let Jim Owens and June at An Tobar know so that they can allow for numbers with regard to restrictions etc. The respective telephone numbers are 046 90 78973 and 086 391 7297 for June at An Tobar and 087 967 6728 for Jim Owens.

The suggestion is a poem ..... 'Here Is One I Like' whatever that brings to your mind!    

The Ballad Of James Larkin (Live On ‘Ballad Sheet’, 1969, RTÉ)

Decade of Centenaries 1912 ~ 1923! 

Looking for something to mark the above I couldn't find anything relating to County Meath, though other counties have material up. Not saying it's not there, just didn't find it. I note that Sligo has two contributions from writers who contributed to this year's magazine. ( Michael Farry and Joe McGowan) and Michael would have mentioned many of the characters involved in the Sligo area in his book of poems 'Troubles' 2020. 

I settled on the above because of the quality of the recording and it's Christy at his absolute best. I wonder if either Larkin or Connolly were to come back today what would they make of it all. Not much I'd imagine, though I watched another Connolly (Catherine) address the Dáil and she seemed the real deal. The Dáil looked empty. Loaded by Universal Music Group and with thanks. 

Add Michael McNamara to the comment about Catherine Connolly.   

The song was written by Donagh MacDonagh (1912 - 1968) who was the son of Thomas MacDonagh and Muriel Gifford.   

Launch of All Strangers Here!

Launch of 'All Strangers Here'.

A treasure trove of poetry and storytelling brought to my attention by Jim Owens of the An Tobar poetry group, Navan. Especially liked the pieces about Daniel Binchy and Seamus Heaney's reading the Scots Gaelic poem on the 'Highland Clearance'. The above certainly beats most of what's on television and the quality of the presentation with regard to the material in the book is excellent, though the video editing could have included a table of contents and the names of the speakers when they were on camera. That said settle in for some entertainment. Loaded by the Museum of Literature, Ireland and with thanks.  

Land of the Ever Young ~ Culture Matters!

Land of the Ever Young ~ Culture Matters!

'The Land of the Ever Young' is the third and final volume of a ground - breaking project of anthologies of working people's writing in contemporary Ireland. The others being, 'The Children of the Nation' and 'From the Plough to the Stars'.

The book is available from Connolly Books, Dublin, An Ceathrú Póilí, Belfast, Charlie Byrne's, Galway, Kenny's Bookshops, Galway, Culture Matters or directly from the editor Jenny Farrell.

Price: €12/£11 plus p&p.

Land of the Ever Young ~ Culture Matters!

 Land of the Ever Young ~ Culture Matters!

 Press release for Land of the Ever Young: An Anthology of Working People’s Writing for Children from Contemporary Ireland

On 22^nd November a new children’s book will be published, the final book in a set of three volumes of working people’s writing from contemporary Ireland. It follows on from a poetry anthology, Children of the Nation, and a prose anthology, From the Plough to the Stars, all edited by Jenny Farrell and published by Culture Matters.

 

The project is a pioneering venture that has been fully supported by the Irish trade union movement in recognition of the importance of creativity and the right of the working class to express their culture and their experience of life.

 

All the children’s stories in the book are packed with humanity, tenderness, and wisdom. The authors present children and adults who confront wrongs, challenge superstition and injustice, and who often see further than others around them. The heroines and heroes in these stories are always filled with a sense of the common good, highlighting the qualities necessary to make society a fairer, better place, a home for a happy future, a Tír na nÓg, the Land of the Ever Young. Such a place can only materialise in the absence of wars, of profit-driven greed with its contempt for equality, humanity and the environment— a place where instead the common good is the measure of society.

 

Children read and re-read stories many times, and they often stay with them for a lifetime, acting as a moral compass. This is what makes literature for children so very important. The images that accompany children’s stories are also remembered for a long time, and Land of the Ever Young has been beautifully illustrated by the artist Karen Dietrich. Her images comment on and expand the humanist themes contained in the texts and help make them truly memorable for all readers, children and adults alike.

Land of the Ever Young: An Anthology of Working People’s Writing for Children from Contemporary Ireland, edited by Jenny Farrell with illustrations by Karen Dietrich, ISBN 978-1-912710-43-0, 12 Euros plus p. and p. All three books are available at www.culturematters.org.uk

 

 

 

 

High Noon 1952 - 10 Best Quotes

High Noon ~ 10 Best Quotes!

I know I've posted clips from this film before but it's a wet Thursday morning and the writing scene has gone pretty dead with all the restrictions about so why not. Interesting as to why they only went for ten quotes when there are so many more that should have been included but at least they got in a few from Katy Jurado. Should have included  the one about a Mexican woman in a town like this and also a few more by the Judge and the congregation in Church but that's just the quotes. Visually it's a stunning film and rated one of the best westerns ever made though John Wayne and a few of his friends might not agree. In my opinion the best and one of the best films ever made and if you haven't seen it give yourself a treat. Picked up a number of Oscars with Jurado missing out though I think she got a Golden Globe for her performance and well deserved. Loaded by 'God Loves Movies Too' and with thanks. Go to Youtube to read the comments. 

   

Leonard Cohen recites “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae | Legion Magazine

In Flanders Field ~ John McCrae

Loaded by Legion Magazine and with thanks.

Anthem for Doomed Youth

Anthem for Doomed Youth!

I remember the late Trim poet Tommy Murray telling me that when he was growing up in the town there were still survivors from the first world war that had never recovered from their experiences in the trenches and could be seen staggering around. Today is the anniversary of the armistice in 1918. This poem is read by Sean Bean and loaded by 'eightynine Media'. It was written by Wilfred Owen in 1917. He did not survive the war and was killed in action on the 4th of November 1918. 

Guy Clark - Desperados Waiting For A Train

Guy Clark ~ Desperados Waiting For A Train!

Guy Clark: November 6th 1941 to May 17th 2016.

Straight out of Texas and one of my favourite American singer/songwriters. Loaded by Lapislazuli42 and with thanks. An anniversary just passed. I see from another version on Youtube the comment about the difference between an analogy and a metaphor. Wouldn't have spotted! Great song. 

Everybody Knows ~ Leonard Cohen with lyrics.wmv

Everybody Knows ~ Leonard Cohen.

The trouble is ~ Everybody doesn't!  Leonard Cohen - September 21, 1934 to November 7, 2021.

Something for the anniversary on a weekend of anniversaries. As I said before he should have got the Nobel Prize. Everybody knows! With thanks to the guy who loaded. Go to the Youtube version  to watch the original and read the comments.

An Tobar Poetry Session: November 2021!

 An Tobar Poetry Session: November 2021!

Ardbraccan Navan

Folks

Good afternoon on this lovely November Day.

Next session on Tuesday 9th November at 7pm. 

The guiding theme for November session: Halloween, Eve of All Saints (All Hallows) Our Special / Sacred Heroes.

(And the December session:  Tuesday 14th December   at 7pm)

Also if time allows we may finalize a date of our first group outing to the refurbished  Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen, Co Monaghan next year.

Also Leona Rennicks will give us an update on the young poet Kevin Dwan who did a reading with us some time ago.

I will give an update an invitation to Jane Clarke who we may welcome to do a reading in May/ June of next year.

Also An Tobar are hosting a day with writer and poet Aidan Matthews on Sunday 5th December. There will be an  information leaflet on this day event available at our meeting on Tuesday.

On Tuesday evening we will use the big room in the basement, the one we used for the October meeting.

When facing the front door of the house turn left and go down steps or ramp.

We are urged to follow covid-19 guidelines including social distance and when moving in the building wearing face covering.

Hope you free to join us.

All are welcome.

Jim Owens

 

Working - Class Studies - An Interdisciplinary Conference!

 

TMore actionsTo:

•  Jenny Farrell

Dear contributors, 

Some of you will have heard about the Working-Class Studies conference taking place next week. If you haven’t here are the programme notes and the link to free registration. 

Jenny

 

If you would be happy to share the conference link to register and program with your mailing list I would be really grateful! Here is the link to share:

 

You can view the program here: https://workingclassstudies.com/

From Jenny Farrell

And register here:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/irish-working-class-studies-an-interdisciplinary-conference-tickets-175053789597?ref=estw

Results: The Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards 2021!

 Results of the Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards 2021

Dear competitors,

Due to the current rates of infections and hospitalisations of Covid19 we have, regretfully, decided not to hold our celebratory ceremony again this year. The Saggart Heritage Centre is small and not adequately ventilated, thus we believe this decision is in the best interest of all persons involved.

We hope and pray that in 2022 we will be able to enjoy, once more, the joy and conviviality of our gatherings to honour Jonathan Swift and the creative power of the written/spoken word.

We thank all of you for entering our competition and for your continued support. We also wish you health and many happy writing hours.

Maria

Short stories

Joint 2nd prize – Interlude – Noel Dan Mc Canna

Joint 2nd prize – The Gods of Our Livers – Stephanie Clark

3rd prize – Simpson – Stewart Davitt

Highly Commended

Good Girls – Emma Cooling

The Visitor – Stewart Davitt

Elsie – Tom Ryan

Puppets – James Conway

Commended

The nape of his neck – Joe Mc Kiernan

Voucher Woman – Joseph Murphy

Paintings at an Exhibition – Lilian Webb

A Freak Like Me – Gerry Mc Kiernan

Home – Liam Mc Nevin

The Love Song of Cicadas – Stephanie Clark

Poetry

1st prize – Turning – Jean Tuomey

2nd prize – Famine – James Conway

3rd prize – Solo trip – Berni Dwan

Highly Commended

Gasping the happiest prayer –James Conway

Roadside flowers – Joseph Murphy

My Humble Legacy – Berni Dwan

The knot – Louise C Scott

Sea You – Noel Dan Mc Canna

Commended

Desperados – Frank Murphy

Sisohpromatem –Anne Martin

Discipline Days – Evelyn Nolan Dowling

When he went in – Gavin Bourke

Spirit-land – Tom Ryan

The passion of the Christ – Louise C Scott

Glimpses of my father – Willie Joe Meally

The Spring Bame – Willie Joe Meally

Shell earrings – Mary Moloney

Results from The Jonathan Swift Facebook Page and with thanks. Frank Murphy

The Judges were Maria Wallace and Michael J. Whelan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trim Poetry Festival 2022!

 Trim Poetry Festival 11 - 13 March 2022!

The above competition is now open for entries - 10 October 2021 to 10 December 2021 and details for payment and entry conditions are available on their website - link to the right. The information is also available on the Poetry Ireland Competition page and there are very generous prizes (€500 to the winner and two runners-up will receive €100 each). A shortlist of ten will be published on their Blog in February 2022. Entries are only accepted by email and payment for the competition is by Paypal. The Judge is Patrick Lodge. €5 per poem or €10 for three. 

The Meath Writers' Circle/Annual Magazine 2021!

 The Meath Writers' Circle/ Annual Magazine 2021!

This year's magazine is now out and for sale and a copy can be had from any of the members of the group. It includes the usual mix of poetry and prose both modern and 'trad' with a special feature on the American Civil War as well as items on WW1, WW2 and  'Western Migration' during the Land Commission period. There is a junior poetry section as well with historical pieces and a few short stories and memories for good measure. There are biographical notes at the back and seventy six pages in all.  A4 size and an absolute give away at €8 it would make the ideal Christmas present. If you are not familiar with any member of the group call 086 108 5528 or 087 684 6623 or leave a note on the blog and we'll get a copy to you also there should be copies available in the Heritage Centre in Trim, County Meath.  Enjoy!     

Brendan Kennelly - A Personal Glimpse by Noel O'Grady

Brendan Kennelly ~ Born April 17th 1936 ~ Died October 17th 2021.

Searching for a poem or two I came across this tribute by Noel O' Grady from 2016. Loaded by Andy Flaherty and with thanks.

Simon & Garfunkel - America (from The Concert in Central Park)

Simon & Garfunkel - America!

Paul Simon was born on the 13th of October 1941 and celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday and what can you say about the guy? One of the really great singer-songwriters of the past century or indeed any time. An artist in every sense of the word. I heard someone say on the radio that when they were handing out Nobel Prizes they should have given one to Paul and indeed to Leonard as well. Look around you now where has it all gone? Plastic culture. Where has America gone? Loaded by Simon & Garfunkel ~ with thanks. 

Fire in my Head ~ Moya Roddy!

Fire in my Head ~ Moya Roddy

You replied on Mon 11/10/2021 2

 Moya Roddy is delighted to invite you to

the online launch of her new collection of short stories 

Fire in my Head 

on

Thursday 14^th October at 8pm

LINK TO LAUNCH

YOUTUBE:  https://youtu.be/YAMjMpV3T3U

 

The launch is hosted by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop and the book is being launched by poet Rachael Hegarty.

Books will be available to order at the launch (and afterwards!)* Bring your preferred beverage and join me at 8pm!

I hope to see you there and send my warmest wishes. 

*www.charliebyrne.ie - info@charliebyrne.ie - 091561766

Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop Ireland’s best-loved independent bookshop in the heart of Galway City. A labyrinthine maze of over 100,000 books...