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.