An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure/November 2025!

 An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

Good morning poetry lovers on this misty morning. 

The topic of the next meeting on 25th Nov is Oliver Goldsmith and/or Bruce Springsteen

but as always any poem is most welcome.

Congratulations to Richard Cahill on the successful launch of his book "Joy's of a Night".

Might be a possible Christmas present for a reflective reader.

The event sparked a suggestion for members of our poetry group.

Maybe a collection of original unpublished poems from members of our group?...?

Frank Murphy has great skills in editing. 

We could aim at a launch for Christmas market 2026😁🌻🥳

Further discussion on this proposal please.

Also can I let you know about a double poetry books Launch.

John F. Deane’s new collection

 “Jonah and Me”, from Carcanet Press

and James Harpur’s new collection,

“A Place where Ireland is Invisible”, from Eblana Press.

It takes place on Thursday 27th November 2025, 

in The Robert Emmet Theatre, Trinity College Dublin, at 7.00 pm.

Entrance from Nassau Street.

Books will be available after the reading (cash only please!)

le gach dea-ghuí

Jim

087 9676728 

 

Cois Tine ~ An Tobar/Ardbraccan.

Cois Tine - An Tobar/Ardbraccan.  

A time of story, poetry and maybe song in An Tobar, Ardbraccan at 4 pm on Sunday 10th Dec.

 All most welcome!

Best wishes 

Jim Owens
Kiltale.

Tel: 087 967 6728

An Tobar~ Reflection Day!

An Tobar ~ Reflection Day!

Friends, 

Excuse me but I wish to invite you to An Tobar on Saturday. 

You may be interested in an exciting day's reflection in An Tobar, Ardbraccan this coming Saturday.

Upcoming Reflection Day Saturday 14th May 

Facilitator  Aidan Mathews a  poet and prophet, a person with a great way with words is sharing some of the insights of  

The Work of René Girard (1929 - 2015)

Aidan has titled the day's reflections 

'A Gospel for Our Time'

10.00am-4.00pm light lunch included in the cost. Booking Essential.

Call An Tobar office for booking 046 9078973 or more info from 

Jim Owens 087 9676728

An Tobar/Open Day 2019!

An Tobar/Open Day 2019!

James McConnell and Leona Rennicks

Made it over to An Tobar, Ardbraccan yesterday for a visit to their Open Day celebrations and managed to get a photograph of two of our "Poetry for Pleasure" group. Many different events going on but didn't get to visit them all, though the surroundings were lovely. The rain came and went and lots of interesting conversation to go with the refreshments, which were free to all! A number of different groups use these surroundings which are located just outside Navan and if you have a particular interest or hobby why not give them a call. Something for the Autumn months! Jackie Smyth at 046 9078 973.

Open Day/An Tobar Navan!

A Bank Holiday Treat For Yourself And Your Family!

You are invited to the An Tobar Open Day on Monday the 5th of August from 2pm to 6pm at An Tobar, Ardbraccan Navan.  Come and see and take part in the many "Demos" available such as Yoga, Tai Chai, Reflexology, Cookery Class, Aura Soma, and Flower Arrangement. And you might even have a poem or two read to you by the "Poetry for Pleasure" group who meet there on the third Tuesday of every month, although the next meeting is not until September,

Also of course it is a chance to enjoy the hospitality of An Tobar with a cup of tea and of course the "yummy" chocolate cake. Please spread the word by telling your family and friends. The Spiritan Community wist to thank you for your ongoing support of An Tobar. For further information please contact Jackie Smyth. Tel: 046 9078 973. 

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ May 2019!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ 2019!

The theme for last Tuesday night's get together at An Tobar was 'Schooldays' or something you learned from back then which brought out a few interesting contributions and poems. Chaired by Leona Rennicks the first poem read was by John Quinn, "For the Children of St. Mark's" followed by Eugene Kane reading one of his own, " Coolronan New School"  Thomas Hood's "I Remember, I Remember" came next followed by Zohar Dida's "There is a Normal Sadness" (Not familiar with that - must chase it up?) Read "Rooms and Canon" myself and this was followed by a poem from our first book called, "First Day" by Collette Gibson. "Vengeance is Mine" by Willie G. Hodgins was read by himself and was followed by "A Noble Boy" written by Mary Dow Brine. "Damson" by Seamus Heaney followed next and  "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar was also included. Eugene Kane finished off with "A Friend Is" and then out to refreshments and conversation. The group meet again on Tuesday the 18th of June with a theme on 'Summer'. All are welcome!  

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ April 2019!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ April 2019!

The theme for last Tuesday night's meeting was on the subject of dreams, as was suggested by Carol Owens and whose own contribution was very interesting indeed. Though there was a very wide interpretation with regard to the subject matter, whether conscious or otherwise. Some to wishful thinking in whatever sense and others to a little more philosophical and some on the subject matter itself. The night started off with a poem by Helen Waddell, "I Shall not go to Heaven when I Die" followed by "Country Child in Spring" by Myra Lalor. Eugene Kane read "My Dream" and Levis Kapchanga from Kenya read his own poem "Mind this Day". Eugene Field's "Dutch Lullaby" was next followed by Maureen Kerrigan reading her own piece "Fox". Willie G. Hodgins also read one on his own poems called "An Aged Man's Dream" and I myself read not one but two which could have slipped in under another heading but however! "In Some Divide" and " The Companion Set". Carol Owen's poem "A Dream" really kept to the script and a lot of depth there. An extract from "The Village Schoolmaster" by Oliver Goldsmith was next followed by "Lullaby" by Francis Ledwidge which also got a reading. Hope the notes held out! The night finished off with "Best Romance" by Willie and then out to tea and refreshments. Jim Owens was chairperson on the night.

The theme for next month is: "Schooldays". All welcome!  

An Tobar/ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar/ Poetry for Pleasure ~ March 2019!

Last Tuesday night's gathering of the poetry group in Ardbraccan had a guiding theme of, "Celtic Travelers" and though loosely interpreted brought out some interesting material both old and new. "The Burial of Thomas Moore" by Sir John Betjeman had an interesting story or two attached and was followed by, "St Patrick" read by Willie G. Hodgins which is from a collection of his own poems he had published a while back. "The Wayfarer" by Patrick Pearse was read next followed by, "The Journey Home" by Rabindranath Tagore. Braving it perhaps as was the next one by Billy Collins, "Passengers" which gave pause for thought! "The Spring Well" by Cathal O' Searcaigh was followed by, "The Sea Farer" an Anglo Saxon narrative which was read by Carol Owens. (A translation of!) "The Song of Wandering Aengus" by W.B. Yeats also got an airing and was followed by, "Going Home to Mayo" by Paul Durcan, a favourite of Jim Owens, followed by, "The Poem of Columcille" taken from some ancient text, though author unknown I believe. Willie read, "April Fool" and Sean Reilly finished off the evening with Stephen Foster's, Beautiful Dreamer". Quite a selection on what seemed a difficult theme. The theme for next month is "Dreams".  

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar/ Poetry for Pleasure ~ February 2019!

Carel Owens chaired last Tuesday night's meeting of the group and on a theme of "Poems of the Heart" there were some interesting choices. Her own poem about her father and one by Brigid Herbert did not have titles. The night led off with a poem by MacDara Woods "The Sixteenth kind of Fear" and one I'm not familiar with and hope I got it right. Hannah Hodgson's "Parents" is another one I haven't come across and Willie Hodgson read a couple "The Private Tutor" and "A Proposal" and I think there are a number of them out there with titles of the same. "Spring Memory" by Teresa Brayton is I think is from her book "Songs of the Dawn" and I hope someone will correct me if I got any of the above wrong. "Flowers" by Wendy Cope was also included as was "Young Lambs" by John Clare. Ruairi Somers read his own poem "The Shopkeeper" and I read "A House of Cards" and Willie read one of his own as well. I will have to check the title. A night for detective work! The theme for next month is "Celtic Travellers." Should be interesting! 

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

On a theme of ~ New Voices ~ the night began with an intro as to your introduction to poetry in school . Which brought in more than a few interesting insights and thoughts. The first poem read was by Radclyffe Hall, Our Dead which was followed by Feelings on Looking At The Moon, by Bai Juyi, a Chinese poet who lived from (772-846). Kate Tempest's, Ballad of a Hero was followed by Hannah Hodgson's, It's Not My Fault, a meditation on illness. A Prayer of Summer by Max Ehrmann, who would be best known for Desiderata was next, followed by To a Grandmother by Ruairi Somers who has just returned from China. A Wise Old Owl, which was first published by Punch in April 1875 and is an old English nursery rhyme was also read, followed by I married a man from the County Roscommon, or the back of beyond by Gillian Clarke followed by Toilet by Hugo Williams. I read the poem from the film Fracture, The Waiting Place which is an edited down version of a poem by Dr. Seuss, "Oh The Places You'll Go" and couldn't resist slipping in Tears in Rain by Rutger Hauer where he goes off script in The Blade Runner (1982). A piece that has been described as perhaps the most moving death soliloquy in cinematic history. Sean Reilly finished off the night with a song, I'll Remember You Love In My Prayers. I'm getting a number of credits on that, so will have to chase it up with Sean? The theme for February is Poems of The Heart. Cinema night in An Tobar is Friday January the 25th at 7.30 pm.

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure

The first meeting of the Poetry for Pleasure group (2019) takes place this Tuesday night coming in An Tobar Ardbraccan, Navan with a guiding theme of "Unknown Poets" though someone is sure to have come across one or two of them in their travels. Should make for an interesting evening. For further details please contact Jim Owens at 087 967 6728 or Jackie Smyth (An Tobar) at 046 789 73. All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.  

An Tobar ~ December Meeting 2018!

Poetry for Pleasure/An Tobar Ardbraccan Navan.

The theme for last Tuesday night's meeting was, "A Winter's Fall" which introduced a few old favourites as well as some not heard before. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore led off followed by "Gardening Diary" by Reginald Arknell and something from "A Winter's Tale" by William Shakespeare who also got a look in with "Love Labour's Lost." Eiláin Ni Chuilleanáin's "A Winter Prayer" was read as was her poem "Swineherd"   and "Snow Flakes by Rose Mawdsley, her own composition, was followed by "The Moon". Willie G. Hodgins read "The Donkey "  and "In a Winterland" from his own collection and I myself read "Christmas" which was one of the first poems I wrote. (Back When!) "Winter, Fire and Snow" by Macdara Woods was played and sung via the smartphone by Orla Fallan or was that Anuna?(Will load more info about on next post!)
 "On a Night Of Snow" by Elizabeth Coatsworth got a reading and Carol Owens read a poem about a well known shoe shop in Navan. Thomas Hardy's "Snow in the Suburbs" followed. Also read was "A Lament" by Reginald Arknell. Did someone read " The Ghost of Christmas Past?" Get back to me!   

An Tobar ~ Ardbraccan/Poetry for Pleasure!.

An Tobar ~ Ardbraccan Navan

The next meeting of the "Poetry for Pleasure" group in An Tobar takes place a week early on Tuesday the 11th of December at 7.30 pm and all are welcome to attend. The guiding theme for the night is "A Winter's Tale" whatever your interpretation or chosen piece. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Contact Jim Owens at 087 967 6728 or Jackie Smyth (An Tobar) 046 90 789 73 for further details.

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure

About fifteen people turned out for last Tuesday night's readings in Ardbraccan and for what was a very entertaining evening with a wide variety of poems read on a theme of "My Favourite Place." A light interpretation though was in order with Austin Clarke getting the lead off with "The Planter's Daughter" followed by Michael Longley's "Carrigskeewaun" and "The Leveret." Carol Ann Duffy's "Meeting Midnight" was followed by "Tara" by Carol Owens and Tom French's "The Shamrock Road." Sean Kane entertained with "The Two Travellers" by C. J. Boland, so be careful what you boast about. Willie G. Hodgins read "A Cradle for a King" and Claire Kane read Felix Halton's "The Banks of Lough Gowna. William Allingham's "Adieu to Ballyshannon" was followed by Eugene Kane reading "My Dream" and Sean Reilly reading Myra Lalor's "Gypsies of Long Ago." Myself I read "The Hejaz" and there was also a water colour by John G. Ryan displayed. Other poems included Una Leavy's "Going to Gowel", Macdara Woods "Above Pesaro" and "Estonian Fields" by Kevin Dwan. Admission Day" by Carol Owens and "The Green Kingdom" by Margaret Fagan were also included. Sure to have left something out but that was some collection of poems for one night! Eileanain Ni Chuilleanain also gets a mention. If I've left anyone out please remind! A reference to Ethna Cantwell and "41 Watergate Street" ? and to finish Patrick Kavanagh's "Inniskeen Road".

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

This month's meeting of the Poetry for Pleasure group in An Tobar, Ardbraccan, County Meath has a theme of "Place" or something that relates to it in someway depending on interpretation. The start time is 7.30 pm this Tuesday night coming and everyone is welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Contact Jim Owens at 087 967 6728 or Jackie Smyth (An Tobar) at 046 90 789 73 for further details. 

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure/ Readings!

Poetry for Pleasure/Readings!

Last night's gathering in An Tobar, Ardbraccan was hosted by Jim Owens and included members of a number of different writing groups and local poets. A wide selection of favourite poems were read and with a theme on the Autumn of John Keats 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' - given a little poetic license; the following poems were read. The Canditate by Thomas Gray, A Soft-edged Reed of Light by Julia Copus, Temptation in Harvest by Patrick Kavanagh, Journey's End by Reginald Arkel, The Astronomical Fall by Carol Owens, The Fiddler o' Legananny by Richard Rowley, (recited from memory by Sean Kane) To Autumn by John Keats, The Guest House by Rumi, The Ranch by Eugene Kane, Luke Kelly by Claire Kane, Sunflower by Willie G. Hodgins, The Rising Tide by Frank Murphy, (the only poem I have with a mention of Autumn in it) and if I remember correctly there was another poem by Reginald Arkel, Apple Blossoms? and did somebody read a poem by Síobhan O' Luan? Should keep better notes! Hope somebody will correct me on that!   

Poetry for Pleasure Group/ An Tobar!

Poetry for Pleasure Group/ An Tobar

Poetry for Pleasure Group 2018

An Tobar, Ardbraccan, Co Meath

Tuesday evening 16th October at 7.30pm

Guiding theme: ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’

For further information please feel welcome to contact: > Jim Owens 087 967 6728, 

Email: kiltale@eircom.net > Carol Owens Email: carol.peacefulhaven@gmail.com

> Jackie Smyth (An Tobar) 046 9078973 email: antobarnavan@gmail.com

Everybody welcome

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure/September 2018!

The guest reader at next Tuesday night's meeting in An Tobar, Ardbraccan Navan is Kevin Dwan. He began writing in 2008 and got involved in the Spoken Word scene and has performed at Longtitude, Valentia Festival and Shakefest etc. Published in a number of journals he is also a music producer and in 2011 produced a Manga-Themed opera called, The Adventures of Captain Mac and the Starship Peace and Unity. His debut collection, Twenty 7 is self published. The latter part of the evening is open mic or "Free Range" and you can contact Jim Owens at 087 967 6728 or An Tobar for further details. Start time is 7.30 pm. 

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ July 2018!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ July 2018!

The theme for this month's get together was journeying or travel in some form or other and the meeting attracted a fair old attendance with about seventeen people there in all. The poetry read was an interesting mix of both modern and old favourites followed by a little light refreshments afterwards.  "Tel Aviv" by Ronan Rodgers was the opening contribution which was an interesting take on the Eurovision and who knows? Other pieces read included, "An Englishman Abroad" by myself, "The Road to Kinsale" by Aubrey De Vere, "The Weary Traveller" by Willie G. Hodgins, "Hollyhead" by Jonathan Swift, "The Road not Taken" by Robert Frost, "Originally" by Carol Ann Duffy, "Memo of a Camel Man" by Joseph Richard Dunne, "To Trust in the Not Knowing" by Marion Murphy, "The Caravelles" by Sir John Squires, "Cambodia" by Lee Crowell, " The Journey Home" Maura/ Eamon Flanagan, "Clouds" by Eugene Kane, "Madrigals and Ploughing" by Giovanni Pascalli, translated by Seamus Heaney? Not sure on those! " The Washer Woman" by Seamus Heaney, "Shoe Shore" by Pheme Glass and "The Road Home" Gillian Allnutt. A few there I'm not familiar with! Also a writing group from Raheny, Dublin joined us on the night.

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ June 2018!

An Tobar/Poetry for Pleasure ~ June 2018!

The theme for last Tuesday's meeting was, "Darkness into Light" and it made for an interesting evening with some interesting choices. The group meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm and everyone is welcome. Jim Owens is the coordinator and can be contacted at 087 967 6728. The theme for next month's meeting is "Travelling" or some aspect of. And there is I believe a break for the month of August. 

Poems that were read on Tuesday night included Patrick Kavanagh's Shancoduff, Edith Sitwell's Canticle 111, Kevin Dwane's The Precious Little Things, Willie G. Hodgins Darkness into Light, Frank Murphy's The Marginal Line and Tick Tock, Robert Service's The Wonderer, Macdara Wood's The Welder Embracing Silence and Kavanagh in Umbria, Brendan Kennelly's A Glimpse of Starlings, E.E. Cummings, White Guardians of the Universe of Sleep and Emma Robson's Motherhood for Slackers.