An Apology for Our Survival ~ Michael Farry.

 An Apology for Our Survival ~ Michael Farry.

Michael Farry is an historian and poet from Coolaney in County Sligo though long settled here in County Meath.  A teacher by profession though now retired he holds a PhD from Trinity College for his thesis on the civil war in his native county. The winner of many awards for his writing and published in many countries, this his latest collection chronicles a journey through time and place that is anything but an apology in any sense. His many insights and eye for observation both actual and abstract are divided into sections of 'The Permanent Way' ending on a piece that is worth the purchase on its own merit. Both memories and reflections are a signpost in any subtlety and the undertones and truths do not go unexamined. Life. The book is published by the Revival Press - Limerick and it retails at €15. Available on line and in all good bookshops.

Launched by Rachel Coventry at the Jonathan Swift Cultural Centre in Trim County Meath on Friday the 15th of March. One for the bookshelves!  

Link to the right.

Michael Farry ~ Book Launch!

Michael Farry ~ An Apology for Our Survival/Book Launch.

Michael Farry

Michael Farry and Rachel Coventry

Rachel Coventry, Michael Farry and Noreen Walshe

Michael Farry, Barbara Flood and Paddy Smith

Paddy Smith and his daughters.

Just a few photos from last night's launch of Michael Farry's fourth collection of poems.

 

M&M29 Matt & Michael's Lockdown!

Another in the series of videos recorded by Michael Farry and Matt Gilsenan during the Covid crisis here in Ireland. This one includes a poem read by the late Tommy Murray of Trim, County Meath and a number of other interesting pieces as well. Very little going on around the county now but Michael and Matt keep turning them out each week. 

M&M27/Michael Farry & Matt Gilsenan!

Here's some interesting video from both Michael Farry and Matt Gilsenan of Trim, County Meath. Despite the lockdown and the restrictions imposed they have produced a number of videos of both poetry and song and if the above is anything to go by, well worth the twenty minutes or so of your time. Michael Farry's blog link is to the right. Well done guys. Note the number!

Troubles ~ Michael Farry.

Troubles ~ Michael Farry.

Michael Farry is a poet and historian from Sligo in the west of Ireland and his writing here combines both disciplines to provide an insight into a period that has left a certain legacy that is still not resolved today. His third collection of poems brings to life again the mind and times of those who shaped the place we live in now and is no small collection. He ranges across any number of different interests and brings his own particular insights or take, unearthing names or events that the ordinary reader would not be familiar with and all with the expertise and competent technique readers of  his other books would be more than a little versed or accustomed to. You might beg to differ on some of the points but you'd better have your homework done. The book ends on a humorous note (or not) The Modern Day Historian is Condemned in that it takes its inspiration or at least some of it from Seamus Heaney's poem The Flight Path. Times you can't win. The irony of it all is I suppose that one hundred years after the events recorded here the major parties concerned would go into government together. If you wish to purchase a copy: Link to the right. For those with an interest in the history of the time, a must. Scroll further back to The Trim Poetry Festival for Anne Tannam's launch of the book. Published by Revival Press/Limerick. Michael Farry lives in Trim, County Meath.

"Troubles" - Michael Farry - Book Launch!

This is Michael Farry's latest book of poems and may be purchased on his website, link to the right or from Revival Press, Limerick. Launched by Anne Tannam at the Trim Poetry Festival.

Revival Press

The Age of Glass/Michael Farry

The Age of Glass/Michael Farry

This book will keep you turning the page as it moves from beginning to end. A particular take or observation on or study in depth on what it is that makes the human, it allows only for a little style, humour or contradiction that in the end knows no secret. Meticulously crafted as it move from one discipline to the next and forensic in detail the poems here slot into place to make up a greater story and are difficult to choose between. There are a number of prize winners here and "The Masterpiece is Nearing Completion" is one of the finest road poems while "An Infant Burial" has its own realizations and "Researching Louisa", which won the Goldsmith Poetry Competition in 2016 is a beautiful poem ... and if I had to cherry pick.... One for your bookshelf. This book is published by Revival Press Limerick and retails at €12. Michael Farry has a blogsite, link to the right.

The Age of Glass/Photos!

The Age of Glass/ Michael Farry

Michael signing copies of The Age of Glass

Dominic Taylor and Tom Muldowney

Paddy Halligan

Barbara Flood

Anne Crinion, Orla Fay and Noeleen Egan

Paddy Smith and Noel French

Nessa O' Mahony and Tom Dredge

Noeleen Egan and Willie G. Hodgins

The Age of Glass/Michael Farry.

The Age of Glass/Michael Farry.

Paddy Halligan, Michael Farry and Anne Crinion

Nessa O' Mahony did the honours last night in the Castle Arch Hotel at the launch of Michael Farry's The Age of Glass. His second book of poetry to date it includes a number of prize winning poems and is no small collection, numbering sixty three in all that reflect on his interest in various fields of study or discipline. Grouped under headings from Genealogy to Gerontology the poems explore in meticulous detail and craft what he describes himself as the Desolate Splinters and you need a little courage to go there. The book is published by Revival Press Limerick and is beautifully produced. Retails at €12.

Other highlights on the night included intros by Nessa herself and Dominic Taylor of Revival and of course the most excellent master of ceremonies Paddy Smith who once again demonstrated that when it comes to wit and entertainment few can compere! Excellent timing. Some photos to follow! 

Michael Farry/Book Launch!

Michael Farry/ Book Launch!

Michael Farry invites all to the launch of his second poetry collection in the Castle Arch Hotel Trim on Thursday the 8th of June at 8 pm. Published by the Revival Press Limerick it's sure to be an interesting evening and further information on the book and life of the author can be had if you click on the link to the right. A founder member of The Boyne Writers Group and former editor of their literary magazine, "Boyne Berries" he has won many awards for his writing and is published widely. Nessa O' Mahony will launch the book on the night and all are welcome.

www.limerickwriterscentre.com

Meath County Council & Francis Ledwidge

Meath County Council & Francis Ledwidge

Last night in the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan saw the joint launch of the Francis Ledwidge Centenary Programme 2017 and Dermot Bolger's Francis Ledwidge, Selected Poems published by New Island Press in association with Meath County Council. It was also the last night of an exhibition that featured the poetry of Gerard Smyth and the paintings of Sean Mc Sweeney, aptly titled, The Yellow River, as it unites the personal histories of both men. The Yellow River is a tributary of the Blackwater, (Kells) which merges with the river Boyne in Navan. With regard to Ledwidge there are any number of events planned over the coming months in celebration of his life including Poetry Day Ireland - Launch of new Meath County Council Francis Ledwidge Creative Writing Award on April the 27th. The poetry of Francis Ledwidge, Dermot Bolger, Gerard Smyth and Michael Farry can be accessed over on youtube.

Michael Farry

Dermot Bolger

Francis Ledwidge
(Google Images)

The Meath Writers' Circle (Recording)

The Meath Writers' Circle (Recording)

Ronan Gorry
REMUSGORRY@GMAIL.COM

A second round of recordings for the forthcoming or proposed CD took place on Thursday night last when Ronan Gorry returned and those who were unavailable or otherwise engaged on the first occasion recited a poem or two. Should be interesting to hear how it all turns out and what the final product looks like. I believe Sean Kane has a book of poems coming out and there's a haunting suspicion on something to do with Halloween. A local connection or two and we're not short of spirits out here. Every crossroads. Michael Farry has a new history book out and for those who are interested in the politics or the history of the Sligo area during the "Troubles" this could be worth checking out. Click on the link over to the right for further details. Yet to pick up a copy of "Boyne Berries" but it will have to wait until I make it into Trim in daylight. Any week now. Someone keeps clicking on "The Lost Roads..." hope it's not a computer!

Asking For Directions/Michael Farry

Asking For Directions/ Michael Farry

I've  stopped once or twice to ask for directions and the encounters were often worthy of a poem or two though I doubt if I could do them the same justice or make the keen observations that Michael Farry has managed in this collection. A blend of journey and family history and verse that often misleads in that the end is sometimes more than you'd expect. The poems are grouped into three different sections and needless to say the "Western Trilogy" is the one I dipped into first, though there are many fine poems here and it would be very hard to cherry pick. Maybe -Shackleton On South Georgia- or -Philately- or any one of a dozen others, though I'm not so sure I'd agree with the observation on the saloon customers who mustered smoking at the church gate after second mass. They reminded me of the ones who never went in and remained outside waiting for the pubs to open. This is one for your collection and if you click on the link to Michael Farry's blog over to your right you can find info on how to purchase, or I would imagine any good bookshop will do the trick. Doghouse Press and €12 euro and a must for the bookshelves.