An Tobar ~ Poetry Session/September 2025!

An Tobar ~ Poetry Session/September 2025!

 Good evening folks,

A reminder that our poetry session is on this Tuesday 30th September at 7.30pm. 

We are going with the guiding theme of "Anything Goes"

In other words a poem of your choice. It can be one written by yourself.  

Or it can be a poem that speaks to you as the Autumn creeps in on us.

I can't resist quoting yet again from John Keats' memorable poem To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

   Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

   With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

   And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;..........

By the way I am letting you know that there is a programme on RTE Radio One at 7pm Sunday evening called 'Poetry People' presented by poet Rachael Hegarty.

The blurb about the programme says 

"Poetry People is for everyone who loves poetry as well as those who have yet to discover its magic"

Happy poetic hunting for Tuesday night

Jim

087 9676728 

Swift Sessions ~ Thursday 25th September 2025!

 Swift Sessions ~ Thursday 25th September 2025

Tom Dredge was the guest reader at the Swift Sessions on Thursday night where he read excerpts from his recently published book 'Rambling Along the Royal Canal'. Available from The Liffey Press and I've yet to get a copy of. I remarked that it is full of endless conversation pieces and it is easily one of the finest productions I've seen with illustrations in colour throughout. The photo above is of me trying to sing a ballad called ' The News' which is self explanatory at best and the photo above does justice to the ballad. Tom remarked that it is to the air of 'Follow Me Up to Carlow' and that reminded me of the rhyming pattern of P. J. McCall's song which has the first three lines rhymed but not the fourth then the next three lines rhymed and the eight line rhymes with the fourth. Look I'll have to work on that. Don't forget to look up Tom's book.

* Photo: With thanks to Michael Farry. 

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ October Meeting 2025!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ October Meeting!

The next meeting of our group is on this Thursday coming the 2nd of October in Trim Library at 6.15 pm and everyone is welcome to attend. So whether your interest is poetry, short story writing, novels or music and song, we'd love to see you there. Also time to catch up on how the year has gone. All the best. FM.

George Jones - Wild Irish Rose!

George Jones ~ Wild Irish Rose.

George Jones is rated by many as the greatest American country singer of them all and his vocal techniques are a study all on their own. The above song though was written by Bobby Braddock who came to Nashville to play piano for the late great Marty Robbins and the song is intended as a tribute for those who fought in the Vietnam war and in many cases were forgotten about when they returned. Some of the great writers of anti-war songs include artists such as Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Billy Joel, Buffy Sainte-Marie and I'm sure you could add a few yourself. Irish artists who have covered George Jones songs include Mick Flavin and Matt Leavy and if you're reading this in some far foreign place on a check out you'll be amazed at how good they are. The above video was posted by GeorgeJonesOfficial and a big thank you there. A visit to Youtube and Wikipedia to to check out all the comments and names is a must and some of them are very recent.

George Jones: September 12th 1931 - April 26th 2013.

Boyne Writers Group: The Swift Sessions.

Boyne Writers Group: The Swift Sessions.

         Boyne Writers Group: The Swift Sessions

Thu 25 Sept 2025
7.30 pm
FREE ENTRY(No booking required)

Dates: Thu 25 Sept, 16 Oct & 13 Nov 
Time: 7:30pm 
Price: Free, no booking required. All welcome to join. 

Presented by Boyne Writers Group, The Swift Sessions is an open mic night for those interested in sharing their writing through poetry, prose, spoken word, and song. Each month a different featured performer leads the session.

 

 

Edith Piaf - Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)

Edith Piaf ~ Autumn Leaves(Les Feuilles Mortes)

Something now for the season that's in it though the leaves seem to have been falling all summer. There are many many versions of this song out there but Edith Piaf's voice and the quality and magic of her singing would be very hard to match. A visit to Youtube for the comments and to Wikipedia to check out her background and history is something to add to your to do list. Loaded by harisego and with thanks. The history of the song itself will entertain. Enjoy! 

* The scenes I believe are from the film 'Autumn Leaves' starring Joan Crawford. 1956, Check out on Wikipedia.

27th Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2025!

The Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2025.

                         

 Trophy and Cash Prizes

 1^st Prize is the Ledwidge plaque (a keepsake) inscribed with the winner’s name & cash prize.  Cash prizes and books for Second and Third and merit certificates for finalists.                 

In addition, the winner will be invited to read at the annual Francis Ledwidge Commemoration at the National War Memorial Gardens in July 2026         

 Rules: The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into following the results; entry implies compliance with this rule.  

Poems must be the competitor’s own work

not previously published or broadcast.

Poems should not exceed 40 lines of type

Entry fee: €5 per poem: 4 for €15

Max. 6 poems €25 payable to the Inchicore Ledwidge Society

 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.

Name and address and telephone number on a separate sheet.

S.A.E. or Email address for winners list. Poems will not be returned.

All entries must be submitted before 5^th. November 2025 to

 The Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award 2025,

C/o 20, Emmet Crescent.

 Inchicore, Dublin 8, D08XEY9, Ireland.

Send cheque to the above address for postal entries or for online entries 

Revolut  to 085 849 7531. Paypal to email address

For online entries copy and paste poems to email address

  l_omeara@yahoo.co.uk

Winners will be notified and results will be announced

at our annual awards night in December.  Enquiries 0858497531.

 Facebook page: Inchicore Ledwidge Society

 

 

"Socrates likes to talk philosophy at the taverna" read by Irish Diaspor...

Alvy Carragher ~ "Socrates Likes to talk philosophy at the taverna".

I came across Alvy Carragher in an interview on 'Second Captains' on Saturday the 30th August on RTE Radio. Goes out about 1pm. Presented by Eoin McDevitt and Ciarán Murphy it is a competition of sorts to find the greatest non sports person sports person and she was the guest. Always very interesting with any number of insights depending on who; this one was special because she was a sports person of some accomplishment being a former national champion. The guest the week before was none other than Michael D so she had some competition. Much more information about her if you go to Youtube or visit her own website given below. A winner of the Eavan Boland Poetry Award 2025 and an Irish Track and Field champion not to mention Louisiana she went down to 87 points. I could almost hear the ghost of the famous boxing coach Joe Jacobs on the microphone. 

 Video loaded by UCD Library Special Collections and with thanks.

https://alvycarragher.com 

A Coney Island of The Mind ~ Van Morrison.

A Coney Island of The Mind ~ Van Morrison.

Another famous artist from Northern Ireland; this video was loaded by Belfast Van and George to celebrate Van Morrison's 80th birthday on the 31st of August 2025 and it's a must see. Edited and directed by Peter Lydon and Tom Tyrwhitt it was created in 1990 and some of Ireland's best known poets are here. There are other copies out there and a visit to Youtube for the comments on those ones is worthwhile. Enjoy!

Seamus Heaney reads 'Whatever You Say, Say Nothing'

Seamus Heaney ~ 'Whatever You Say, Say Nothing'

A day or two late here but something by Seamus Heaney who needs no introduction whatsoever. Met him once on Tara when the protests about the M3 motorway were taking place and there was some collection of Irish literary figures and historians there that day. The road went through anyway and the media went back to admiring itself. The poem above is a reflection on the 'troubles' and very well written. Colum Sands of the Sands family has a song of the same title and well worth a listen and I borrowed the title for a poem of my own but I'd go for the aforementioned. With thanks to Channel Four News who posted. Go to Youtube for the comments.

Seamus Heaney 13 April 1939 - 30 August 2013.