An Tobar ~ Poetry For Pleasure. June 2025.

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure. 

Friends,

The days are long but we will make time to Feast on Poetry 

Tuesday 24th June at 7.30 pm

We agreed to continue that rich seam of wisdom we touched on the last night;

Poetry of Lesser Known poets.

Any poem you  wish to share is welcome.

Carol Owens is sharing some of her poetry at the Hinterland Festival In Kells,

Hope you can join us tomorrow evening 

Slán agus Beannacht 

Jim 

087 9676728 

Hinterland Festival ~ Kells Co. Meath. (26 - 29 June)

 

The Darby Ryan International Poetry Competition 2025

Deadline: 31 Jul 2025

The Darby Ryan International Poetry Contest was inaugurated this year by John Grogan and Claire Grogan Williams, descendants of the late Darby Ryan. The prize winner of this year’s competition will be announced during August 2025 and will be invited to give a reading of his/her work during August.

Diarmuid O'Ríain (Darby Ryan) was born at Ashgrove, Bansha, Co. Tipperary, in 1777 and was a poet and patriot. His most famous composition was undoubtedly The Peeler and the Goat, a ballad or satire which was popularly sung across Ireland and was taken worldwide by emigrants. Darby composed many songs and ballads across numerous topics not least Irish nationalism. Darby composed both in Gaelic and English and when any event of local or national importance took place, Darby was called on to immortalize it in verse. 

Prizes: First - €300, Runner Up - €200, Second Runner Up - €100.

* Please go to the Poetry Ireland Competition page for further details on how to enter this competition and for conditions for entry. Link to the right. As it is the inaugural year there are no fees. Themes are the following: Community, Satire, Tipperary, Ireland.

Information above from the Poetry Ireland site. With thanks.

James Joyce's Dublin,1904 with photographs from the William Lawrence Co...

James Joyce's Dublin 1904!

Something to mark Bloomsday and about a man who needs absolutely no introduction whatsoever. This was loaded by Duudeabides2. So with thanks. Please go to Youtube for the comments - and for info on James Joyce or Nora you'll be spoiled for choice. Wikipedia is a good place to start.

Donal Og - Translated by Lady Augusta Gregory (read by Cilléin Mc Evoy)

Donal Og ~ Poem

An 8th century anonymous poem translated from the Gaelic by Lady Augusta Gregory who was one of  the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival which itself centered around W.B. Yeats and a number of others. Worth checking them all out as they were extraordinary people. Loaded by Cilléin Mc Evoy and with thanks. To Youtube and to other sources for greater detail.

Lady Augusta Gregory: Born 15 March 1852 - Died 22 May 1932.

  

Liam Clancy Final Interview - The Yellow Bittern - Clancy Brothers - Tom...

Liam Clancy ~ The Final Interview!

Perhaps the best reciter of poetry - ever!

Born: 2nd of September 1935 in Carrick on Suir. Ireland

Died: 4th of December 2009 in Cork. Ireland (Age 74)

"I'd never heard a singer as good as Liam, ever. He was just the best ballad singer I'd ever heard in my life - still is probably." Bob Dylan 1984.

Loaded by 'Movies Ireland' and with thanks. To Youtube for all the comments. Interview by Paul Byrne.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ June 2025!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ June 2025!

The next meeting of our group is on this Thursday night coming the 5th of June at 6.15 pm in Trim Library and all are welcome to attend. So whether it's poetry or prose or songwriting or you just want to sit in and listen, feel free to join us. We'd love to see you there. All ideas appreciated. All the best. FM. 

Every Grain of Sand!

Every Grain Of Sand!

On Bob Dylan's birthday. Born May 24th 1941. Emmylou sings 'Every Grain of Sand'.

"There are only two types of people in the world; those who love Emmylou and those who haven't met her" Willie Nelson.

Loaded by 'EmmyLouHarris' and with thanks. To Youtube for the comments.

The Swift Sessions ~ The Swift Cultural Centre/Trim!

The Swift Centre ~ The Swift Cultural Centre/Trim!

Clare Kane

Eugene Kane

Barbara Flood

Jimmy Peppard

Noreen Walshe

Frances Browne

David Glynn

Frank McGivney

Some more photos from Thursday night and just to reiterate or repeat myself or whatever the more correct term the quality and variety of material read was outstanding.

 

The Swift Sessions ~ The Swift Cultural Centre/Trim!

The Swift Sessions ~ The Swift Cultural Centre/ Trim.

Michael Farry

Tom Dredge

Peter Fagan

Frank Murphy

Just some of the images from the Swift Sessions last night in The Swift Cultural Centre in Trim County Meath. Hosted by Michael Farry of The Boyne Writers Group the series will begin again in September and all are invited to read. Last of the featured readers in this series was myself and I'd like to thank everyone who showed up on the night and especially to Michael Farry and the Boyne Writers for asking and for the photos. There was a wide variety of material read and most of it was outstanding both in content and performance. Hope to see you there in the future. All the best. FM. 

 

An Tobar ~ Poetry For Pleasure/ May 2025!

An Tobar ~ Poetry For Pleasure/ May 2025!

Friends,

A reminder that our next session is on Tuesday 27th May at 7.30pm 

Theme: Lesser Known Poets.

Also I see on Facebook that a member of our group, Richard Cahill is bringing out a new book of poetry.  Here are some more details.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Um8EZZ2H/ 

We also remember the late Paul Durcan (1944 -2025)

His poetic output was prolific.

His funeral Mass  will be celebrated on this Thursday 22nd May. RIP

Jim Owens

Kiltale

Dunsany, Navan

Co na Mí

C15 PH24

Mobile: 087 9676728 

Michael Sheen performs 'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan ...

International Dylan Thomas Day 2025!

Brilliant! Enough said! To Youtube and Wikipedia for comments and information. Loaded by 'National Theatre' and with thanks.

Dylan Thomas: 22 October 1914 - 9 November 1953.

The Swift Sessions May 22 ~ 2025!

The Swift Sessions May 22 ~ 2025!

Chaired by Michael Farry of the Boyne Writers Group, the next of the sessions at The Swift Cultural Centre in Trim features myself but it is also an Open Mic for anyone who'd like to drop in or contribute a piece of writing or song. All are welcome and the admission is free. Where better than that and as a venue for the arts, few places or towns have such a facility. Hope to see you there.

Christy Moore - Missing You (Official Live Video)

Christy at 80!

The great Christy Moore born on the 7th of May 1945. The song was written by another genius called Jimmy MacCarthy. The guitar work is by Declan Sinnot and really they don't make them like that anymore. Look them up on Wikipedia and to Youtube for the comments. Loaded by Christy and what can I say - 'Happy Birthday' for all the songs.

An Tobar ~ Poetry For Pleasure/Group.

 Folks

A poem and invitation from Francis Ledwidge Museum Slane

Carol Owens found it on Facebook 

May

She leans across an orchard gate somewhere,

Bending from out the shadows to the light,

A dappled spray of blossom in her hair

Studded with dew-drops lovely from the night,

She smiles to think how many hearts she'll smite

With beauty ere her robes fade from the lawn.

She hears the robin's cymbals with delight,

The skylark in the rosebush of the dawn.

For her the cowslip rings its yellow bell,

For her the violets watch with wide blue eyes.

The wandering cuckoo doth its clear name tell

Through the white mist of blossoms where she lies

Painting a sunset for the western skies.

You'd know her by her smile and by her tear

And by the way the swift and martin flies,

Where she is south of these wild days and drear.

Happy Poetry Day one and all. We are throwing open our doors today and in honour of May 1st we invite you to freely enter and perhaps even recite a poem in the birthplace of Francis. We have a school tour between 1 and 2pm but otherwise we are here until 4.40pm.

Also please Note 

Our next Poetry session is on Tuesday 27th May at 7.30pm

Theme is "Lesser Known Irish Poets"

Jim.

OK: A day late as they say but if you should happen to find yourself in the vicinity of the Ledwidge Museum in Slane then why not drop in for a visit. FM.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ May 2025!

 The Meath Writers' Circle ~ May 2025!

The next meeting of the group takes place on this Thursday night coming (1st May) at 6.15 pm in Trim Library and all are welcome to attend. So if you've got a poem or short story or any musical piece then why not drop in for a couple of hours and we'll be delighted to see you. There is no charge and admission is free. See you there. FM.

An Tobar ~ Poetry For Pleasure/ Ardbraccan Navan.

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure.

 Good afternoon folks. 

A gentle reminder that our poetry session on this Tuesday 29th April at 7.30 pm in An Tobar.

The theme is anything to do with horses and the equine world.

But anything goes and always a big welcome for poems composed by members of the group.

Two bits of information 

• Poetry People on RTE Radio 1 at 7pm Sunday evening is back.  It is  for everyone who loves poetry. Presented by poet Rachael Hegarty.

•  Poetry day in Ireland.  Poetry Ireland is delighted to announce that Poetry Day Ireland 2025 will take place on Thursday, 1 May, with this year’s theme: ‘May Day’.

Slán go fóill 

Jim Owens - Kiltale.

Tel: 087 967 6728.

The Swift Sessions ~ John Noonan.

The Swift Sessions ~ John Noonan.

The next of the Swift Sessions will take place on Thursday May 8th at the Swift Cultural Centre in Trim, County Meath where the guest reader will be  Dundalk based poet John Noonan. The start time is 7.30 pm and everyone is welcome to attend. Admission is free and an open mic will follow for all who are interested. So whether it's a poem or song or short story why not drop in for an interesting evening. Michael Farry of the Boyne Writers will host the event.

Sean Dunne Literary Weekend!

 Sean Dunne Literary Weekend.

THE TEAM 

SEAN DUNNE LITERARY WEEKEND AT THE 

LAFCADIO HEARN JAPANESE GARDENS TRAMORE.

Theo Dorgan reads his poem "Ithaca"

Theo Dorgan reads his poem "Ithaca"

Following on from the poems which have gone before this, Theo Dorgan reads his own contribution to the story and with some interesting insights of his own. Also with thanks to Theo for giving us permission to use his poem "Croke Park" in a sporting feature in our annual magazine a while back. This one is from ' The UCD Library Special Collection'. Worth a visit anytime.

The God Abandons Anthony by Constantine Cavafy and Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson!

The God Abandons Anthony by Constantine Cavafy and Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson.

On a prompt at An Tobar a while back on the poetry of Leonard Cohen I chose 'Alexandra Leaving' and it is one fine poem. That the inspiration came from Constantine Cavafy's poem he mentions in an interview somewhere. Here Brendan Tannan reads both and in the next one up Theo Dorgan gives them a mention a well. For the background on Constantine Cavafy please go to Wikipedia and Youtube and for the poems above with thanks to Brendan Tannan.

Patrick Kavanagh Returns Home to Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, Ireland 1966.

Patrick Kavanagh Returns Home to Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, Ireland 1966.

I remember visiting Newgrange, County Meath a number of years back and the girl in the bookshop there telling me that the American visitors were really only interested in two Irish poets and they were W.B. Yeats and Patrick Kavanagh and it is hard to argue with that, as in my humble opinion they were  so far ahead of the rest it is no contest. Not to say there are other poets who have not written great material and who am I to judge, but with Yeats and Kavanagh their ability to tap into that magic again and again was something else and maybe I should keep my opinions to myself as some of my favourite poems are by other writers but I can only think of a few. The above video was loaded by CR's Video Vault so with thanks. A visit over to Youtube for the original and the comments. 

Shakira - Poem To A Horse (Live) [Lyrics]

Shakira ~ Poem To A Horse (Live) Lyrics.

On a weekend of equestrian magic, a little more of it and from an entirely different source and from a lady who needs absolutely no introduction. Loaded by FanshakiraLyrics and with thanks. Writing poetry from an early age she is one of the world's leading performers and a visit to Youtube or Wikipedia to research her career or background is a must. Enjoy!  

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ April 2025!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ April 2025!

The next meeting of the group takes place this Thursday night coming the 3rd of April at 6.15 pm in Trim Library and all are welcome to attend. So whether you're a poet or storyteller, singer songwriter or singer, then why not drop in for a while. W'd be delighted to see you. All the best! 

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

 An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!
Ardbraccan ~ Navan.

Good morning 

Spring is definitely with us.

Our  poetry session is on Tuesday 25th March at 7.30 pm.

The agreed theme is Spring and/or Easter

But any poem is always welcome. 

Best wishes and thanks

Jim.

Mobile: 087 9676728

Email:  kiltale2@gmail.com

The Swift Sessions ~ Peter Fagan!

 The Swift Sessions ~ Peter Fagan!

 

 Peter Fagan performing at the Swift Cultural Centre in Trim, County Meath on Thursday the 20th of March as part of The Meath Writers' Circle, who were the guest readers on the night. The next sessions will take place in May and the dates will be advertised on the venue's website. A wide variety of material was read on the night from poetry to short stories and items from personal memory. All are welcome to attend and admission is free. Photo courtesy of Michael Farry and the Boyne Writers Group.

William Rowan Hamilton in Trinity.

William Rowan Hamilton in Trinity.

When he was three years of age he was sent to live with his uncle who ran a school in Talbots Castle in Trim, County Meath and by the age of thirteen was said to be fluent in ( 15 - 13 - 12) languages. Depending on your source. His uncle I believe schooled him for a position in the East India Company. However fate or whatever would have different plans and he is best remembered today for his eureka moment along the Royal Canal. I leave it to you to read up on. In my humble opinion what really defined him as a character was his relationship with Catherine Disney and the trauma of their break up. The above video was loaded by Trinity College and with thanks. He wrote poetry as well, though I have never attended a reading where one was recited and his friend Wordsworth kindly suggested that science was a better direction. William Rowan Hamilton - 4th August 1805 - 2nd September 1865.

I'm Nobody! Who Are You? By Emily Dickinson - Poetry Reading

I'm Nobody! Who Are You? By Emily Dickinson - Poetry Reading

Loaded by 'Pearls Of Wisdom' and with thanks, this one has any number of comments and a visit to Youtube is a must. Emily is one of America's greatest poets and she could capture more in a few lines than most in a page. So; something for the weekend and St Patrick's day. Enjoy!

Where Has All The Money Gone!

Where Has All The Money Gone!

Found it! This was an entry posted by James Linnane from the 2012 'Battle of The Books' contest in Trim, County Meath and the last of the videos I could find.  James Linnane ~ 1962 - 2024. To Youtube for the comments.

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ March 2025!

The Meath Writers' Circle ~ March 2025!

The next meeting of the group takes place on this Thursday night coming, the 6th of March at 6.15 pm to 8.15 pm in Trim Library and all are welcome to attend. Bring a poem, story or song, or just yourself for  two hours of entertainment on whatever subject it is takes your interest. And no charge! See you there. FM.  

Online Book Club/Human Chain/National Library of Ireland!

Online Book Club/Human Chain/National Library of Ireland!

This is an on line book club on the poetry of Seamus Heaney This month it is on Human Chain.

It takes place last Friday of every month.

Slán go fóill 

Jim Owens

Kiltale

Dunsany, Navan

Co na Mí

C15 PH24

Mobile: 087 9676728

Landline: 046 9025677

Email:  kiltale2@gmail.com

https://www.nli.ie/exhibitions-events/online-book-club-human-chain

  

The Swift Sessions ~ The Swift Cultural Centre, Trim.

All are welcome to attend!