Willie Nelson - Me and Paul!

Willie Nelson ~ Me and Paul!

Of the many songs recorded by Willie this is the one that comes to mind, but another day, who knows? 

Texas outlaws there is very little out there to compare with them today. Commercial what ever you want to call it and so well produced you could shine your shoes. Paul English was Willie's drummer and his friend for seventy years. He passed away in February 2020. Loaded by 'gringotroller' and with thanks. To Youtube for the comments.

Willie Nelson Reflects on Turning 90 & How Marijuana Saved His Life | E!...

Willie Nelson ~ Happy Birthday!

Willie Nelson ~ Born April 29th 1933.

Loaded by E! Insider and with thanks.

Trip to Heaney Centre ~ Bellaghy!

 An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure Group!

Folks 

Hope you enjoyed Poetry Day yesterday! 

Carol Owens has kindly got a quote for travel to the Heaney Centre.

Hopefully we will have 16 people travelling to the centre on Saturday 24th June for this exciting adventure. We would leave from An Tobar.

Please let Carol and myself know If you are interested in travelling to the Heaney Centre on the 24th June 

Carol's email address is carol.peacefulhaven@gmail.com

My email address is jim@slip.ie 

We need to know numbers before our next poetry meeting on Tuesday 23rd May.to confirm bus hire

Looking forward to hearing from you

Jim 

087 967 6728 

The Pomegranate by Eavan Boland!

Poetry Ireland Day/Eavan Boland 24th September 1944 - 27 April 2020

One of Eavan's great poems. Now what would you have done?

Posted by Carlos Berrera and with thanks.

Watch below.

https://youtu.be/y-Dp0QogUI4

Wake her up. There are some roads you don't go down!

Posted by greysummoning and with thanks.

An Tobar Poetry For Pleasure ~ April 2023!

 An Tobar Poetry For Pleasure ~ April 2023!

Friends,

The time for our next poetry session approaches, yes tomorrow evening (25th) at 7.30pm in An Tobar,Ardbraccan.

The guiding theme for our session is the poet, the late Eavan Boland (1944-2020). She died just at the beginning of the Covid epidemic.

Some of her poems highlight the 'centrality of the ordinary'.

Her poem The Emigrant Irish  was read by Mary Robinson in Ballina before President Joe Biden spoke.

But as usual any poem you wish to share on the night  is welcome.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening.

Slán go fóill

Jim

087 9676728

Fotheringhay ~ Sandy Denny!

Fotheringhay ~ Sandy Denny!

The anniversary of the death of Sandy Denny was on yesterday the 21st April and gives me a chance to hit the share button on the above ballad. (With thanks to who posted)

Hauntingly beautiful this and written by her it tells the story of Mary Queen of Scots who was imprisoned in Fotheringhay for 21 years before her execution in 1587. Perhaps one of the finest folk ballads ever recorded.

Sandy Denny (6th January 1947 - 21st April 1978) 

"The Field Where The Satyrs Danced" by Lord Dunsany!

'The Field Where The Satyrs Danced' by Lord Dunsany. (1878 - 1957)

One of Ireland's most important writers and perhaps a prophet in the literary sense of not being honoured, Lord Dunsany is best known today for his fantasy novels, though he was much more that that and was a poet and dramatist as well with an output that could only be described as prodigious. Recently visited by the An Tobar Poetry Group the estate is now part of the 'Rewilding' program and stretches from Glane near the Trim road to Tara, made up of hills, streams and beautiful woodlands and fields as described above.The castle was built in 1181 by Hugh de Lacy and has been occupied by the Plunkett family ever since. Its sister castle just up the road is now a golf course with the outstanding view from the road obscured by hedges. Dunsany was also the patron of the war poet Francis Ledwidge who was killed at Ypres in 1917 and who was advised by Dunsany not to go to war. I remember reading a piece once, written about a cricket match played against Trinity just before the war and wondering  what happened to those young men. Joseph Mary Plunkett who was one of the 1916 rebellion leaders also had family connections as did Saint Oliver Plunkett who was executed at Tyburn in 1681. Another one of Ireland's great poets, Patrick Kavanagh paid the castle a visit when he was brought there by his dark haired friend Hilda Moriarty but to no success. Much of Dunsany's work is freely available on the internet and Youtube and worth the time. The above post was loaded by 'Ramblingidioms' and with thanks. 

Boyne Writers Group ~ Booklet Launch!

 Boyne Writers Group ~ Booklet Launch!

If you happen to find yourself in Trim Co. Meath this Thursday night then why not drop in to the Castle Arch for a little poetry and conversation. All are welcome!

John Prine - Hello In There!

John Prine ~ Hello in There!

Yesterday was the anniversary of the passing of one of America's great singer - songwriters and the above is dedicated to those who had their freedoms taken away during the Covid years and it was worldwide. John Prine had very strong Irish connections, to both Donegal and Kinvara and his wife and manager was Fiona Whelan, Loaded by EileenMN. aka adamfulgence and with thanks. Youtube for the comments.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ April Meeting 2023!

 Meeting Cancelled!

As next Thursday is 'Holy Thursday' our meeting in Navan Library is cancelled due to the early closing time. The theme for the meeting was Easter but keep writing. Hope to see you all in May.  

The Oliver Goldsmith Poetry Competition 2023!

The Oliver Goldsmith Poetry Competition 2023!

The closing date for this year's competition is the 28th of April and the entries can be by post or email. Winners will be invited to read their poems at the outdoor event in Pallas on Sunday the 4th of June 2023 with a first prize of €500 and a total prize fund of €800. This is a lovely part of the country and the theme of this year's festival is 'Citizens of the World ~ Ireland's emigration and immigration'. The Judge is Gerard Smyth and the entry fee is €10 for three poems. But be sure to read the rules and conditions. Link to the right - Poetry Ireland or to their website.

https://olivergoldsmithfestival.com