George Szirtes in Gort

The library in Gort is housed in the old Church of Ireland church which has memorial plaques on its wall to members of the Gregory family. This was Lady Gregory's parish church I was told and she insisted that her house guests who were non-Catholic attend service here with her. So W.B. might have worshipped there!

Last night it was another European poet, George Szirtes, who occupied the space and enthralled a reverential, knowledgeable congregation. After some wonderful music and a vigorous reading by Clare poet Patrick Stack, George took to the stage. His reading ranged over his work so far and included some new unpublished work.

His introductions led us into each poem, containing as they did thoughts on the form, the occasion and relevant biographical information. George is a fan of form in poetry and read sonnets, conzone and poems in terza rima - properly rhymed terza rima at that. His use of rhyme is a great confirmation of how effective it can be when used by a master.

I like these forms, George told us, because they can lead me to places I didn't know I was going. He also uses poetic series to a great extent - which is an excellent way of getting around the tyranny of the 40 line lyric.

He read Ross: Yellow Star from his In the Face of History: In Time of War series based on twentieth century photographs, this one by Henryk Ross. What a last line!

He read Newspapers from Flesh: An Early Family History and talked about his Hungarian origins, his move to England and his return to Budapest in 1984 which changed his life.

His most recent volume is The Burning of the Books and he read Madhouse from the title sequence which makes great use of repetition - the first nine lines each begin: The point about the madhouse is . . .

He answered questions after the reading and you got the impression that he was completely at ease and could have gone on chatting about poetry, history, Hungary all evening. Fred Johnson and the Western Writers' Centre deserve great credit for bring him to Gort.

George blogs here and no doubt will have some comments on the Gort reading. George is also on the Poetry Archive here.

Emer Davis at Boyne Readings, Trim

The featured reader at the October Boyne Readings and Open Mic in Trim will be Emer Davis of the Viaduct Bards, Drogheda, who has just launched a new poetry collection, ‘Kill Your Television’.

The readings, which are organised by the Boyne Writers Group, take place this Thursday in the Village Hall of the Knightsbridge Retirement Home, Longwood Road, Trim, starting at 8pm.

‘Kill your Television’ is a collection of poems exploring love, passion, innocence, friendship, family history, betrayal, sorrow and loss in a changing landscape, from the jagged coastline of Achill Island, Co Mayo, where Emer Davis spent her childhood, to the urban decay of London and Dublin, where she lived until moving to Drogheda five years ago.

Paddy Smith, chairman of the Boyne Writers Group, says Emer’s work examines issues of women in a changing society, with vivid descriptions capturing snatches of human life.

“Her poetry is full of sensuous imagery,” he says, “and we catch a glimpse, one moment, of a lingering thought such as 'dandelion picking in summer frocks', 'a timid kiss upon the cheek', 'steel drums reverberating', 'salt cleansed her burning flesh' and 'wavering in the shimmering lights of Soho' unfolding onto the pages.”

In the Open Mic session of the evening, writers of poetry and prose will read their own work. Writers have been coming from all over Meath and from counties Longford, Louth, Dublin, Kildare and Westmeath for this series of readings, which are held on the third Thursday of the month.

Paddy Smith emphasises that the readings are open to all. Visitors are particularly welcome, whether they wish to read or not. The €5 admission includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

George Szirtes in Gort

The Western Writers' Centre - Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude - Galway presents a reading by renowned Hungarian born poet, George Szirtes, on this Wednesday, October 20th, at Gort Library, Gort, Co. Galway. The reading begins at 8pm and admission is free. Clare poet and musician Patrick Stack will also take part. More here.

It's a long way to go to hear a poet reading but maybe I'll make a day of it, maybe visit Galway city as well. I've heard George read at Dun Laoghaire Poetry Now Festival a couple of years ago and nearly attended an Arvon course he was a tutor on. He is a Manchester United fan and blogs here.

Writers and Social Media

Just passing this on:

Sonas Training is running workshops specifically for writers that may be of interest .

The next workshop will be held in Carton House on October 23rd and will cover Social Media and how writers can use this free medium to their advantage. The cost of the day-long workshop - including lunch - is just €99.

The Internet is a marvellous, FREE medium that all writers can use to promote their work worldwide - no matter what kind of writing they do. Correct utilisation, however, hinges on adequate understanding of the medium. Once you know what you're doing, you'll find that you can promote yourself and your work in a whole new way.

'Social Media for Writers' will run from 10am until 6pm, and will cover the following areas of social media and how to make them work for you as a writer: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, YouTube

The focus of the workshop will be on the function and content of the different applications and how you can use them to your best advantage; this is a workshop about communication - it won't be technical!

Further details can be found on the website.

Sligo's Day

Yesterday was a day full of Sligo. Did I ever mention that I'm from Sligo? In the National Library 10 - 5 reading the Sligo Champion August to December 1913 on microfilm. Not just reading of course, researching. That means looking for and noting or photocopying what could be important for the book and ignoring all the other interesting bits - the court cases of assaults, neglect of children by mothers, neglect of wives by husbands, the beginnings of the setting up a medical system to deal with TB, the complaints of medical neglect, the sports reports.

The air is of waiting for the Home Rule Bill to make its slow way through the British Parliament and come into effect in 1914. A parliament for Ireland in Dublin at last! Poor things had no idea what was going to happen - the Great War, 1916 Rising, War of Independence, partition, the civil war.

Well, partition was in the air and the paper was full of the argument about Ulster. Sligo Protestants were vocal in their opposition to Home Rule and a lively debate was taking place about tolerance and intolerance in Sligo, Ulster and the rest of Ireland.

Then on to Dalymount Park for the FAI cup semi-final, Sligo Rovers against Bohs. We lost last year's final on a wet, windy cold November day in Tallaght. This year's final will be the first in the new Aviva stadium. We arrive early (of course) at the stadium and find Sligo supporters are being sent (I avoid the use of the word "herded") to the small stand behind the goal - that must be what Philip Greene used to call the Tramway End. There is an open stand on the other side but no-one is allowed in there.

Not the greatest place to watch a match from but the large group of Sligo supporters make the best of it and out-sing and out-chant the rivals. Especially when Sligo actually play the better football and seem more likely to score. We have a great view of two great first half saves by Bohs keeper.

In the second half most of the play is at the far end from us and we don't get a good view of the Sligo winning goal. A one-nil win for Sligo and off to the Aviva. How much will tickets cost? I got in for fifteen euro last night and could have got in for ten if I said I was an OAP. Pride and truth is more important than five euro though!

It was a very good match and the standard of football was high. The Irish Times website at the moment has the match report at 8th in its Soccer section - disgraceful! It leads with some tired story about buying and selling a foreign football club. The Irish Independent has it at number two in its Soccer section from which the photo above is taken of Gavin Peers scoring the winning goal.

The Sligo Champion of 1913 was also very critical of the Irish Times but for different reasons.

Clonfert Cathedral

On the way to Dromineer last Friday I wandered off the direct route. I was far too early, the tail backs, accidents, bad weather, diversions I allowed for (and always allow for) didn't happen so driving through west Offaly I was tempted to cross the Shannon into Connacht at Banagher. I went to look for Clonfert Cathedral.

I knew that this, especially its twelfth century Hiberno-Romanesque doorway, is one of the most impressive mediaeval buildings in the country, had studied it on paper in 1969 in UCD so it was time to actually visit it.

Not easy to find, not many signposts and nowadays there are very few people walking or cycling on these smaller back roads. Those that are seem always to be talking on mobile phones. The person I asked interrupted her conversation and gave precise directions. It was worth the visit.

What's so impressive and unexpected is the scale. This is a small cathedral with a small west doorway. But what an impressive doorway it is with the human heads and triangles regularly arranged above. The six orders of the doorway have more human heads and animal heads and various geometric and plan like patters. The inner order with the carvings of clerics or saints is in limestone and is fifteenth century.

The famous St Brendan the Navigator is said to have founded the monastery on this site and to be buried there.

That's two Church of Ireland Cathedrals in the one week.

Off to watch Sligo Rovers in the cup semi-final in Dalymount tonight (Friday).

Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival

Be careful the rest of the country, Meath appears to be taking ownership of Hallowe'en. This follows its successful take over Irish pre-history (Newgrange etc) and Celtic Ireland (Tara etc). [Did "The Celts" ever really exist or are they a Bord Fáilte invention?]

Anyway from October 22nd - 31st 2010 County Meath is bringing you Ireland's biggest and most electrifying Halloween Festival!!

See the launch video on YouTube.

This is what they say:
Samhain, the ancient Celtic Festival that we now call Halloween, originated here in Co. Meath more than 2,000 years ago. Samhain marks the end of the old Celtic Year and the beginning of the New Year. The Celts believed that this was a time of transition, when the veil between our world and the next came down, and the spirits of all who had died since the last Oíche Shamhna (Night of Samhain) moved on to the next life.

One of the main spiritual centres of the ancient Celts was located on top of the hill of Tlachtga, now called the Hill of Ward, near Athboy, Co. Meath. The druids felt that this world and the otherworld were closest at Tlachtga and it was here that the festival of Samhain, or Halloween, was started. The old year’s fires were extinguished and, after sunset, the ceremonial New Year Samhain fire was lit here. Torches were lit from this sacred fire and carried to seven other hills around the county including Tara and Loughcrew, and then on to light up the whole countryside.

The full programmes is here.

Kill Your Television - Episode One

The Viaduct Bards invites you to the launch of Kill Your Television - Episode One: Poems by Emer Davis at Droichead Arts Centre café/bar, Drogheda on Thursday 14 October 2010 at 8pm.

Emer will read several poems from her book with an introduction by poet John O’Rourke and music from Kevin Brannigan.


Kill your Television is a collection of poems exploring love, passion, innocence, friendship, family history, betrayal, sorrow and loss in a changing landscape, from the jagged coastline of Achill Island, Co Mayo where Emer spent her childhood to the urban decay of London and Dublin where she lived until moving to Drogheda five years ago.

Issues concerning women in a changing society are examined with vivid descriptions capturing snatches of human life.

Dromineer Literary Festival 2

Yesterday morning I attended the Dromineer poetry workshop with Dave Lordan (above). I've attended a number of workshops by poets and they've all be different and all very useful. This was great. A small number, five enthusiastic, skilled, energetic, frank poets took part. The prose workshop next door seemed to have an enormous number of participants - poetry really is a minority interest - all the better for that!

I'm not going to describe the workshop blow by blow - too tired and too busy writing - but just give a flavour. Dave stressed reading poetry and asked us at various stages to read poems our own and others. He started with Rita Ann Higgins, Rumi and Charles Bukowski stressing their use of plain language and direct speech. We read, Dave questioned, we commented.

He stressed that in the present economic climate, as they say, there may be fewer poetry books published but there is a growth in the number of open mics and slam events for poets and he encouraged us to take advantage of these and develop our reading styles. We read poems of our own and the others commented on our readings.

He encouraged participation in writers groups, small publications - chapbooks, magazines - and open mic sessions.

Random Thoughts from the workshop:

Avoid at all costs the neat epiphany or message at the end of a poem. The poet has no answers, nobody has any answers. If the last two lines contain the answer or the moral why bother with the rest of the poem?

Be careful of the dictatorship of the 40 line one page lyric. Attempt longer poems and sequences. What about a verse novel? See Nessa O'Mahony's In Sight of Home.

Avoid introductions to poems; get straight to the heart of the matter.

It might be useful to look on a poem as a musical score for a voice. A test of a good poem - Does it sound right?

A poem should be allowed find its own organic form.

Other poets mentioned during the workshop: John Ashbury, Tomas Tranströmer, Ron Silliman; Rae Armantrout; Barry MacSweeney; William Blake; John Milton.

PennSound is the best online source of readings of poetry.

Below: Group photo: prizewinners, judges, organisers etc at the Dromineer official opening.

Dromineer Literary Festival 1.

Drove to Dromineer yesterday to collect my highly commended certificate, two actually. Well worth going for the great welcome, I was remembered from two years ago when I took second prize, met old and new friends and heard and talked much about writing and poetry.

I met both the first and second poetry prizewinners earlier this year, Connie Roberts at the Poetry Ireland Introductions and Richard Halperin at the Goldsmith Festival and the iYeats Competition. Richard has just had his first volume of poetry published by Salmon. Connie won second prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Competition in 2007 and Geraldine Mitchell won the Patrick Kavanagh in 2008 and has had a book published. Tough competition indeed. Fellow Boyne Writer Evan Costigan was also Highly Commended.

Opening ceremony and prizegiving in Dromineer last evening. The usual capacity crowd in the impressive venue, the yacht club. Interesting speeches stressing the difficult times for the arts as regards funding but also being positive as regards the importance of the arts in these times.

There were prizes for under age poetry competitions and the winning entries were read by the judge Mary Arrigan. Then the senior prizewinners were announced by judges David Rice (prose) and Dave Lordan (poetry). Both judges spoke of the process.

Dave Lordan spoke of the need for poets to speak that which is not otherwise heard and that which is not expected to be said. He was generous in his praise of the highly commended poems saying it was important that good entries be noticed and that these poets be encouraged to continue to write.

He commented on each of the prizewinners saying of Richard Halperin's something like My head didn't understand it but my heart/soul did. He praised Connie Roberts winning poem for dealing with a difficult subject in a direct way, full of righteous anger.

The highly commended each got a copy of Dave Lordan's most recent book of poetry - nice touch!

Photos: First and second prize winners being presented with their prizes by John Kennedy, Mayor of North Tipperary.

Results:
Short Story
1. The Birthday Invitation by Sharon Black, Sandymount, Dublin.
2. Whatever Happens by Frances Browner, Greystones, Wicklow.
3. The Train by Mike Roycroft, Nenagh, Tipperary.

Poem.
1. Litany by Connie Roberts, New York.
2. Blue Day by Richard W Halperin, Paris.
3. Typewritten by Geraldine Mitchell, Louisburgh, Mayo.

Highly Commended Poets:
David McLoughlin, Castleconnell, Limerick. (2)
Richard W Halperin, Paris (2)
Michael Farry, Trim, Meath. (2)
Marie Coveney, Monkstown, Cork.
John Walsh, Inverin, Galway.
Patrick Maddock, New Ross, Wexford.
Nichola Griffin, Caher, Clare.
Evan Costigan, Moyvalley, Kildare.
Mae Newman, Rathfarnham, Dublin.

All Ireland Poetry Day - Meath and Cavan

A hectic delightful day, full of little surprises. Three pm reading in the By the Book bookshop in Virginia. Myself and Honor Duff of LitLab (above) were joined by James Fitzsimons and by Evan Costigan of Boyne Writers and we read and recited a number of poems to the shoppers and browsers.


Then back to Kells where Eamon Cooke (reading above) and Kells Arts club had organised tea, coffee, sandwiches and a reading in the Resource Centre. A good appreciative audience many of whom read their own work or favourite poems.


And finally to Chapter 1 Cafe in Cavan where our LitLab group read as part of the Cafe Sessions series. Our support act was Country blues singer Kevin Sweeney who put on a great show. Irene O'Dea (above) started off with a poem specially written for the event and six members of the group read a wide variety of material. Members of the audience and special guests contributed as well. A good crowd, quiet, attentive and a very enjoyable end to a very busy day.

All Ireland Poetry Day - Meath 1

Cathedral reading for all Ireland Poetry Day went very well. A spectacular venue and a bigger group than last year with Boyne Writers Group and Meath Writers circle well represented. A great variety of poems and poets - the well-known, the just written, the serious, the funny, the satirical.
Above myself, below Jenny Andersson reading.

Thanks to Dean Robert Jones and all involved.


One event down, three to go. Now where do I have to go next?

All Ireland Poetry Day

A busy day tomorrow - All Ireland Poetry Day.

Boyne Writers have two readings St Patrick's Cathedral, Trim at noon and The Resource Centre, Kells at 5pm. LitLab Cavan/Meath group also have two, 3pm in the Buy a Book bookshop, Virginia Shopping Centre and 8pm in Chapter 1 Cafe, Cavan town.

What to read in the Cathedral. A special venue deserves some special thought. Last year the Dean Rev Robert Jones started the proceedings by reading Diary of a Church Mouse by John Betjeman - a great choice. I'll bring a copy this year and read it if he doesn't.

And as a contrast I'll also read the wonderful Church Going by Philip Larkin.

I also have those three poems of mine about serving Mass and the one about the Christ and the Ass carving in the Victoria and Albert Museum. They should suit.

The 8pm in the cafe needs a bit of thought. Those new ones about coffee and scones might just be the thing - a bit lighthearted, a chuckle factor even!

Crannog Poetry Magazine says No

Boyne Berries 8 published, material selected for Boyne Berries 9 so what about issue 10? We have been discussing how to mark this milestone and have a few ideas. More later.

Crannog poetry magazine, Galway, have reached a milestone, issue 25 will be published in October and they aim to make this one a special celebratory issue. It would be nice to have a poem in it but alas I got a very nice rejection email at the week-end. Very similar to the ones I sent out a little while ago actually.

So when you get a rejection what do you do? Submit to another magazine or enter another competition straight away of course. Entries for the Troubadour International Poetry Prize close soon. I've never entered this one so I'll give it a go. One of the judges is Irish though that probably makes no difference. You can email the entry and post the fee. They accept euro cheques which many UK competitions don't.

Also closing soon are the Francis Ledwidge competition and the Plough Prize (UK). I've been commended in the Ledwidge twice so maybe this will be the year and I've been shortlisted in the Plough once or twice so I'll think about entering that also.

Boyne Berries 8 Cover

This is the cover of Boyne Berries 8 once again by Greg Hastings based this time on his photograph from Glendalough, Co Wicklow - a striking cover as usual.



Boyne Writers member Orla Fay has photographs from the launch on her blog.

Boyne Berries 8 Launched

Launch went very well - picture above. Crowd of about 50 there, writers, friends, relations, interested onlookers, potential Writers Group members etc. We had about seventeen contributors who read a great variety of work, poetry, story, comment, satire, all very well received by the audience.

Noel French ( pictured below with me at the launch) of Meath Heritage Centre officially launched the issue and spoke of the importance of the magazine and the Writers Group to the town and to individuals. He said that gatherings like this were vital to practitioners of what is a minority interest. He complimented the group on the variety of material in the issue and the geographical spread of the contributors.

Envelopes addressed to those who couldn't attend and copies of our little magazine will be on their way to India, Canada, USA, Italy and many parts of the UK and Ireland tomorrow. A good number of magazines sold - important to recoup outlay. The magazine section on the website has been updated and some material from the issue included.

You can buy a copy by using the PayPal button on the website.

Boyne Berries Launch Tonight

Everything is organised isn't it?
Oh course it is.
That's unusual.
Well I still have to collect the magazine from the printer.
What! But the launch is in a few hours.
No problem. I just have to drive up to Blanchardstown and collect them.
Have you made out the readers' list?
Well, sort of.
Sort of!
I'm not quite sure who's coming.
Oh dear. And you have an introduction ready for Noel French who is launching the issue.
No our chairman does that.
Your chairman is gone to San Francisco.
San Francisco! That's a bit drastic. It's not that difficult to introduce Noel French.
We'll see how well you can do it so.
Ok, Ok, Make me a cup of coffee, yes another one, going to be a busy day. I'll do everything in plenty of time for the next issue.
Yea right.

September Poetry in Motion in Drogheda

Poetry in Motion in Drogheda - September

The Viaduct Bards presents readings from local poets and writers on the last Wednesday of each month.
This months special guests are poets John O'Rourke and Nuala Leonard.
Venue: Droichead Arts Centre - Stockwell St, Drogheda, Co Louth
Date: Wednesday 29 September.
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Email: emerdavis@hotmail.com

Boyne Berries 8 Launch

The eight issue of Boyne Berries, the magazine published by Boyne Writers will be launched on Thursday 30 September at 8pm in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim by Noel French of the Meath Heritage Centre.

This issue of the magazine continues the pattern established by the previous issues and includes prose and poetry from local and international writers. Members of the Boyne Writers are included, Anne Crinion has two poems on aspects of Trim as it once was, Caroline Finn contributes a fictitious newsletter from a mysterious character called Hank, Jenny Andersson writes about her garden, Bill Comerford about primroses in a window box and Barbara Flood has thoughts about the summer just gone by and how Irish people react to the weather. Rory O’Sullivan of the Boyne Writers Group has one of his typically dark mysterious poems included with his own evocative illustrations.

This issue has poems and prose from writers in the UK, the USA, Canada, Italy and India. There are pieces about love lost and found, about life and death, about the past and the future. It is full of pieces which have unexpected twists and turns. A poem by Canadian resident Changming Yuan called On the Recycling Day lists contents of bins which are not what might be expected! On the other hand a poem called “Visa Photo” by Marian O’Rourke has a first line we might all empathise with as we look at a passport photo taken some years ago: The face in the photo is not mine.

A sample of some of the titles gives a hint of the variety of reading which is contained in the magazine: I Lied about Being the Indoor Type, A Love Affair with Horse Racing, and I Don’t Buy Marmalade Anymore.

At the launch many of the contributors will read their work. Admission is free and all are welcome. Previous launches have been very enjoyable occasions and have been very well attended. No matter how interesting it is to read work in a magazine, hearing the author read is a special pleasure. You can chat to the writers over a tea or coffee afterwards.

Boyne Berries 8 costs €7 and will be on sale in Antonia’s Bookshop, Trim and other local outlets or can be purchased through the website.

The Hawk's Rock 2

More pictures from Saturday's event in Sligo.

Me admiring my Hawk's Rock chapbook at the shed gallery with the Hawk's Rock in the background.

One of Conor Gallagher's paintings of the rock. This picture doesn't do justice to the painting's bright vibrant colours. Conor used a black and white version of this for the chapbook cover.

The musicians play The Hungry Rock.
The view from the summit of the rock back towards the shed gallery.

There is a photograph of the rock from the road, the usual viewpoint and the one which Conor's paintings reflect, on this page.

The Hawk's Rock

Very enjoyable and special event at the Hawk's Rock, Coolaney, Sligo yesterday. I was delighted to be asked to play a part in Conor Gallagher's exhibition of his paintings of the rock, an impressive steep outcrop on the southern side of the Ox Mountains. This place and Tullaghan Well nearby gave Yeats the title of his play At the Hawk's Well.

Conor performed miracles, got Coillte to clear a path to the top of the Rock allowing the visitors to climb and enjoy the view - all of south Sligo and Benbulben, Sligo Bay and the Donegal mountains to the north. He had a hut built near the Rock in which he exhibited his paintings, asked me to speak of the history of the area and read some poetry and had a couple of musicians there who played the Dervish tune The Hungry Rock. He made my collection of six poems on the area into a very attractive chapbook which we gave out to the audience.

A good crowd made up I think of some from Sligo town and some locals enjoyed the event. I got some compliments on the poetry and and the history as well as some additions to the stories associated with the area. The weather was perfect, a calm clear autumn day and the mountain was dry underfoot. Conor's gallery at the Hawk's Rock is open again today 2pm - 5pm and he will have more on the exhibition on his website later.

Pictures. Top: Conor Gallagher welcoming everybody. Below: Me pointing out the local landmarks.
More tomorrow.

All Ireland Poetry Day - Meath, Cavan events

All Ireland Poetry Day takes place on Thursday 7th October and events will take place in most if not all counties of Ireland. Boyne Writers Group have organised a reading in St Patrick's Cathedral, Loman Street, Trim at 12 noon and one in the Resource Centre, Kells at 5pm. All are welcome to come along and read a favourite poem, one of your own poems or just listen. Picture above is of Frank Murphy reading in the Cathedral last year. A wonderful venue!

LitLab, of which I am also a member, are reading at the Chapter 1 Cafe at 8pm that evening and we are also having a reading in Virginia but the time has not been finalised yet.

I'm off to the Hawk's Rock to day to talk (briefly) about history, read a few poems, look at Conor Gallagher's art and admire the wonderful Ox Mountain scenery.

Dromineer Poetry Competition

I had given up on Dromineer because I heard last week who had won the competition. Today I got an email saying that "Dave Lordan, the judge of the Poetry Competition at the 2010 Dromineer Literary Festival, has selected the following works for special merit" and two of my entries were included. I'm pleased about that - nice to be noticed. I'll probably go down for the presentations and stay for the Dave Lordan workshop the next morning.

I was talking or emailing two people recently about choosing poems to enter based on who the judge was and I have to admit that I chose my Dromineer entry with Dave in mind. however the one I though would really catch his attention isn't in the merit list. Ah well.

We also had a discussion recently about putting titles on poems to catch the judges attention. Just as a matter of interest this is the list of Dromineer special merit titles. What do you think? By the way can you guess which two are mine?

Sandymount Strand 111 (vigil)
Between the spaces of the song the song sang
Twilight
The Hour
Fort Madison
Skins and all
Flood
British Museum revisited again
The poet that a poet not I declenched and a bird attracted
What I'll need for the lecture
Ennui

Poetry Magazine - A Great Review

I thought about not renewing my subscription to the American magazine Poetry but I've just got the September issue and I'm enjoying it so much I may even send the money. I read the reviews and the comment section first then the poetry.

I mentioned here recently a wonderfully opinionated review in Poetry Ireland Review and there's something similar in the issue of Poetry in a review of a new collection by Robert Hass a Pulitzer Prize winning American poet who served as Poet Laureate of the U.S. from 1995 to 1997.

The review by Michael Robbins of The Apple Trees at Olema: New and Selected Poems, by Robert Hass has a iconoclastic tone, unafraid to criticise Hass and have a few swipes at other pillars of the American poetry on the way. It's not a negative review, he does praise where he considers praise is due.

A quote:

Like Mary Oliver, Billy Collins, and Sharon Olds—in their different ways—Hass has made a career out of flattering middlebrow sensibilities with cheap mystery. Unlike those poets, Hass has real talent. The Apple Trees at Olema is a frustrating blend of banality and brilliance.

He quotes Hass:

On the oak table
filets of sole
stewing in the juice of tangerines,
slices of green pepper
on a bone-white dish.

—From “Song”

and says:

This isn’t poetry, it’s a list of stuff in Hass’s kitchen.

Great stuff indeed.

Cyclamen Coum

A fine day in autumn - time to tidy up the garden. I'm afraid too many plants have been given free rein in my garden. It's time for some savage cutting back. I'm inclined to let plants have their own way and this sometimes is to the detriment of the smaller more delicate ones.

When I started to clear away foliage this week I found these - two clumps of Cyclamen Coum which I had forgotten about. No idea when I planted them but they have survived neglect and provide welcome colour at this time of year. Probably need to be moved a little towards the edge.

Tom Conaty Poetry Launch

Thursday 23rd September 2010: AN EXHALATION OF STARLINGS, poetry by Tom Conaty published by Doghouse Books, Tralee, will be launched by Seamus Cashman at 6.30pm at the Damer Hall, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Everyone welcome.

Friday 24th September 2010: The same collection will have its Cavan launch at The Courthouse, Cavan Town, Co. Cavan, where Cavan/Longford poet Noel Monahan will do the honours at 8pm. Everyone welcome.

An Exaltation of Starlings, Tom Conaty's first collection of poetry binds together earth and water, darkness and light, joy and bewilderment. It is a delightful regeneration of the natural forces in all of us. A strong and memorable collection. - Noel Monahan

Emer Davis Poetry Launch

On Wednesday 22.09.2010 the Viaduct Bards presents the launch of Kill Your Television - Episode One: Poems by Emer Davis. Emer will read some poems from the book with an introduction by Anne Marie Buckley and music from Sorcha Duggan. Venue: Grogan's Bar on South William St, Dublin 2. Time: 7pm. Email: emerdavis@hotmail.com

Emer and the Viaduct Bards organising readings from local emerging and established poets and writers on the last Wednesday each month at the Drogheda Arts Centre cafe/bar between 7.30-9.30pm. Sean Nos Singing Session on afterwards at 9.30pm. A group from Boyne Writers are featured on the 27 October. Emer will be reading from her new collection at the Boyne Readings and Open Mic in Trim on 21 October.

The Hawk's Rock Exhibition

You are invited to the opening of The Hawk's Rock, an exhibition of paintings by Conor Gallagher at the Kinnagrelly Forest Road, Coolaney, County Sligo. Opening at 2.30pm on Saturday Sept 25 with Special Guest Michael Farry. Gallery open Saturday 25 and Sunday 26, 2-5pm.

The Hawk’s Rock drawings are on view at The Model Studios, Sligo on Friday Sept 24 from 6-9pm as part of Sligo Culture Night. For more information email: info@conorgallagher.com

A special bus is leaving from Sligo bus station on Saturday Sept 25 at 2pm returning at 4.30pm fare €3 return. Click here to see map and the invitation online (pdf).

My involvement came about when Conor asked me, as a local historian, to contribute some history. I mentioned I had written a series of poems on the area so I'll combine history and poetry on the day.

Conor, a graphic designer and fine artist from Sligo, did a similar project last year at Dooney Wood, Sligo for Culture Night which appears to have been a great success. Full details are on his website.

Graiguenamanagh 'Town of Books' Festival

My kind of town - a town of books. I was tempted to go to Graiguenamanagh
but

• I have enough books to be going on with
• What about all those books upstairs I have still to read
• It's a long journey
• I was working this week - suit and tie - and need a quiet weekend at home

Still . . . .

Graiguenamanagh Tourism are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Graiguenamanagh 'Town of Books' Festival, which will take place in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, and Sunday 19th September 2010. For one weekend in September Graiguenamanagh will be transformed literally (no pun intended) into a ‘Town of Books’.

Whether you are looking for a special book, out of date and out of print, first edition or author signed, or whether you are looking for bargain books at great prices, then Graiguenamanagh ‘Town of books’ is a must for you.

And this is only the beginning. The establishment of this festival has resulted in a permanent antiquarian bookmarket being established in Graigue, and more bookshops are being planned for the future. As well as all that, the weekend will feature lots of music and entertainment and a brilliant food and craft market on the Sunday.

Metropolis in the Irish Film Institute

I went to see Metropolis this week in the Irish Film Institute. Made in Germany in 1927, directed by Fritz Lang this is one of the high points of what we call "silent movies". It's silent only in that there is no dialogue. The soundtrack is a new recording of the original score which is wonderful. This is a restored version of the film with newly discovered material added.

If you think silent movies mean only silly cops running madly around or a poor tramp trying to win the girl then go and see this. Great sets, great special effects, over 30,000 extras and a dark vision of the modern world. It has elements of Soviet revolutionary films (I've never seen so many flights of stairs in a film and crowds of almost-liberated workers rushing up and down) the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tim Burton's Gotham City, a mad scientist and an evil robot. And there is a tender love story as well.

Metropolis was the grandest, most spellbinding spectacle of 1920s silent European cinema and is still worth seeing. It's long though but after the first hour you just get caught up in the mad rush, the implausible storylines and the brilliant imagery and imagination.

Reviews here and here and here. You can see some of it on Youtube but it's not the same. Needs to be seen on the large screen.

Tom MacIntyre Literary Weekend

Tom MacIntyre Literary Weekend Sept 24th to 26th. Bailieborough, Co Cavan.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS (Free admission to all events)

FRIDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
Official Launch by Myles Dungan RTE. 8.00 PM Market House (Bailieborough Library )
Followed by: • Lecture by Marie Kelly and by Patrick Mason
10.30PM Jazz Night with THE JAZZ REVIVAL BAND Giles’ Bar, Barrack Street, Bailieborough

SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
12.30 PM Walking Tour of Bailieborough with local historian Eugene Markey

2.00 PM
Livin Dred Theatre Company. A Rehearsed Reading.with leading pofessional actors.
Good Evening Mr. Collins by Tom MacIntyre.Directed by Padraic McIntyre.VENUE: Bailieborough Courthouse.

8.00 PM – MAIN EVENT Reading by Tom MacIntyre. Followed by a Public Interview – ‘Tom MacIntyre In Conversation with Michael Harding’
VENUE: Bailieborough Courthouse.

10.30PM
Music: Antoine MacGabhainn & Friends. VENUE: Fox’s Bar, Main St. Bailieborough

SUNDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

12.30 PM Walking Tour of Bailieborough with local historian Phil Tierney

2.00 PM
Livin Dred Theatre Company Rehearsed Reading with leading professional actors
What Happened Bridgie Cleary by Tom MacIntyre. Directed by Padraic McIntyre.VENUE: Courthouse.

4.00 PM
Book Launch The Theatre of Tom MacIntyre: 'Strays from the Ether', edited by Marie Kelly and Bernadette Sweeney -
Introduction by Noel Monahan.Readings by contributors. VENUE: The Bailie Hotel

FROM SEPT 14th to SEPT 28th THE ABBEY THEATRE will hold an EXHIBITION on Tom MacIntyre in Bailieborough Library

Further information: www.bailieborough.com or by phoning (087)2626109

Readers and Writers Day - Navan Library

Meath County Library Services are holding a Readers and Writers Day on this day week, Wednesday 22nd September from 9.30am – 5pm in Navan Library.

This is a free event for all borrowers to hear from authors such as John Boyne, Claire Kilroy, Tom French, Kevin Power, Sarah Webb, Roisín Meaney and Ciara Geraghty.

Sessions include What's Happening in Irish Publishing Today; From Blyton to Landy - Changed in popular children's fiction over the Years; The Cinderella Story - The Growth of Irish Women's Fiction.

Book at Navan Library on 046 9021134.

Fiona Banner - Harrier and Jaguar

Photographs from Fiona Banner's current exhibition or installation in the Tate Britain from my recent visit to London. A remarkable experience to see these two once powerful war machines, a Harrier and a Jaguar, lifeless and helpless, one suspended like a turkey waiting to be plucked and the other stretched as on a slab.

The artist, who is new to me, is interested in fighter planes and has used models and drawings to create art. This time she used two decommissioned planes which had to be taken asunder to be taken into the gallery.

Her website has an interview about the project.

Results of The Black Diamond Poetry Prize

The Black Diamond Poetry Prize in association with Castlecomer Writers’ and Arts Festival 2010. Adjudicator: Grace Wells

Results
1st : Three Fears Carmel Cummins, Inistioge, Co.Kilkenny
2nd: Frida Kahlo Visits Ballinasloe Nuala Ní Chonchuir, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
2nd: White Fences Make Good Neighbours Eileen Casey, Tallaght, Dublin

Winner of Mealy’s Rare Books Prize: Librarian Michael Herron, Dromod, Co.Leitrim

Highly Commended [arranged in random order]

H3 Michael Herron, Dromod, Co. Leitrim
Waiting For Judy Mary O’Gorman, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary
The Road To Narnia Karen O’Connor, Tralee, Co.Kerry
Honey From The Rock Breda Joy, Killarney, Co.Kerry
Marta Becket At The Amargosa Opera House Peter Goulding, Castaheany, Dublin
one mood another mood Darren Caffrey, Piltown, Co.Kilkenny
Advice From A Cat Margaret O’Brien, Carrick-on-Suir, Co.Tipperary
Heavy Concept Kevin Dowling, Freshford, Co.Kilkenny
Salmon Leap Mary O’Byrne, Larchfield, Kilkenny
The Pools Of Light Poem Kevin Connelly, Kells Road, Kilkenny.

Well done to all mentioned above. Second prizewinner Nuala Ní Chonchuir has had a very good weekend having got two excellent reviews for her novel You in Saturday's newspapers. Congratulations to blogger Stammering Poet also. It's been a very good year for him.

Prize-giving for Black Diamond Poetry Competition will be held on Saturday, September 25 at 10:00 am at Discovery Park, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.

Great titles to all those poems. Hmmm maybe that's where I went wrong!

Autumn Flowers

The autumn flowers have survived the recent rains well. The Rudbeckia and the Japanese Anemone are still bright though the Gladioli have been knocked about a bit. Some have fallen, some just bent a bit. I forget whether I planted the Gladioli this year or whether they are some that survived from last year. Either way they provide some vertical colour at this time of year.

The other two have been in the garden for some years now, need very little care and just expand each year. Ideal for my garden though they probably need to be curtailed a bit.

Blogging Award

I've got this award from very versatile blogger Niamh, thank you!

I have to list seven things about myself. Here goes.

1. I was born in the first half of the last century of the last millenium and go to Mass every Sunday.
2. I have written many poems about my grandparents. Well only three of them actually. (Three grandparents not three poems - more than three poems.)
3. Nuala O'Faolain read a poem of mine on Radio Éireann in 1969 or early 1970. I didn't get any money for it and no you can't see it, I don't have it any more. I didn't write any more for 34 years.
4. I think Dundrum Shopping Centre is the worst of its kind. Compared to it Blanchardstown is Paradise, Liffey Valley Purgatory.
5. Rex Ingram is my favourite movie director at the moment, Lillian Gish (or maybe Alice Terry) my favourite actress.
6. My favourite painting is Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere or else anything by Jack B Yeats.
7. My favourite poem is Dante's The Divine Comedy or maybe How My Interest in Polish Poetry was Aroused by myself.

Bradshaw Books Poetry Launch

After spending all day reading the Sligo Independent for 1912 in the National Library I headed to the Damer Hall for the launch of the two books of poetry by Bradshaw Books. What Joseph Woods from Poetry Ireland called "a technical hitch" - the fact that no poetry books had actually arrived held up proceedings for a little while and gave an opportunity of saying hello to people I knew or had met at prize-givings or had published in Boyne Berries.

A full audience and the readings and launches were well worth the wait. Poet Maurice Harmon launched Roderick Ford's second collection The Green Crown. I met Roderick at a Francis Ledwidge prize giving in Inchicore a couple of year ago when he won and I was commended.

Roderick has a speech impediment and likes to play a tape of himself reading rather than read live. He does however introduce each poem and this worked very well. He read seven poems.

His poems are a fascinating mixture of the commonplace and the fantastic, often starting in traditional lyric style but moving into fantasy, dreams or nightmares. The figure of Christ appears in many of these but always in a form imagined afresh by the poet. There is something unsettling about them a kind of darkness waiting in the next line effect.

Shirley McLure's collection Who's Counting? was launched by writer Katie Donovan. Shirley has been published in Boyne Berries and I met her at the Kavanagh prize giving, she was joint second, I was joint third. Her poems are humorous, wise and subtle comments and accounts of human relationships, love, desire, death and breast cancer. The title poem is on her website.

They are full of double entendres and wit and a perfect riposte to the review I quoted from a couple of days ago from Poetry Ireland Review. It is possible to write about these things- love affairs, deaths of relations etc again and again so long as you make it new. This is what Shirley McLure and indeed Roderick Ford do so well.

And the Sligo Independent 1912? Fascinating reading, everyone should have to read an old newspaper once a year.

Poetry Launch

Poetry Ireland in association with Bradshaw Books presents the launch of The Green Crown by Roderick Ford and Who’s Counting by Shirley McClure in the Damer Hall, 112 St Stephen’s Green West, Dublin 2 tonight, Thursday, at 6.30pm.

Shirley McClure won a joint second prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry competition last year and was highly commended in the iYeats International Poetry Competition this year.

Roderick Ford has won both Listowel poetry prizes and the Frances Ledwidge Award. His collection The Shoreline of Falling was shortlisted for a Glen Dimplex First Book Award. The Green Crown is his second collection.

Poet Katie Donovan will officially launch the volumes. Admission free.

Poetry Ireland Review 101

"The feminist movement in Ireland opened doors to publishing for women in an immense way but the opportunity presented was lost in a welter of bad poetry, an uncritical acceptance of anything written by a woman and a fierce resistance to any reviewer who declared (particularly if the reviewer was male) than some work was not up to much . . . What we are left with, sadly, is a welter of 'chick-lit' novels and a sad passion for poems that deal with broken love-affairs and child-birth and deceased grandparents and myths about mermaids and women-who-dance-with-seals."

The latest issue of Poetry Ireland Review has a review by writer Fred Johnston of five recent poetry books which he uses to write a wonderfully opinionated piece in which he takes side swipes at many targets in the world of Irish poetry and publishing. The above quotation from the review is a good example.

(Memo to self: Write no more poems about deceased grandparents.)

It's an interesting issue for other reasons also. There's an interesting article by Tom Duddy in defence of Seamus Heaney and an edited version of a talk given by Belinda McKeon at Poetry Now 2010. A selection of the poems she refers to are printed in the magazine. The last poem in the magazine, by Máiríde Woods, is an hilarious riposte to the much discussed and criticised essay in Poetry Ireland 100 by Maria .Johnston.

Lost and Found Art Exhibition, Navan

I attended the official opening of the art exhibition Lost and Found in the Solstice Arts Centre Navan, on Thursday evening. The exhibition displays some the Megalithic art found on the passage tombs of Meath, Newgrange, Knowth, Fourknocks, Tara, Loughcrew. Professor George Eogan, a native of Nobber, co Meath, excavated Knowth and discovered much of this art and he has written extensively on the Passage Tomb builders of the Boyne Valley. He has compiled a booklet Megalithic Art in County Meath which is available free at the exhibition.

This factual study of Megalithic art of the county is balanced by the work of four contemporary artists in response to this Neolithic work. The artists are Niall de Buitléar, Fiona Hallinan, Anna MacLeod and Sabina Mac Mahon and the exhibition is curated by Brian Fay.

At the official opening George Eogan was honoured for his work in excavating and studying the megalithic tombs and art of the Boyne/Blackwater valley and he spoke with some enthusiasm of the importance of the area in a European and world context - the Passage tombs of the area are older than the Pyramids of Egypt. The Meath area has more stones with megalithic art than the total found in Europe as a whole.

George Eogan was one of my Archaeology lecturers in 1969/70 when I attended UCD, Earlsford Terrace as a BA evening student. He had just discovered the two passages in Knowth and it was an exciting time to be studying Archaeology.

The modern art seems to be wonderful. I didn't have time to study it in detail - a writers' meeting in Trim called and I must return. I was especially taken with Sabina Mac Mahon's work entitled: St Oliver Plunkett and the Apparition of an Angel and a Tailboard Camera at Loughcrew Cairn T on Carnbane East. She specialises in works which involve photographs.

Top: Art on kerbstone 52, Newgrange. Below: Untitled by Niall de Buitlear from the exhibition. A similar piece in a current exhibition in the RHA in Dublin is pictured in yesterday's Irish Times.

Robert Fitterman & Kim Rosenfield

And in London last week I looked for a poetry reading to attend. The Poetry Cafe which has an open mic on Tuesdays was closed for August and an internet search found only one event for last Tuesday night week, a reading by American poets (also husband and wife) Robert Fitterman (above) & Kim Rosenfield in Birkbeck College, University of London.

I had never heard of these two poets but a short internet search suggested that they might be interesting so I went along. About thirty people attended and I got the impression that most knew each other and that they might be attending a course at the college, possibly part-time students.

The two poets were introduced as writers of conceptual poetry. What is this? A definition is difficult, but it often means that the poet uses found texts to create a poem. Fitterman, for instance read a poem of his which consisted of a list of businesses found in a shopping mall - Burger Kind, Body Shop, Dunkin Donuts etc. Each verse was made up of the same list in a different order. He writes a lot about cities and shopping malls - he has published three volume of Metropolis, a poem-project he has been working on over the last ten years or so.

There is a video of a reading by him here. He read some of the same pieces in London. He has got rid of the beard!

Lots of him reading at PennSound on this page.

One of his projects at the moment is to find a real person on the internet and select pieces of texts, facebook comment, tweets etc by this person, other people of the same name and their friends and put those texts together to create a poem. He read some which included an email from himself to the person and the reply. Fascinating stuff.

And Kim Rosenfield? Completely different conceptual poetry, much less immediately understandable but a great reading style which involved reading pages each of which contained a line or two of each poem. She reminded me of C D Wright who really impressed me when I saw her at the Dun Laoghaire Poetry Festival a couple of years ago. You can hear and see Kim Rosenfield here. Her page on PennSound is here.

An enjoyable evening. Poetry can be many things, not just neat packages of fine sounding accounts of remembered incidents with thinly disguised lessons or sensitive anecdotes dotted with the personal pronoun, first person singular or embarrassing personal revelations (the kind of poems I entered in Over the Edge this year. I wonder how they'd like some conceptual stuff?).

Poet of Fingal Results

Trim poet wins the Poet of Fingal title!

No not me, Tommy Murray for his poem, Lottery. Doesn't he look pleased! First the Meath Writers Circle win the Battle of the Books and now this. There will be no standing them at the Boyne Readings! This is the third time Tommy has won this competition and brought the impressive trophy to Trim. Second was Aine Lyons and third John Flynn.

I attended the presentations of the Annual Literary Awards at Swords Heritage Festival last evening at The Carnegie Court Hotel, North St., Swords. A big crowd, good company, nice food but no award for my 100 line poem. Entering a long poem not a good idea!

Awards were presented in the Short Story Competition, the Poet Of Fingal Competition and the "What Swords Means To Me" Contest by Councillor Ken Farrell, Mayor Of Fingal. Trevor Sargent TD also attended and spoke.

The Short Story prizewinners were 1. M Hughes, 2. Anne Lawlor and 3, Christopher McGeogh.
Congratulations to all the winners.