Boyne Reading and Open Mic

We held the third of our Readings and Open Mic last night. Well attended. Our featured readers were Trim poet Tommy Murray and self styled "gentleman farmer" George Briscoe. George read from his two books of memoirs and entertained the audience with memories of hunting days, the setting up of what was to become Royal Tara Golf Club, training with the Local Defence Force (the Dad's Army of the day, he described it) during the forties and much more.

Tommy Murray is a well-known poet in Trim, Meath and beyond. Work of his is included current issue of the NUI Galway Anthology ‘Ropes Unravelled’. He is the founder of the Meath Writers' Circle and is a creative writing tutor. He has published a number of anthologies of children's work. A collection of his, Counting Stained Glass Windows, is due out from Lapwing Publishers during the summer. He read a selection of his poems, old and new, with his usual good humour.

The open mic was enjoyable with a nice balance of prose and poetry. Among the readers was Meath Writers' Circle member William Hodgins who read from his first book of poems "Sunflower" which he recently published.

We are taking a break from the readings for the summer but will probably be back in September.

June Boyne Readings and Open Mic

Two prominent and colourful local writers are the featured guests for the June session of Boyne Readings and Open Mic on Thursday (June 18) in Trim.

Tommy Murray, Summerhill Road, Trim (above) and George Briscoe, Craystown House, Bective, have the top billings for the session, which takes place in The Village Hall of the Knightsbridge Retirement Village on the Longwood Road, starting at 8pm.

The two featured readers are well-established writers.

Tommy Murray, a leading poet who has won awards in competitions throughout Ireland, is the founder and driving force behind the Meath Writers Circle, based in Trim. He has had many books of poetry and prose published, and also has a reputation as a facilitator and teacher of poetry-writing among schoolchildren.

George Briscoe was Master of the Tara Harriers for over 65 seasons. He is the former owner of Bellinter House, which he sold in 1954 for £36,000, and he describes himself as “a country gentleman”. He has published extensively about his life and times, most notably in one of his books, The Best Of Times.

Admission to the Boyne Readings and Open Mic is €5, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.