Cyphers Poetry Magazine Launch

I'm delighted to have a poem included in the latest issue of Cyphers, the Dublin based poetry magazine which is edited by Leland Bardwell, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and Macdara Woods. The administrator is Áinín Ní Bhroin, a fine poet who was one of the Poetry Ireland Introductions poets in 2011.

The launch of this issue of Cyphers takes place as part of the Strokestown Poetry Festival 2014 on Sunday 4 May at 12.15pm. I hope to be there.

The winner of the Strokestown International Poetry Prize will be announced at 7.30pm on that Sunday evening by judges, Paddy Bushe and Neil Astley. The short list is here.

Brilliant Flash Fiction

Dawn Lowe, a good friend of Boyne Berries, is involved in a new online magazine called Brilliant Flash Fiction. The magazine is looking for brilliant stories of 1,000 words or less for their first "real" edition to be published at the end of June.

They welcome original, unpublished work in all genres: sci-fi, memoir, historic fiction, etc. Email your submission to brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com. Paste your story into the body of your email and also attach it as a .doc file. Do not submit more than two stories quarterly.

At present, no payment is available. Authors will enjoy sharing their work with an appreciative audience and the possibility of having their work published in a to-be-announced anthology.

More details on the magazine website.

Irish Writers' Centre : City Bike Tales

The Irish Writers' Centre has recently launched a lunchtime series 'The Town We Love So Well' and for the next in the series, next Friday 9 May, they have decided to link the city to biking tales, in honour of all the cyclists that will be passing through for the Giro d'Italia.

Award-winning illustrator and sometime writer Alan Clarke will be hosting and they're encouraging performances on the day that will link peoples' own cycling experiences – however amateur or professional! – to the world of writing/spoken word.

Come as a guest or as a performer;  read from your own work or from another's – poetry, prose, flash fiction, comedy, music, anything goes – as long as it's bike related! Slots are filling up so if you're interested please do book in advance to this address: events@writerscentre.ie.

Event: City Bike Tales as part of The Town We Love So Well
Where: Irish Writers' Centre
When: 9 May, 1–2.30 pm
Who: Award-winning illustrator and occasional writer Alan Clarke will be MC-ing and the audience will be made up of performers and guests.

This event is sponsored by Dublin City Council.

Poetry Manuscript Competition.

Bradshaw Books is pleased to announce the opening of the Cork Literary Review Poetry Manuscript Competition. The prize includes the publication of a first poetry collection by the winning author and twenty free copies of the book.

The overall competition winner and two runners-up will also be featured in the next edition of the prestigious Cork Literary Review.

Participation involves an entry fee of 20 Euro and an initial submission of 5 - 10 poems. Upon qualifying for the shortlist of 12, poets will then submit a full manuscript of 50 poems minimum for judgement.

This year's judge is Poet and former longstanding Director of Poetry Ireland, Joe Woods.

Angela Carr was the 2013 winner with her collection ‘How to Lose Your Home and Save Your Life’.

The 2012 Winner was Annette Skade and her collection Thimblerig was published in July 2013. Annette was also the winner of the inaugural Bailieborough Poetry Festival Competition in 2013.

Full details on website.

Prolitzer Prize for Prose 2014

Details of the Prolitzer Prize for prose writing 2014 have just been announced.

Prize: Winner: £150, Publication in Prole 15 in December 2014; Publication on the Prole website
2 x runner up prizes of £50, possible publication in Prole 15; Publication on the Prole website

Judge: Sue Pace has over 120 short stories, personal essays, poems and non-fiction articles published in regional and international formats.  This includes not only literary journals in the USA, but also journals in Australia, the UK and Canada.

Her poems may be found in several "Open To Interpretation" coffee table books.  Her plays have been produced in Seattle, Portland and at the West Coast Ensemble in Hollywood, CA.  She was a "Distinguished Writer in Residence" at Seattle University and recently received an Honourable Mention in NIMROD'S Katherine Anne Porter competition.

Entries will be judged anonymously. Entries are open until October 1st 2014. Winners will be announced in issue 15 of Prole in December 2014 and on the website by December 15th 2014.

Entries may be fiction or creative nonfiction that epitomises the editorial values of Prole: to make writing engaging, accessible, entertaining and challenging. Quality is all. Word limit 2500. All work must be the original work of the writer and be unpublished.

Fees: £4.00 for first entry, £3.00 for any subsequent entries.

Via the website and enter by email. Make the correct payment using PayPal. Then email your entry, including the text and PayPal transaction number within the body of the email, to: prosecompetition@prolebooks.co.uk

Sebastian Barry's The Temporary Gentleman

Sebastian Barry's recently published novel The Temporary Gentleman is narrated by John "Jack" McNulty, an Irishman, born in Sligo, whose life spans the first 60 years of the 20th century.

The character is based on Barry’s maternal grandfather, Jack O’Hara. Jack McNulty is related to Roseanne McNulty of Barry's The Secret Scripture and to Eneas of  The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty.

I'm delighted that Sebastian Barry includes my recent history book in his short list of the "immeasurably helpful and inspiring books" which he consulted in the writing of The Temporary Gentleman.

Irish Times interview with Barry here.
Guardian review of the novel here.
Independent review here.

My book is available from the publishers, Four Courts Press, in bookshops and elsewhere online.

Happy Easter

The tulips are at their best at just the right time.

Something about the way they twist

As if to catch the last applause,

And drink the moment through long straws,

And how, tomorrow, they’ll be missed.

from Tulips by A.E. Stallings.

Svlvia Plath's poem Tulips refers to flowers she received while in hospital recovering from an appendectomy. It was written in 1961 and published in her posthumous volume Ariel. 

I didn't want any flowers, I only wanted

To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.

Happy Easter!

Good Friday

A crucifixion scene from a grave stone in the ruins of Tulsk Dominician Friary, Co Roscommon. More about this site here.

Three poems for this day, two well-known, Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward by John Donne (1572 – 1631), and Easter Wings by George Herbert (1593–1633) and the less well-known, Good Friday, by Scottish poet, Edwin Morgan (1920 – 2010).

Regime Magazine : Submissions Open

I was lucky to have a poem included in the last issue of the journal, Regime, published in Perth, Western Australia. I was especially pleased that they accepted a poem written as a result of a previous visit to WA.

I missed the launch but when I was in Perth in January/February I met three of those involved, Nathan Hondros, Chris Palazzolo and Peter Jefferies, and we had a great chat about poetry, publishing and life in general.

Regime Books, the collective which publishes Regime, has just sent out a call for submissions for the next issue, closing date 16 May. Please submit your poetry, short stories, and performance writing before then. Full details on this page.

Regime Books is a collective of writers, poets, editors and publishers who are committed to publishing the best writing they can get their hands on. As well as the journal they have published books of stories and poetry.

They are also announcing the launch of a new model of community publishing – an idea Regime Books invites writers and poets to join.

So how will it work?

Regime Magazine of New Writing will remain a not-for-profit enterprise, but also strictly not-for-loss.
We want to pay our writers and poets in currency, not copies.
We are dedicated to printed editions that are supported (and not replaced) by technology.
We will be inviting guest editors.
We will consider inviting suitable sponsors, and opening our books to donors.

Now here are the changes:

Our cover price will increase to $25 a copy (including postage). Why? $10 per copy sold on our website will be evenly distributed to our talented contributors (contributors will not receive free copies or a distribution from copies sold through third party retailers – the cover price for that is eaten by the printer, bookseller and distributor).

There will be 50 poets, 5 short story writers and a performance writer included in Regime 04.
There will be two print runs for Regime 04 for orders made through our website.

You can also reserve your Regime 04 before it's too late (yes, we're serious, the clock is running out). $10 for every copy sold goes directly to our contributors. Visit the website right now!

A Poem in Prole Issue 13

I'm delighted to have a poem in the current issue of Prole, issue 13. This is my second time to be in this great journal of prose and poetry.

This poem, A Pair of Dead Man's Shoes, was well workshopped by the two groups I belong to and also at a great workshop with a great bunch of poets at Cork Spring Poetry Festival 2013 which was led by Carolyn Forché.

This issue also contains the winning poems from the Prole Laureate poetry competition, judged by Kate Noakes whose comments on the poems are also included. A poem by Kate is also included.
Congratulations to Michael Crowley, winner, Martin Malone and Sarah Grace Logan, runners up.

This issue also has a poem, The Forty-Ninth Iron Man, by Maria Isakova Bennett whose poetry we have published recently in Boyne Berries

You can buy and enjoy Prole (available as a pdf and as a print version), either this issue or a three issue subscription, by using the options from the drop down menu on the journal's website.

SiarScéal Anthology, Roscommon in Reflection, Free on Kindle

Kindle readers can download for free the SiarScéal Anthology, Roscommon in Reflection, all of this weekend.

First published in 2012, in print and e-book editions, the anthology represents the fruit of the first five years of the Hanna Greally Literary Awards.

In the Foreword to this volume of poetry and prose, author Dermot Bolger had this to say: "This is a book that emanates from Roscommon and resonates with the landscape and varied stories of Roscommon, but, like all good writing, it slips free of all boundaries and borders to speak directly to the human heart about the human condition."

Starting Thursday, 10 April and running for five days, to the following Monday 14 April, Kindle readers can avail of this special promotion, just by logging on to any of the Amazon domains. If you do not already own a Kindle device you can simply download one of the free Kindle Apps to your phone, iPad, tablet, computer or laptop.

SiarScéal Festival 2014 will take place on 25 October in Roscommon Town. Entries are now being accepted for the 2014 Hanna Greally Literary Awards.I was lucky enough to win this award last year.

This year's overall winner will have their book published for free, in print and e-book editions, courtesy of The Manuscript Publisher. The theme for this year's competition is open, which is all the more reason to get writing. Closing date is Friday, 10 October.

SiarScéal Festival 2014 programme of events will also include a writers workshop, presented by Fred Johnston of the Western Writers Centre. Fred is a poet, playwright and novelist. He writes in both English and French. In 2004, he was writer in residence to the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco. His his most recent collection of poetry is entitled, Alligator Days.

Celebration of Noel King and Doghouse

The demise of publisher, Doghouse Books, which was announced late last year, was widely mourned and it was thought that the great work done by the imprint and its editor, Noel King, should be marked.

Accordingly, Doghouse Poets and friends present an evening of poetry and song to celebrate Noel King's enormous contributions to poetry in Ireland as well as Doghouse's retirement as a poetry publishing house after ten years and forty nine books.

The event takes place on Friday 11 April 2014 at 7.30pm in the The Central Hotel, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. All are welcome. More information from: conaty.tom@gmail.com

Doghouse will continue to service its published writers until 30 June 2015. Until then, any volume still in print may be ordered through their website. You can get any number of copies postage free for the price of €12 to anywhere in the world.

Picture: Noel King with Boyne Writers Chairman, Paddy Smith, at Noel's reading in Trim in 2011.

Richard W. Halperin in Sligo

The Yeats Society, Sligo,  presents Richard W. Halperin, who will read from his two collections published by Salmon, Anniversary and Shy White Tiger, as well as from a work-in-progress as part of their Poets Parlour series of readings in the Yeats Memorial Building, Hyde Bridge, Sligo tonight Tuesday 1 April 2014 at 8.00pm.

Richard’s work has been widely published since 2005, especially in THE SHOp, Cyphers, Revival Literary Journal, The Stinging Fly (featured poet, summer 2009), Ambit, Carillon, The Delinquent, Obsessed with Pipework.

Several of his poems have been honoured in competitions in  Ireland, the U.K. and Italy. He gave his first reading at Glenstal Abbey and has since read throughout Ireland, including at the Guinness Book of Records marathon, Irish Writers’ Centre, Dublin. Prior to retirement as Chief of Section, UNESCO, he edited Reading and Writing Poetry (Paris, 2005), available gratis via the internet. He is currently working on a third collection Quiet in a Quiet House.

Boyne Berries 15 Launched!

It's done! The last of my Boyne Berries was launched last evening in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim. It was a most enjoyable function and I was delighted at how well it went and how well those who attended seemed to enjoy it.

Paddy Smith as MC was his usual bright self with plenty of attempts at humour, most of which worked well! He suggested that Fr Sean Henry, who launched the issue might give a general absolution to writers present who do such violence to the English language in the work!

The local PP, Fr. Sean Henry, then officially launched the issue and complimented the group on their work in the community and on the publication of the magazine. He spoke of the importance of the word, of reading and of books and mentioned his own love of poetry. Emily Dickinson is one of his favourites.

Then the readers. A total of seventeen contributors read. As well as the locals they came from Louth, Cavan, Dublin, Longford and Kildare. A great variety of material, prose and poetry and some nice humour as well. Sometimes these occasions see a lot of "serious" stuff read but last night there was plenty of laughs as well.

The night ended with presentations of framed prints of Greg Hasting's cover image to Fr. Henry and to myself as retiring editor. Orla Fay, incoming editor, made some very kind remarks about my tenure as editor and told us how excited she was to be taking over.

Then I was delighted and surprised to be presented with a beautiful Children of Lir by Genesis, Mullingar on behalf of Boyne Writers Group to mark my retirement. Thank you all very much.

Photos:
Top: Paddy Smith presents the Children of Lir on behalf of Boyne Writers Group.
Middle: Orla Fay presents a framed copy of Greg Hasting's cover image.
Bottom: Sharon Tighe Mooney, Mary Melvin Geoghegan and Orla Fay at the launch.

Boyne Berries 15 Launch

The latest issue of Boyne Berries magazine will be launched on Thursday 27 March at 8pm in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim. This is issue 15 of the magazine, which has been published twice yearly by Boyne Writers Group, Trim since 2007. This issue has contributions from various parts of Ireland, the UK and the USA.

This is the last issue under the editorship of Michael Farry, a founder member of the writers group and editor since the beginning. Having successful edited fifteen issues Michael has decided it’s time to pass on the responsibility to some one else. Orla Fay from Dunderry, a long-time member and well-published poetry and prose writer is taking over.

The seventy pages of prose and poetry in this issue reflect a wide range of topics. A quick glance at the titles gives a flavour of the variety of the contents: Accordion Lesson, An Existentialist’s Wedding Vows, McDonalds Saturday Afternoon, The Snaring of the Snark, The Harpist at the Top of Grafton Street, Loughcrew, The New Curtains and The Hayfield.
A feature of this issue is the number of pieces which deal with ageing and dementia. Andy Jones wonders why he bothers planting an tree – Ten years will see me planted as sure as the Acer, Noel Carey’s poem on an old woman, possibly his mother, has the ironic title The dignity of life and Monica Corish titles her poem about a parent dying The Road Rising to Meet You.

There is also humour; a short story, Cathy Conlon’s Gran’s Shopping Trip, tells of an expedition to Cleary’s with Granny to buy a present for her ninety third birthday. Gran proves quite a handful and a misunderstanding about the meaning of the word “wardrobe” results in her getting something she didn’t want!

And there is plenty of humour elsewhere in the magazine. Dawn Lowe’s science fiction story The Chairwoman involves a female explorer from the planet Chair attending a writers group meeting with hilarious consequences. Louisa Moss from Trim has a short, amusing, cynical gloss on Dorothy Parker’s famous lines: Men seldom make passes /At girls who wear glasses. Caroline Carey Finn’s story House of Cards is a hilariously whacky account of the first day after a divorce settlement. She held on to the pub!

The passing of Seamus Heaney is marked by a poem from well-known midlands poet, Mary Melvin Geoghegan. Entitled A Response to Hearing Mid-Term Break Again it pays homage to one of Heaney’s best-known and best-loved poems. Padraic O’Dowd from Boyne Writers has a poem about the experience of soldiers in the trenches during the First World War, The Enlisted. Margaret Galvin from Wexford writes about donating an item from her wardrobe to charity: My wedding suit is gone off/ in a truck to Belarusse/ among bales of old curtains/ and sacks of wellingtons.

Many of the contributors will attend and read their work at the launch. All are welcome to attend the launch and admission is free. Previous launches have been very enjoyable occasions and have been very well attended.

Boyne Berries 15 costs €8 but will be on sale at a reduced price at the launch. It will also be available in Antonia’s Bookshop, and in SPAR, Trim. Copies can be purchased on the group's webpage.

Boyne Berries 15

The latest issue of Boyne Berries magazine will be launched on Thursday 27 March at 8pm in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim. This is issue 15 of the magazine, which we in Boyne Writers Group, Trim, have published twice yearly since 2007.

As with previous issues the publication includes poems and stories by local writers authors and those from far away, first-time authors and well-published authors. This issue has contributions from various parts of Ireland, the UK and the USA.

This is the last issue under my editorship. I felt it was time to pass on the work and the enjoyment to another and I'm delighted that Orla Fay is taking up duties from issue 16. Orla Fay is a long-time group member and well-published poetry and prose writer.

I have enjoyed my years as editor. I've made lots of friends all over the work and was delighted to publish work from new writers and well established ones. It did involved a lot of work, everything from sending out the call for submissions to compiling a print-ready pdf for the printers. I've had great support from the group over the years and am very grateful to have been entrusted with the task.

I've learned a lot during my time as editor - a lot about writing, a lot about submitting to magazines and a lot about writers. I must expand on that at some stage but not at the moment. I have to prepare for the launch on Thursday.

Our launches are usually most enjoyable. We get audiences of between 40 and 60 usually with lots of contributors attending and reading. As well as those who travel long distances from far flung parts of Ireland, Cork and Galway for instance, we have had poets from Canada, the USA and the UK attending and reading.

So I'm looking forward to a good launch on Thursday. Cover of Boyne Berries 15 above, cover image, as for each previous issue, by Greg Hastings.

SiarScéal Festival Roscommon 2014

SiarScéal Festival 2014 will take place on Saturday, 25 October in Roscommon Town. The festival, which celebrates the culture and heritage of the county of Roscommon, is now in its eight year.

The full programme of events, which have just been announced, includes morning and evening activities appealing to all ages and a wide range of interests, literary and cultural tastes. The main venue for the festival will be Roscommon County Library, Abbey Street, Roscommon Town.

Proceedings will commence with an official opening, presided over by County Librarian and festival patron, Richie Farrell, with the Mayor of Roscommon as invited guest.

This will be followed by the launch of the book, The Battle for Coman's Wood by Mario Corrigan, a work of historical fiction inspired by the students from Castleplunkett National School and Abbey National School, Roscommon.

The afternoon will see announcement of the winners of the Hanna Greally Literary Awards for 2014, entries for which are now being accepted. The closing date is Friday, 10 October. Entries may consist of poetry, prose, short stories (maximum 60 lines or 300 words) on any subject or theme.

 I was lucky enough to win this competition last year; picture of presentation by judge, Eleanor McGrath, above.

The annual Ger Hanily Memorial Cup, which forms part of the awards ceremony, will be awarded to the best entry on the theme of Coman's Wood.

The incentives for entrants to this years Hanna Greally Literary Awards, includes cash prizes, trophies and certificates. The overall winner will come away with a €1,000 publishing services package from The Manuscript Publisher, the Irish-based publishing solutions provider. The prize is designed for self-publishing authors and independent publishers. It will result in the winning entrant having his or her book published, in print and e-book format, with full editorial, design, ISBN registration, sales and marketing support.

In the afternoon, a writers workshop with Mario Corrigan will be hosted, on the subject of Writing for Children: Historical and Mythological Adventures.

The festival will conclude with an evening classical concert with recitals, to take place in St. Coman's Church of Ireland, Roscommon Town.

More information about SiarScéal Festival 2014, including the full Programme of Events and competition entry details for the Hanna Greally Literary Awards, are available from the festival website.

Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition

The Munster Literature Centre is reviving its Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition. Two winners will each have their manuscript published, receive €500 in cash and fifty complimentary copies of their chapbook.

The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country BUT at least one of the winners will be a debutante (with no chapbook or book published previously). 25-50 other entrants will be publicly listed as "highly commended".

Manuscripts must be sixteen to twenty-four pages in length, in the English language and the sole work of the entrant with no pastiches, translations or 'versions'. The poems can be in verse or prose. An entrance fee of €20 will be charged for each manuscript. Entrants may enter more than one manuscript of 16-24 pages.

The winning chapbooks will be published in August 2014 with striking cover designs, ISBNs, barcodes and will be offered for sale internationally through our own website, Amazon and selected independent book sellers.

The winning poets will be considered for the 2015 Cork Spring Poetry Festival programme and have their chapbooks entered for the UK Forward Prize for best poem and anthology. The winners will be selected by a panel chosen by the management board of Southword Editions. Deadline: April 30th 2014.

Full details here.

Two previous winning chapbooks, Done Dating DJs by Jennifer Minniti-Shippey and Never Trust Where a Cat Sits by Irene A. Mosvold, (pictured above) are still available from the centre for €10 post free.

A Review of my Sligo 1912-23

An excellent review of my The Irish Revolution 1912-1923: Sligo in the latest issue of the Irish Literary Supplement, extract above.  This is a twice-yearly publication of book reviews of books of Irish interest, founded in 1982. It is published in association with the Center for Irish Programs of Boston College, Massachusetts.

This review is by Dr Deirdre McMahon of Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, a widely published historian with a particular interest in twentieth century Irish history

The next volume in this Four Courts Press series of county histories of the Irish Revolution edited by Mary Ann Lyons and Daithí Ó Corráin, Tyrone by Fergal McCluskey, is due to be published very soon. My volume was of course first in the series.

Carolyne Van Der Meer's Motherlode Launched

Carolyne Van Der Meer's Motherlode, A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience  was recently launched to great acclaim in Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore in Montreal, Canada.

The book is published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press, Ontario, Canada in their Life Writing series and the publisher's website contains more information and you can purchase copies of the book there.

Carolyne is a friend of Boyne Berries having had poems published a number of times in the magazine and making the long trip from Canada to be at the launch of our special Boyne Berries 10 issue.

From the publisher's website:
Motherlode: A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience is Carolyne Van Der Meer’s creative reinterpretation through short stories, poems, and essays of the experiences of her mother and other individuals who spent their childhood in Nazi-occupied Holland or were deeply affected by wartime in Holland. 

The book documents the author’s personal journey as she uncovers her mother’s past through their correspondence and discussion and through research in the Netherlands. 

Motherlode also considers mother—daughter relationships and the effect of wartime on motherhood.

Photographs of the launch are by photographer Bassam Sabbagh.

More on this page on Facebook.

Motherlode Facebook page.   

Review of the book by Gina Roitman on The Rover

Five Words Poetry Competition Results

Ó Bhéal launched the Five Words International Poetry Competition last April. Each Tuesday from April 2013 to January 2014 five words were posted online. Entrants had one week to compose and submit one or more poems that included all five words. A new set of words was posted each week.

Congratulations go to Don Nixon, England, who is the winner of this inaugural competition for his poem, Fado in a Lisbon Bar. Highly commended were Afric McGlinchey, Ireland, for Frozen moment and Janet Lees, England, for A boy of six thousand parts.

Among the nine poets shortlisted was Boyne Writers Group member Tom Dredge for his poem The Choice. Well done Tom!

Full results on the website.

These winning, highly commended and shortlisted poems will appear in Five Words vol VII, to be launched at Ó Bhéal on Monday the 14th of April, along with an award presentation and readings from available contributors.

National Student Poetry Competition

Windows Publications in association with Cavan Crystal announce details of their 22nd National Student Poetry Competition 2014. Adjudicated by Heather Brett & Noel Monahan.

€100 1st Prize in each category with several runner-up prizes and over 50 highly commended certificates
Closing date Friday 18th April 2014.

Entry to this competition is free and no entry form needed. Entrant details (name, age, school or contact number) must be clearly marked on the BACK of each entry if posting work or at the end of the work if sending by email. Poems should NOT have been published before or won a prize in any other competition, and must be the student’s OWN work.

Entries will also be accepted on line as well as by post and from individual students as well as school entries. For email entries please send to: heatherbrett22@hotmail.com or by post to Windows/Cavan Crystal Poetry Competition, Cavan Crystal Hotel, Dublin Rd. Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland  on or before Friday 18th April 2014 (Extended closing date) Please state which category you are entering.

Award ceremony will be held in Cavan Crystal Hotel on Sunday 25 May at 3pm. It is a condition of the award that prize winners must present themselves at the ceremony before a prize can be awarded.

Junior Category-Open to all students throughout Ireland and the U.K. in primary or national school education or equivalent.    
                                                                                                 
Senior Category-Open to all students throughout Ireland and the U.K. in second level education or equivalent.                                                                                                                                  

Irish Language Category - Open to all students between 10 - 18 years of age.

Poetry Competition in memory of Séamus Heaney

INTO and Poetry Ireland Poetry Competition in Memory of Séamus Heaney

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is proud of its tradition in supporting the Arts and were privileged to share the company of one of our most eminent poets Séamus Heaney at the Consultative Conference on Education in Athlone in 2011.

Heaney was involved in the education of undergraduate teachers as a lecturer of English in Carysfort College of Education, Blackrock, Dublin, in the 1970s and early 1980s. There is a video of Seamus Heaney reading his poem Valedictory Verses at the INTO Consultative Education Conference in 2011 on this page..

In honour of his memory the INTO, in collaboration with Poetry Ireland, is launching a poetry competition for members. All members, North and South, are eligible to submit a poem.

Entries are limited to one poem per member, which can be in Irish or in English. Closing date is 31 March 2014. The decision of the judges is final. The winner will be announced at Congress 2014. The INTO will publish the winning poem in the union's publication InTouch.

All entries must be accompanied by an entry form and posted to Poetry Competition, Áras Vere Foster, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Download entry form in PDF format or Word format here.

The INTO and Poetry Ireland will appoint an adjudicator to judge all applications. There will be a prize of €300 for the best poem in English and the best poem in Irish, in addition to an option of spending some time in the Tyrone Guthrie centre in Annaghmakerrig.

Over the Edge etc

Just back from a busy two days in Galway - busy but very enjoyable. The Over the Edge on Thursday evening was great. A very large crowd in the library to hear Kate Ennals, Alvy Carragher and myself read our work.

In fact Alvy performed her poems and did so very impressively. Her material was great and the delivery excellent, making it an extremely hard act to follow.

Fifteen minutes is the perfect length of time to read I have decided. It's short enough to make you choose your poems very carefully, plan everything to the second and avoid digressions. I read a mixture, some from Asking for Directions and more recent ones, including one just finished.

Kevin Higgins was a great compere and the audience, over 60 I think, was very responsive as you expect from a Galway audience. The fact that the library closes at eight o'clock concentrates all the readers. The open mic was, as usual, great with a fantastic variety of material.

Late evening I attended the launch of the latest issue of Crannóg and the presentation of the WOW! Awards. The Crane Bar is a more intimate venue and the upstairs room was crowded. Again great readings. Crannóg 35 is a fine production, congratulations to the editorial board, Ger Burke, Sandra Bunting, Jarlath Fahy and Tony O'Dwyer.

James Harrold, Galway City arts officer, presented the WOW! 2014 awards and the anthology was on sale and can be purchased on the website. Congratulations to the WOW Award winners and runners up. Full list is on on the Wordsonthe page website.

Upcoming Galway Literary Events

Galway will be a busy place towards the end of this week. Thursday sees the February Over The Edge: Open Reading with Alvy Carragher, Kate Ennals and myself.

The evening also included the announcement of details of 2014 Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition.That's on Thursday at 6:30pm in the Galway City Library.

Then Friday sees the Launch of issue 35 of Crannóg magazine and the 2014 Wordsonthewaves Anthology (WOW!), 6.30 pm to 8.30pm in The Crane Bar (upstairs), Sea Rd., Galway.

This will include readings of fiction and poetry and the presentation of WOW! Awards by Mr James Harrold, Galway City Arts Officer. I'm delighted to have a poem included in this issue of Crannóg and hope to attend.

Crannóg will be on sale @ €6. WOW! Anthology will be on sale @ €10.

I notice that Charlie Byrne's Bookshop is hosting its annual Japanese – Irish poetry evening, also on Friday 28 February at 8pm. This year world renowned Tanka poet Hisa Kagawa will be joined by Nicki Griffin, winner of the 2010 Over the Edge New Writing Prize, who published her debut collection with Salmon Poetry in 2013.

The Poet's Quest For God

A significant number of the 250 poets in this anthology, The Poet's Quest For God: 21st Century Poems of Faith, Doubt and Wonder, edited by Dr Oliver Brennan, Todd Swift and Dominic Bury, are Irish and I'm delighted to be among them. It is being published by Todd Swift's Eyewear Publishing.

The Poet's Quest For God, with an Introduction by Dr Ewan Fernie, features over 250 of the leading poets now writing in the English language, mostly represented by new poems of the 21st century.

This is a book that will delight, inspire, amuse and challenge, in equal measure - as each poet explores the questions of faith and doubt from their own particular perspective.  This is the first contemporary global anthology of poems of spirituality and religion to feature poems by Atheists, Agnostics, Christians, as well as those from the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Budhhist traditions.

The poets are from America, Canada, Ireland, the UK, India, and elsewhere, including Patience Agbabi, Kazim Ali, Fanny Howe, Mimi Khalvati, Stephen Burt, Christian Wiman, Charles Bernstein, Rae Armantrout, Andrew Motion, Elspeth Smith, Annie Finch, Alfred Corn, Ilya Kaminsky, and hundreds more.

This beautifully designed anthology - in hardcover - will be over 300 pages and a perfect gift for all occasions, a bedside companion, and a potential classic for decades to come.  This is truly a benchmark publication, waiting to happen.  In order to cover the costs of design and publication in a large print run, Eyewear would like to call upon your support to make this book happen soon.  There will be launches in several major cities.

To pledge or preorder please go here.

February Over The Edge, Galway

I'm really looking forward to this, a great venue, great audience and great fellow readers.

The February ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, 27 February, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Michael Farry, Kate Ennals & Alvy Carragher.

There will as usual be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are especially welcome.

The evening will also see the announcement of details of this year’s Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition, which will then be made available here on our website.

Alvy Carragher is currently a student on the MA in Writing at NUI Galway. Her poetry has been commended in the Gregory O’Donoghue Award, highly commended in the 2013 Over the Edge New Writer of The year competition and she came third in the 2013 Doire Press Poetry Competition. Alvy is the current Connaught Slam Poetry Champion.

Kate Ennals completed the MA in Writing in NUI Galway last year. She writes both poetry and fiction. She currently facilitates both poetry and writing workshops in Cavan. Her writing has been published in Crannog, Skylight 47 and the Galway Review. She has had stories and poems in the anthology, From Ballyjamesduff to Belleek, which was published by the International Fund for Ireland. And Kate features in the new anthology, The Adventure Hat, published by the Black Fort Writers.

Michael Farry is a retired primary school teacher who writes both poetry and non-fiction. His poetry collection, Asking for Directions, was published by Doghouse in 2012 and his book Sligo: The Irish Revolution 1912-23, was published by Four Courts Press in the same year. He is founder and for many years was editor of Boyne Berries magazine published by Boyne Writers Group.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council & The Arts Council.

WA Shark Cull - A Poem

One of the interesting aspects of visiting another country is noticing what is making the news there. On our recent visit to Perth, WA., (Western Australia - they are big into acronyms) a lot of the news was depressingly similar to news in this country and continent: something must be done about alcohol fueled disturbances and deaths, political and business corruption must be investigated, multinational companies close their local operations - Toyota are to stop car manufacturing in Australia in the next few years, etc.

There were some different news stories such as the start of a shark culling policy by the Western Australian state government. This is in response to a number of kills by sharks in the recent years.

There has been a lot of debate about the issue and numerous protests have been held. However the cull is underway and over twenty sharks have been killed. Drum lines have been used, floating barrels with a large baited shark hooks on a line, the barrels attached to anchors on the sea floor. Sharks when caught are killed or set free depending on species and size.

More about this here, here and here. Picture above of a caught shark being killed is from The West Australian/Sharon Smith.

By coincidence on the day we were leaving Perth, the local daily newspaper, The West Australian, printed a poem by well-known, prolific, Western Australian poet, John Kinsella, entitled Shark Tale Paradox, "for those lost to sharks, and for sharks themselves".

The fourteen stanza, 42 line poem ends:

                                          My brother has surfed the coast
off Geraldton for decades and says he doesn't know a surfer

who wants sharks culled. Surfers share the sea, know the risks.
I read of 'catch and kill' like a wanted poster from the Old West.
I read of 'baited drum lines' like a dragnet to convince the public

something is being done, that pain of loss to shark 'attack'
will be somehow lessened, if not overcome. But loss will only
bring life if it grows awareness; death sentences only diminish us.

New Pigott Poetry Prize

Listowel Festival have just announced  the creation of the Pigott Poetry Prize for books of poetry written by Irish writers.

The Prize is for a book of poetry by an Irish Poet published between 1st January 2013 and 28th February 2014. There will be an  award prize of €5,000 for the winner which will be presented at the opening Ceremony on the 28th May 2014.

The Pigott Poetry Prize is supported by industrialist and philanthropist Mr. Mark Pigott KBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PACCAR Inc who said “It is a blessing to be able to support this wonderful literary award and recognize the leading poets of Ireland. My family originated from Listowel and emigrated to the US in the late 1890’s. We are very pleased to support the arts and sciences in Ireland and look forward to many years of recognizing these very talented Irish poets.”

All books of poetry must be submitted to Listowel Writers’ Week before the 1st April 2014 and will be adjudicated by journalist and reviewer John Boland and renowned Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

For full details of this New Poetry Prize – Click Here.

There are only two weeks left to enter the rest of the Listowel competitions, closing date is 1st March 2014.

Regime Magazine, Perth, WA

Regime Books is a collective of writers, poets, editors and publishers "hell bent on making books full of the best writing we can get our filthy hands on". They are based on William Street, Perth, Western Australia and they publish volumes of poetry and prose.

Regime Books is also the publisher of Regime Magazine, which they call "the world’s most frivolous of serious literature magazines". That may be so but the three issues of the magazine so far published are very professionally produced. I'm delighted that issue three will include a poem of mine, written after a previous visit to Western Australia.

This third issue of Regime will be launched on 12 February 2013 at 7.00pm, in Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den, upstairs at The Brisbane Hotel, 292 Beaufort St, Perth.

The magazine includes new work by Australian and international writers. It also includes an extended interview with Melissa Harpley, the Art Gallery of WA’s Historical Curator, about the upcoming Guy Grey-Smith retrospective. The cover of Regime 03 features the Guy Grey-Smith painting, ‘Torbay’, provided by the Art Gallery of WA, Perth.

I'm disappointed that I won't be able to attend the launch. I'll be arriving back in Ireland from a visit to Perth on the day of the launch.

I did visit the Regime office and met three of those involved, Nathan Hondros, Chris Palazzolo and Peter Jeffery, all writers themselves. We swapped comments about Irish and Australian poets, wondered what is the best poem ever written and discussed Robert Browning, Gwen Harwood, John Kinsella, etc.

Ogham Stone Magazine Launch

The Ogham Stone, the literary magazine curated by the 2013-2014 MA in English class in the University of Limerick will be formally launched at a reception on Friday, 14 February, at 4 pm in the Millstream Common Room, University of Limerick.

All Ogham Stone contributors are invited to attend and to read their submissions. The publication is free, and copies will be available in O' Mahony's Booksellers on campus and the U.L. Glucksman Library from Monday, 17 February. Copies will be provided for the contributors and affiliates at the official launch.

I'm delighted to have had a poem accepted for the magazine but unfortunately I won't be able to attend. Well done on the publication and good luck with the launch.

Silver Apples Magazine

A new literary e-zine, Silver Apples Magazine, has been founded by Alex Dunne and his long-time collaborator Gráinne O'Brien to showcase fresh and unique voices in Irish fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama as well as new talent in the visual arts.

Silver Apples Magazine is now accepting submissions for its inaugural issue on the theme “Modern Mythologies” in the following categories: Short fiction, Creative non-fiction, Poetry (all forms), One act plays, Photography, Digital artwork and illustrations, Comics.

There is no need for you to have a previous publication history to submit – whether you are a seasoned author or a photographer just finding their feet, as long as you have a vision or an idea they want to hear from you!

Full submission guidelines are on the website. Email all submissions to silverapplesmag@gmail.com with the header “Submission” followed by the type of submission and the title of your piece. Also include a short bio (max 50 words).

Closing date for submissions is 31 March 2014.

Website: http://silverapplesmag.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silverapplesmag
Twitter: @silverapplesmag

"Fathers and What Needs to be Said" Anthology

Rebel Poetry is calling for submissions for their forthcoming anthology 'Fathers and what needs to be said'. There is no charge for entries and the book launch will be at the Grand Hotel in Fermoy and televised live via www.fermoypoetryfestival.com. Fermoy International Poetry Festival will host the launch on Friday April 4th 2014.

A maximum of three poems will be accepted. Poets may enter only once and cannot enter under a different name. Only Microsoft Word Docs will be accepted and all poems should be kept to a single page.

All poems must be in English and emailed to rebelpoetryireland@gmail.com. The email subject should clearly say, ‘Father Anthology Submissions’

Notifications of accepted poems will be emailed to the successful poets on Friday 14 March 2014. Closing date for entries is 12.00 midday on Friday 28 February 2014.

Poetry Workshop with Mimi Khalvati

The Poetry Vein presents Finding the Form : A Poetry Workshop with Mimi Khalvati 

This workshop will explore the relationship between form and content and demonstrate how, in finding the form, we find the poem itself. Examples of writers’ drafts will be discussed and compared with final versions, and participants will experiment with different ways of shaping their own poems, whether in formal or free verse. Elements of rhyme, metre and stanzaic forms will be touched on, as well as styles of lineation in free verse.

Mimi Khalvati was born in Tehran, Iran. She grew up on the Isle of Wight, where she attended boarding school from the age of six, and has lived most of her life in England. She has published seven collections of poetry with Carcanet Press, including The Meanest Flower, a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, a Financial Times Book of the Year, and shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize and, most recently, Child: New and Selected Poems 1991-2011, a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation.

Prerequisite: two poetry publications in established outlets. Not suitable for beginners.
Saturday 5th April, 2014, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Sunday 6th April 2014, 10.00am – 12.30pm
Wilton Hotel, Southern Cross Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow – ample free parking.
Workshop cost : Waged: €120 Unwaged: €110
Tea/coffee provided.

ALSO AVAILABLE: Tutorials: Following the workshop on Sunday afternoon, a very small number of half-hour one-to-one tutorials are available, to discuss some of your work. Tutorials cost €50, booked along with the workshop.

To secure your place, contact Shirley McClure at the Poetry Vein  email : shirleymcclure2@gmail.com 6034481

Strokestown International Poetry Festival

The 2014 Strokestown International Poetry Festival is taking place this year from 2 - 4 May.  The closing date for competition entries is Friday 28 February.

The 2014 Strokestown International Poetry Award, for poems in English on any subject not exceeding 70 lines is being judged by poets Paddy Bushe and Neil Astley, with a first prize fund of €2000.

The Percy French Award for Comic Verse will be judged by the Strokestown Wit Committee.  The emphasis this year will be very much on fun and the judges will be looking out for comic and witty verse for which a prize fund of €1,000 is being offered.

The entry fee per poem is €5 euro/ £5 sterling/ $5 US dollars and you can enter online or by post. Shortlisted poets will be invited to read their work at the festival.

Please visit www.strokestownpoetry.org for further details.

Moth Short Story Prize

Details of this year's Moth Short Story Prize have just been announced. 

First and second prizes are €3,000 and €1,000 and the third prize is a week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France (to include €250 travel expenses). 

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.  There is a 6,000 word limit. The entry fee is €9 per story and you can enter as many stories as you like.

You can enter online or simply send your story or stories along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of story attached to: The Moth, 81 Church Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland.

This year’s competition will be judged by Mike McCormack, a recipient of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature whose debut short story collection was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

His novel Notes from a Coma was shortlisted for the Irish Book of the Year Award and was described in the Irish Times as ‘the greatest Irish novel of the decade just ended’.

Closing date is 30 June 2014 so you have plenty of time to write those six thousand words.
 
The three winning stories will feature in the autumn 2014 issue of The Moth and the winners will be invited to read at a special event at the Winding Stair Bookshop in Dublin in September 2014.

Full details on the Moth website.

Motherlode by Carolyne Van Der Meer

Wilfrid Laurier University Press is pleased to announce the publication of Motherlode: A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience, by Carolyne Van Der Meer.

Carolyne has contributed poetry and fiction to a number of Irish publications, including the WOW Anthology, Boyne Berries, Poetry Bus, The Stony Thursday Book, Crannóg etc.

Motherlode is Carolyne Van Der Meer's creative reinterpretation through short stories, poems, and essays of the experiences of her mother and other individuals who spent their childhood in Nazi-occupied Holland or were deeply affected by wartime in Holland.

The book documents the author's personal journey as she uncovers her mother's past through their correspondence and discussion and through research in the Netherlands. Motherlode also considers mother-daughter relationships and the effect of wartime on motherhood.

Advance Reviews
"Motherlode is Carolyne Van Der Meer's Orphic journey to reclaim the past of her mother, a child during the five years of Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The mosaic of poetry, fiction, and reminiscence is her Dodenherdenking, a remembrance of the dead, but also her immersion in the Lake of Memory. Her quest to understand a loved one expresses the need of every child and every parent to know and to be remembered. If the past is a foreign country, Van Der Meer shows us that with empathy and imagination we can enter that land as more than mere tourists." - Steven Manners, author of Ondine's Curse and Valley of Fire.

"A mesmerizing journey through occupied wartime Netherlands; the voices emerging from the pages are haunting: replete with powerful emotions and modernity." - Isabelle Laflèche, author of J'adore New York and J'adore Paris.

If you would like to request a copy to review for a publication or blog or to examine as course material, please click here to fill out a form with your contact information. To purchase a copy for personal use, please visit your favourite bookstore or online bookseller. The book can also be purchased directly from the publishers' website.

BWG Chairman Address 2

One profound change that will definitely happen in our little group in the coming year is the stepping down of Michael Farry from his position as Editor of Boyne Berries, a position he has held since its foundation. Michael has brought great honour and prestige to the group through Boyne Berries, which has published more than its fair share of the crop of upcoming writers of our generation – I’m thinking here, for example, of Niamh Boyce who was published in an issue of Boyne Berries several years ago, who came to the launch of that issue and read here in this hotel, and who is now the author of a novel which has caused quite a stir in Irish literary circles over the past year. And I’m sure Michael himself could list off at least a dozen other writers who deserve mention in this same context.

Michael, we thank you for your dedication and hard work on the first 15 issues of Boyne Berries. You will be sorely missed.

However, it is great and wonderful that there is someone in our group, Orla Fay, who is willing to take over from Michael – someone, I suspect (and hope) who also has a strong voice allied with the courage to carry forward the torch – or maybe more aptly the little spark, the little glow – of literary delight, enchantment and satisfaction that Boyne Berries has become, thanks to its first Editor. Orla, the best of luck – and we’re all available to give you whatever help and encouragement you need.

I’d like to thank the officers and committee for their support during the year, especially for their willingness to step in and act as chairman at our ordinary meetings. Owing to my continuing health problems especially in the first half of last year – and also due to my involvement in the Swift Satire Festival in Trim and the fact that I spent 2 months in Australia last Spring – I was not as available for Boyne Writers Group meetings as I would like to have been.

Thanks to Michael Farry for his work as Secretary and to Caroline Carey Finn for her work as vice-chairperson and to Barbara Flood for her work as Treasurer. And to the people who organise our Website and Facebook Page (Michael and Orla).

Congratulations to the Boyne Writers Group winning team in the Battle of the Books (47-41): Caroline Carey Finn, Paul Kerr and Michael Farry – especially to our captain Michael Farry whose own material and performance was, to my mind, the best ever in the history of this contest.

Chairman's Address BWG 1

Best wishes for a Happy New Year to all our members, present and past.

This year many of you will be relieved that I’m not going to talk about the falling standards in grammar or spelling or punctuation. I’m not going to talk about how outrageous it is that writers’ groups don’t appear to concern themselves with these matters. I’m not going to talk about how it’s teachers, and not just pupils, who are getting worse and worse at grammar. I’m not going to talk about the ridiculously low standard of English writing among university students and graduates. I’m not even going to mention the fact that it may not matter a damn that these standards are falling because we seem to be able to communicate with each other in spite of this.

I’m not going to blame texting for the fall in these standards because that would be too simplistic – although I can see the day coming when the semi-colon and colon will be dropped from the standard keyboard of mobile phones and computers. This won’t mean the end of civilisation as we know it, but it will make the world a poorer place.

I am going to speak about how wonderful you people are, how you come along to meetings and help to create the feelgood factor that I experience (and I’m sure you experience too) on being with other writers (even if most of them are poets!). I want to thank you all for exerting influence over me and, by fostering an environment of critical encouragement, allowing me to develop further in my writing skills.

I’m mightily impressed with the range of approaches we take to writing, everything from novels to memoir, plays to poems, and all things in between. But I would urge our members to try something different during this coming year, as a means of further development of one’s writing skills. And I don’t mean that, say, the novelists should try their hand at poetry and vice versa – though maybe that’s not a bad idea – but that people who thrive on angst and torment should have a go at jolly, jovial and cheery material for a change, and vice versa.

I’m a big fan of Joe Duffy on RTE Radio 1 but every now and again I just turn him off because there’s only so much distress and suffering I can take. On the other side of the coin, I listen to Derek Mooney an odd time and I turn him off occasionally too because there’s only so much hearty enthusiasm I can manage at one sitting.

Back to our little group. Where are the poems about potholes on our roads or about what it’s like to be a member of the first human settlement on Mars or about the slow pace of funding for the arts in this country? (That latter issue, I’m convinced, is at the core of the recent controversy over Limerick City of Culture.) Where is the material that deals with the taking over of the world by accountants? Or where’s the stuff that’s a lively commentary on RTE television programmes? Or that’s against Women Bishops! Depression and melancholy are not enough in our writing; we must be contrary too!

When was the last time I gasped in excitement, or horror, at something that somebody read at our fortnightly meetings? Or giggled with a tinge of nervousness at the daring of another piece? Have we become a little comfortable in what we do?

And I needn’t turn to Boyne Berries for relief! If it’s not a catalogue of mere misery, it’s wallowing in floral language about colourful autumns and sunsets or bathing in nostalgia about ancestors. Maybe when our new Editor takes over Boyne Berries it will undergo a fundamental change! Interesting times ahead, I hope!

Okay, I’m being deliberately provocative in some of my material here, but I do like a little bit of excitement, a thrill, some intellectual stimulation, in my life. And where else would I come to get it (legally!) but at a gathering of writers? I’m frequently disappointed by the results of my search so far!

And there's more!

Boyne Writers Group - 2013 Report

The AGM of Boyne Writers Group was held on Thursday 9 January 2014 in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim.

The secretary presented the annual report for 2013 and detailed the activities in what was a very busy and successful year. The fortnightly meetings in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim, were well attended and enjoyed.

A committee meeting was held on 29 August which discussed the future of Boyne Berries in the wake of editor Michael Farry’s decision to step down, the possible reactivation of The Boyne Readings and participation in All-Ireland Poetry Day on Thursday 3 October 2013.

Two issues of Boyne Berries, 13 and 14, were published during 2013 and both launches were well attended, writers travelling form many parts of the country to reads their pieces. Boyne Berries 13 was launched on 21 March by Frank Murphy of the Meath Writers Circle. A framed copy of Tom French’s poem in memory of Tommy Murray, which was included in the issue, was presented to the Murray family.

Boyne Berries 14 was launched on 26 September by Kate Dempsey, guest editor for the issue. Kate spoke about the experience of editing anonymously. Our chairperson presented Kate with a framed print of Greg Hastings' cover image.

We are very grateful to all those who continue to submit material to the magazine, to our guest editor Kate Dempsey, to our cover artist Greg Hastings, and to the printers, ePrint, Blanchardstown.

The Path of Progress by Tom Dredge, the fourth in our series of Boyne Chapbooks, was launched in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Thursday 21 November. The event included an Open Mic and the evening ended with tea, coffee and biscuits.

The group marked All-Ireland Poetry Day, 3 October with a tribute to the poets of Meath entitled, Our Most Lovely Meath. At 12 noon we visited Laracor Graveyard where F.R. Higgins is buried. Richard Haworth kindly invited us into his home where we read from the recently published Selected Poems of F.R. Higgins. A relative of the poet, Christopher Gray of Higginsbrook House, attended and read. See video on YouTube.

At 1pm we read some poems by Jonathan Swift and others in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trim. At 4pm we were the guests of the Ledwidge Museum, Slane where we were shown around and read some of Francis Ledwidge’s poetry. Finally at 5pm at the O’Reilly Memorial Dowth, we read some poems by John Boyle O’Reilly.

Boyne Writers Group scored a well-deserved victory in the fifth staging of the Battle of the Books satire competition which took place on the first night of the Swift Satire Festival in Trim. Our team of Caroline Carey Finn, Paul Kerr and Michael Farry defeated the Meath Writers Circle team. Congratulations and thanks to our members who took part and to those who supported the team.

Members of the group took part in the Poetry in Motion outdoor poetry readings and the public reading of Gulliver’s Travels.

Two members also took part in the Swift Satire Festival Poetry in Motion readings at the Temple Bar Tradfest on 26 January.

Group members, Paddy Smith and Michael Farry, were invited to read poetry at the Noel French-organised Gathering of people from the United States, Britain and Australia who were investigating their Meath ancestry in the autumn.

Boyne Writers Group continues to lead a weekly poetry reading for the residents of Knightsbridge Retirement Village each Wednesday. This has proven a great success with many residents taking part by reading their own favourite poetry.

The secretary listed and congratulated members who had work published in newspapers, magazines, online and broadcast, and those who were prizewinners or commended in competitions.

He ended by thanking the Castle Arch Hotel who accommodate us in the lounge every second Thursday night and host our launches and the local press, Focus and The Meath Chronicle, who published notices and reports of our various functions. He especially commended the members who continue to make each meeting a special occasion. He urged them to continue to write, to have the courage to share their writing with the rest of the members and to put up with the keen criticism which is a hallmark of the group.

Listowel Writers’ Week Workshops

Is your New Year resolution to get that novel, memoir, poetry collection, three act play or whatever started/finished?

Below is a list of Listowel Writers’ Week 2014 workshops which may help.

Novel Advanced Workshop with Douglas Kennedy
Novel Getting Started with Catherine Dunne
Novel - The Halfway Stage with John MacKenna
Creative Writing Getting Started with Martina Devlin
Creative Writing Advanced with Mary O'Donnell
Poetry Getting Started with Mark Granier
Poetry Advanced with Peter Fallon
Memoir & Non Fiction with Molly McCloskey
Writing for Theatre with Bernard Farrell
Adult Writing Fiction for Teens with Siobhán Parkinson
Short Fiction with Nuala Ní Chonchúir
Travel Writing with Mary Russell

Each three-day Workshop will run from 9.00am – 12.30pm on Thursday 29th May, Friday 30th  May and Saturday 31st  May, 2014.

Places are limited to 15 per workshop. Workshop Fee: €175.00 for each three-day workshop

Bookings are now being taken: Go to the Festival Workshop Page.
You can also book by phone:  +353 (0)68 21074

Epiphany Poem

The Adoration of the Magi from the east face, Muirdeach's High Cross, Monasterboice, Co. Louth.

A poem for today's feast day, the Epiphany, by the 'Bard of Orkney George Mackay Brown (1921 - 1996)

A Calendar of Kings

They endured a season
Of ice and silver swans.

Delicately the horses
Grazed among the snowdrops.

They traded for fish, wind
Fell upon crested waters.

Along their track
Daffodils lit a thousand tapers.

They slept among dews.
A dawn lark broke their dream.

For them, at solstice
The chalice of the sun spilled over.

The star was lost.
They rode between burnished hills.

A fiddle at a fair
Compelled the feet of harvesters.

A glim on their darkling road.
The star! It was their star.

In a sea village
Children brought apples to the horses.

They lit fires
By the carved stones of the dead.

A midwinter inn.
Here they unload their treasures.

George Mackay Brown 

from 'Following a Lark' 1996 and 'The Collected Poems' 2005.

See twelve textile pieces created by students of accomplished textile artist and teacher Pat Archibald, using this poem as inspiration on this page.

The poem is also included on the CD Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols by the vocal group Anonymous 4. The poem’s musical setting was composed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.