Al Pacino Inspirational Speech - Any Given Sunday

Since I mangled part of Al's inspirational speech here it is in its entirety. So with thanks to youtube and "kjetiljo" who posted. Enjoy!

Heritage Sunday/ O' Raghallaigh's Drogheda.

All Ireland Final.
Meath Versus Armagh

Starting Fifteen

Meath Panel

  

Armagh Team

Didn't make it up to Tara but to the O'Raghallaigh's in Drogheda for the All Ireland Minor C Championship Final between Meath and Armagh which was quite a game and as good a way to spend Heritage Sunday as any. It was a game that Meath could have or maybe should have won but life as they say is a game of inches, a second too fast or a second too slow and you don't quite make it, if I can borrow from Al in "Any Given Sunday". It was played with a passion and an intensity that had to be seen to be believed and really was a credit to both teams. For a good part of both the first and the second half Meath seemed to have the game but it just slipped away and Armagh gave them nothing for free running out to a one point win at the end 3-5 to 1-10. Kristina Troy of Meath was player of the Match. Great game! 

Photos: From top, Starting Fifteen, Left: Panel. Right: Armagh Team accepting the Trophy 

The Meath Writers' Circle (6) August 2011

Willie G. Hodgins

The Meath Writers' Circle held their second meeting for the month of August last night with at least one new member in attendance, bringing the number to about ten in all. Having said that at least five others put in an appearance for a short spell, though having discovered that the restaurant was closed made their excuses and left! Good looking that they were! Not forgetting that I took the opportunity to run off a few more videos though this one is from the last meeting. Willie here delves into the intricacies of such as natural progression  and the other order but you'll have to listen for yourself. A very witty poem! A number of his other videos posted further back including "Changing Seasons" and "Lucy".  

The Meath Writers' Circle (5) August 20011

Sean Kane

A long time member of The Meath Writers' Circle Sean Kane here reads "Dear Grandad" and I should have got a few more details off him about the story. This is his second video to be uploaded here, the first being "The Old School" by Val Ledwith and if you scroll a bit further back you can give it a listen. Google search will find! Feedback always appreciated!  

Ewan MacColl - Dirty Old Town

As the blurb says, the original and the best, this ballad from Ewan MacColl (Peggy Seeger) is perhaps the most popular of all the English folk songs, at least in our lifetime, though you might argue for "The Shoals of Herring". Recorded by the Dubliners for their 1968 album "Drinkin and Courtin" it became very much a standard on this side of the Irish sea. I remember hearing a busker or pub singer doing a fine rendition of it in The Black Horse in Newmarket in the late sixties and it was one of those stand out songs. Recorded by just about everyone over the years it is well worth looking up the info about it on wikipedia. Ewan MacColl was born in Salford though his parents were Scottish and he was easily one of the best folk singers and song writers of the twentieth century. So indulging myself and taking a break from making up videos have a listen! With thanks to youtube and the person who posted!

The Meath Writers' Circle (4) August 2011

Tommy Murray

Tommy Murray is a founder member of The Meath Writers' Circle and a man who needs no introduction. A winner of numerous awards for both his poetry and short stories he has published many books over the years including "Counting Stained Glass Windows" (Lapwing/Belfast) and two beautiful books on the  local history of Meath, which are a must for the collection. "Images of Ireland/Meath" and "Meath Voices", both by Nonsuch Publishing. More information on these and other books can be found over on The Meath Books website. Just click on the link opposite! There are a number of video poems here as well if you scroll back a bit and "Ode To A Bottle Of Wine" is well worth a listen anytime!  

The Meath Writers' Circle (3) August 2011

Pat Bennett

"Eerie Moor", is the second poem by Pat Bennett to be uploaded here, the first being "Singin Bush" if you scroll a bit further back on the blog. This one he informs, is both a poem and a song and comes with a certain chill! Anyway it is of the same high quality as the first and well worth a listen! Hopefully there are more to come.