The members of the Meath Writers Circle would like to sympathise with the Hodgins family on their recent breavement. We will remember them in our prayers.
Some of the youthful poets who took part in the Navan Shamrock readings on Saturday 13th with poet Tommy Murray--Photo, Tom French ---------------------------------------------------------------
Made a decision that I wouldn't be entering very many competitions in 2010 as it is not going to make much of a differance whether i win another one or not. What will make a difference however, is getting published in as many publications as possible. It is still only March and already I have made it to three. 'With the Boyne Through Trim' which will be out next week will be the fourth, Boyne Berries which is being launched on the 25th will be the fifth and there is a definate promise of publication in three other publications in the coming weeks. This of course is not to say that I won't be entering any competitions, but the frantic efforts to get a commendation that were so much a part of my earlier days will not be repeated ============================================ The death of Michael Foot at the age of 96 while it will hardly be a surprise it is particularly sad for people like Michael Regan, Noel French and myself, we having met him on several occasions during his many trips to Ireland. In the early in1990s he came to Trim where I presented him with a copy of my book, Stella's Cottage. I met him several times after that during his trips to Celbridge. He was big into Swift and seldom missed any do connected with the Vicar of Laracor. During his last visit to Trim he described Trim as being a wonderful town
Michael Foot listening to my talk on Swift in the early 1990s And reading the poem ;Stella's Cottage'
In 1976 Michael Foot came within a hair's breath of becoming British Prime Minister when he was defeated by James Callaghan. In 1955 he wrote a study of Jonathan Swift called ' The Pen and the Sword' His interest in Swift brought him to Ireland on several occasions. His unkempt appearance left him open to much criticism and he was lampooned as Worzel Gummidge. His appearance in 1981 at the Cenotaph wearing what was described as a donkey jacket alienated him from voters. In 1949 he married Jill Craigie. May he rest in peace
With the Boyne Through Trim (A nostalgic stroll through twentieth century Trim) Will be on the shelves of most good book shops by St Patrick's Day Reasonably priced at 12 euro it may also be ordered from the author for even less 0469431747 email
So what's this book all about ? If you do not know the price of eggs, sausage and chips in Jim McMahon' Add a bag Chipper in Trim back in 1970 then you need this book
------------------------------------------------------------- Meath Oral History Project have now been completed And work on the accompanying booklet is almost finished And should be launched within two weeks
I have just received my copy of Richard Haworth's book on 'Jonathon Swift and the Geography of Laracor' Richard of course is one of Ireland's leading authorities on Swift and having gone through the 28 pages and I would recommend it to readers. Don't know how much it cost as my copy was complimentry, thank you Richard for that and for keeping the spirit of Swift and Laracor going
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For as long as I care to remember I have been fascinated by a little poem by American poet William Carlos Williams. I have discussed it with several distinguished poets and writers and one even said that it represents all that is good in Poetry. The poem is called " so much depends" I first encountered it while doing a diploma course in Creative writing'
Here it is
so much depends upon
a red wheel barrow
glazed with rain water
beside the white chickens
It is all over the internet and while the lay out is just about perfect and it paints a vivid picture it surely doesn't deserve all the praise that has been heaped on it. Having said that I would rate it and 'Adlestrop' by Edward Thomas as among My Favourites
For more thought s on this go to Creative Writing Tips on the Main Menu ================================== For another great Website with Poetry, Stories and Pictures See Weblinks on main Menu ===============================
Absolutely delighted to see that i have been included in the Anthology 'Words from the Web which has just been published
Just finished reading Helen Weaver's memoir of Jack Kerouac and was more than surprised to learn that when the original manuscript on which Kerouac wrote the highly entertaining 'On the Road' went fo auction at Christie;s in new York in 2001 it sold for a world record for a literary manuscript at 2.4 milion Dollars. Kerouac is just another in a long line of writers that were ignored during their lifetime only to be acanonized after their death
========================================================= It has just been confirmed that All 26 members of the Meath Junior Writers Group will take place in a public reading of their work in conjunction with the Navan Shamrock Festival in March, more about this later. The programme for the festivalwill be printed by Friday =======================================
Picture of the February Meeting of the Meath Writers Circle. Fourteen attended not in Picture Mark Doyle.and photographer Tommy Murray The belated attendance at this meeting of Michael Regan was more than welcome seeing that he was the fourteenth person to sit down and members were just that little bit apprehensive at the thought of being the first to leave from an attendance of thirteen =================================
Tommy Murray Reading for Meath Arch Club Navan Library January2010 Photo Sharon Flanagan
Tom French reading for the Meath Arch Club Navan Library January 2010 Photo Sharon Flanagan
And still another photo from the reading
====================================================== Just received my invitation to give a reading at the White House in Limerick This of course will not be my first time to give reading in Limerick. My last reading there was in the Glentworth hotel for the launch of the Ciaran O'Driscoll published 'Easy Squares and Nervous Circles. The date for the White House reading is Wednesday 4th August Too early yet to sound the clarion call for a rising of the clans, I think?
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Close on one hundred turned out for the Meath Arch Club reading on Thursday Evening. The two poets featured Tom French and Tommy Murray went down well. Apart from that there was no shortage of poets and singers make the evening such a great success =========================================
Got word today that my collection Counting Stained Glass Windows is now in the Poetry Library.
========================== Just received word that my poem 'On the Wagon' is to be published in an anthology by Book Aid International. It will retail at around £5.95 and will be available internationally. I have a special affection for this particular poem it having secured second place in the Bard of Armagh Competition and been shortlisted in Strokestown This particular poem has often been my party piece and is also published on the CD 'Crafters of Laughter. ================================================
We are also looking forward to the launch of the Maurice O'Keefe interviews and The Duleek Heritage book and at least one major anthology early in the year. and of course the broadcasting of the P5tv interview. =====================================================
http://homepage.eircom.net/~thewriterscircle ====================================================. I still have that invitation to return to Lynn Mass. the problem here being that the people that I would normally be staying with will be over in Trim at that time. Still working on that one ==============================================================
A review of Frank Goodman's new novel' 'Jane's Secret' As it appears in this week's Weekender is to be found in the Books section on the main menu =================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A large turnout by the members of the Meath Writers Circle for the Small Impact Writers Group reading in Navan on Thursday evening went some way in ensuring the succes of the annual event
Reading at the event
And the crowd
Photo courtesy of The Tara Poetry Blog
============================================================ An enjoyable interview with Marie Condon on P5tv earlier in the day when Marie asked all the right questions and I didn't even stammer ======================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Congratulations to 13 year old Ciara O'Connor from Sonas Teltown and a member of the Navan Junior Writer's group on sharing first place in the Patrick Kavanagh School's Poetry Awards in Inniskeen recently Ciara with her younger sister Katie were both featured in the publication 'Building Blocks' which was launched by arts officer Cathy Martin earlier in the year ; it was the third publication from the group ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Jane's secret' A novel by Writer's Circle member Francis Goodman is now in all good book shops. This is Mr. Goodman's second book having had another book' The Bluebells Mystery published in 2005. Selling at 8.99 the book is a must for lovers of a good story.
Francis's book was actually delivered to me today and I have to say that it looks well. With a cover design by Oscar Duggan and running to 179 pages Gemini have done a wonderful job. I will be reviewing it for some local papers in the next week or so.beginning with Next week in the weekender ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See The Seven Basic Plots on 'Creative Writing Tips' Main Menu ================================================== After a fantastic few weeks sales of 'Counting Stained Glass Windows' have now slowed to a predictable trickle. Active sales will now cease as i begin to concentrate on my next book, which incidently is at an advanced stage ===================================================== In view of the increasing number of comments that are coming in from various sources about my poems I have decided to create a special section on the Main Menu under the title of Comments ====================================================
launch of Tom French's book 'The Fire Step'
in Waterstones Dawson street, congratulations Tom
on Thursday 15th at 8pm. Notice too that
Vona Groarke is launching her collection there too.
Vona read for us in Kells some time back.
Kerry Hardie is also involved. Incidently, I am only
two pages away from Kerry in the Kilkenny Litertary Review,
with my poem 'Lean to'
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October Meeting of the Meath Writers Circle in room
See my observations on the changing shape of the Haiku by clicking on 'Creative Writing Tips' On Main Menu =========================================
From a recent issue of the Poetry Ireland Website What's On Section
20.08.2009
Book Launch | Tommy Murray
Lapwing Press will launch a new collection by Tommy Murray entitled Counting Stained Glass Windows.
Venue: Trim Library, Co Meath Time: 7.00pm E:
Pictures from the launch of 'Counting Stained Glass Windows'
At the launch of 'Counting Stained Glass Windows' Pat Farrelly, Vinney McHugh, Trevor Golden, Eammon Cooke, Geoffrey O'Donoghue, (The 'O Donoghue of the Glens) Tommy Murray, Mick Shiels and Michael Regan
'Counting Stained Glass Windows' a collection of poems by Tommy Murray and published by Lapwing is now available at 8 euro post free from this website or direct from tommymurray06'eircom.net =========================================
a contest he won two years in a row. This is the first
time that one of his books is being published by a
publisher. His first two books, 'The Boyne' and
'Something Beginning With Spring', were self-published.
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Next meeting of the Meath Writer's Circle will be in the Trim Castle Hotel on the first Thursday in March at 8pm. ===========================================
Too early yet to sound the clarion 
by Noelle Jennings
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