A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh!

A Christmas Childhood ~ Patrick Kavanagh.

Voiced by Mike King and loaded by Ian Kinsella and with thanks. A visit to Youtube for more information and details. There are a number of recordings of this poem out there but I like this one the best. It is one of Ireland's finest poems and you really have to feel it to read it. I remember hearing Bertie Ahern read it on radio once and a fine performance it was. So I hope you enjoy. Happy Christmas and New Year. FM.

HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER). (Ultimate Mix, 2020) John & Yoko Plastic Ono B...

Happy Xmas (War is Over)

If only! Loaded by johnlennon and with thanks. To Youtube for the comments. A very happy Christmas to everyone and new year as well. FM. About the only thing I could think of after that was Bob Dylan's 'Master of War'. John Lennon was in my opinion one of most important artist to ever come out of Britain. There were others but he was there at the top.   

Cathalbui Poetry Competition 2025!

  Cathalbui Poetry Competition 2025 - free entry!

1 Maximum 20 lines in Irish or English

2 Please paste your unpublished poem into the body of your email

3 Send to: Belcoopoet@gmail.com

4 Closing date: 17 March 2025

Results announced at Macnean Hedge School 5 July 2025

Patrick Harte poetry prize and plaque; 1^st £100: 2^nd £60 3^rd £40.

* One for your diary and to get you writing over the Christmas period. 

Boundary Commissions!

Boundary Commissions!

I wrote this poem during the Brexit negotiations and it's one of those 'Stay out of my back yard' type of poems. Not 'Copperhead Road'. But you catch the drift. From Youtube.

Boundary Commissions!

There were certain legacy issues here,

Leftovers.

Conversations,

That were not about the conversions

That were known to the Guards

Paid handsomely.

Due diligence on the green diesel

And you could be out for hours

Fly tipping.

The drones 

Up for the discussion

There was money in the mattress

The disposables.

Sterling stuff

The sprouts.

Twenty five after four

Of a Friday

And sure who'd answer the phone

Anyway!

Down here 

It was Dublinitis

Out there....

We look after

Our own!

Frank Murphy. 

Felix Halton, Drumgore!

Felix Halton ~ 16th October 1915 - 12th October 2002!

At our Christmas Party or get-together on Tuesday night last, the talk turned to past members and especially to Bridie Halton and the work she did on compiling some of the poems of her cousin Felix, who was a gifted traditional poet from Drumgore, Loughduff, in County Cavan. I mentioned at the time that there were some of his recordings up on Youtube and although the sound quality may not be great they give you an insight into the character and upbeat nature of the man and his love for his native place. Bridie compiled these from audio recordings in a collection titled Among The Breffni Hills which was published by The Universal Publishing Group in 2014 and it was quite a feat. Bridie herself passed away on Friday the 6th on May 2022. The videos are by 'padohalton' and with thanks.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ December 2024!

 The Meath Writers' Circle ~ December 2024!

The next meeting of our group takes place is on this Thursday night coming, the 5th of December at 6.15 pm in Trim Library. More of a Christmas or social get-together than a writing or poetry event but anything goes. Bring a poem or story or a song or whatever takes your interest and you'll be more than welcome. Light refreshments served and a chance to catch up on all the news with perhaps a bit of feedback on our recent book. All welcome. Hope to see you there. FM.