Open Mic Readings/Knightsbridge.

Open Mic.

The very talented Ross Hattaway and Oran Ryan were the guest readers at what was perhaps the most successful of the open mic readings at the Knightsbridge Village Hall. I doubt if I could do justice to either of the above, or to the quality of the other contributions, but Oran Ryan's shifting of perspectives in the extract from "Ten Short Novels..." and Ross Hattaway's reflection on the absurdity of things, or should that be the rotteness of things, using a rubbish bin as a focal point was no mean feat in either case. Rounding off things nicely (if you'll pardon the pun) the chairman Paddy Smith, no mean exponent of the above arts, ended the night with No More High Fives. "There was a breathless hush.....". Details of both Ross Hattaway's and Oran Ryan's publications can be had from The Boyne Writers' Site or Michael Farry's Blogsite. Click on the links opposite.

Photos: Oran Ryan left and Ross Hattaway to the right.

Open Mic Readings March/Knightsbridge.2010

Open Mic.

The guest readers for the next open mic session at The Knightsbridge Village Hall are Ross Hattaway for poetry and Oran Ryan for prose. Dublin based and raised in New Zealand, Ross Hattaway's first book of poems "The Gentle Art of Rotting" was published by The Seven Towers Agency in Dublin in 2006, and there's an interesting title for a start. Widely published, further details can be found on The Boyne Writers' Website. Click on the link opposite.

Oran Ryan has had two novels published by The Seven Towers Agency, notably "The Death of Finn" and "Ten Short Novels by Arthur Kruger", again refer to The Boyne Writers' Site for further information. The Writers' Group have a busy month ahead as their literary magazine "Boyne Berries 7" is being launched at the Castle Arch Hotel in Trim on the 25th at 8pm and good luck to them with that.

So what can I leave you with? There's a film out there that should have got an Oscar and didn't. "In The Loop", check it out!

Photo: Cloisters: Bective Abbey.

Meath Writers' Circle./Favourite Poems,

Favourite Poems.

One of the suggestions made by Tommy Murray at the last gathering was that everyone should bring in a favourite poem or a piece to read, and some brought two! Myself included. Others got into the spirit of the thing and read from memory, or out of one of the books lying around. Pat Bennet read from William Shakespeare, "Fear no more the heat o' the sun", while Myra Lawlor read a piece from "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmund Rostand. Other contributions are listed below, though the names have been omitted given the hour that's in it. What would you have picked?

* On a Favourite Cat~ Thomas Gray.

* Base Details~ Siegfried Sassoon.

* The Red Wheelbarrow~ William Carlos Williams.

* The Old Woman of the Roads~ Padraic Colum.

* Let Me Die a Young Man's Death~ Roger McGough.

* My Favourite Things~ Julie Andrews.

* Ozymandias~ Percy Bysshe Shelley.

* September 1913~ W.B. Yeats.

* Funeral Blues~ W.H. Auden.

And if I had to read again? "The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy.

Photo: Ye old moat Trim Castle.

Poetry Competition/Siarsceal.

Hanna Greally Poetry and Short Story Competition.

The Hanna Greally Poetry/Short Story Competition 2010 has a closing date of Tuesday the 9th of March and is looking for entries across three broad themes. (1)Home place in translation. (2)Threading my existence through family gone before, and (3) Roscommon my home. So if you think you have anything suitable for the above, details can be found at "siarsceal.blogspot.com" or by phoning 087 2628191. Something there about a river cruise with Don Baker on the River Shannon, Easter Sunday. Check it out!

Photos: River and street scene Boyle Co. Roscommon.

Open Mic Readings Feb/Knightsbridge.2010

Open Mic Night

Susan Connolly and Michael Sheils were the guest readers at the first open mic session of the new year at the Knightsbridge Village Hall in Trim. One of Ireland's best known poets, Susan read of Banshees and window cleaners, and friendships, and the Maiden Tower, and others, while Michael read extracts from his book "Short Trousers Days in Navan". In between and after was an open mic session followed by tea or coffee and biscuits. And outside the temperature dropped to -5C. Somewhere..... far away...

Photos: Susan Connolly and Michael Sheils and what I think is the Maiden Tower at Mornington.

Open Mic Readings/Knightsbridge.2010

Open Mic.

The guest readers for the first open mic session at the Knightsbridge Village Hall (2010) are Susan Connolly and Michael "The Sheriff" Shiels. Susan Connolly is one of Ireland's best known poets and was winner of The Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship for poetry in 2001 and is widely published. Michael brought out "Short Trousers Days in Navan" in 2005 and has since gone on to short stories and poems. A much travelled man he has been a member of The Meath Writers' Circle for a good number of years and has his own website. Just click on the link opposite. In what promises to be an interesting evening the admission is €5 euro and tea and biscuits will be served.

Photo: Greetiagh Crossroads Bohermeen Co. Meath/Summer 2009.

Meath Writers' Circle.

Meath Writers' Circle

The Meath Writers' Circle had their second meeting of the year at the Castle Hotel in Trim on Thursday night, with a good number attending, or as Michael Regan noted, thirteen until he arrived, and one or two afterwards. Interesting and commented on was the great variety of style and content. Subject matter not being restricted to any one genre as it were, for want of a better way of putting it. From lyrical verse to modern prose to storytelling, and some of the storytelling was very good. The hand of god to Hank Snow. Come prepared!

Photos: Michael Regan reading "The Inspector of Drains" and some of the crowd.