The Meath Writer's Circle at Christmas

A great showing by the members of the Meath Writers Circle over the Christmas with poems in the Chronicle from Louise Scott, Willie Hodgins, Frank and Peggy Murphy and Tommy Murray.
The Chronicle at Christmas has always been a great platform for our poetry and long may it last.
Personally this has been the twenty sixth year in a row that I had poems in the Chronicle for Christmas and the feedback always surpasses expectations

Will be looking forward to meeting them all at our meeting which should be in the middle of January.

Meath Writers Circle News

Meath Writer's Junior Group had their final meeting of the season on Saturday 18th. Winner of the Haiku competition was 14 year old Aoife Quinn from Bective while 13 year old Derbhla Maguire from Navan was the winner of the personal description competition. Both received C Ds of The Wind in the Willows.
A special word of thanks to Lane Galvin, Jack Delaney, Sharon Murphy, Danny Smith, Caoimhe Boyce and all who brought presents or Christmas Cards and a special word of congratulation to 11 year old Sarah McShane from Navan who managed to write the perfect Villanelle at the first attempt. Meetings will resume on Saturday 8th January

As for the adult or senior section of the Writers Circle it is great to learn that Slane writer nd long time member of the circle John Reidy will be coming back to us in the new year. He should have plenty of new material to write about after his long sea voyage

Boyne Writers Group

An enjoyable session at the Boyne Writers Open Mic. night in the Knightsbridge Village Hall last night. Originality was the order and Christmas was the theme Paddy Smith was in his usual good form . Some noteable renditions from Michael Farry, Orla Fay, Peter Goulding Tom Dredge, James Linnane.

Book Launch

Salmon Poetry in association with Poetry Ireland
invites you to celebrate the publication of
Dogs
Singing
A TRIBUTE ANTHOLOGY
Compiled & Edited by
JESSIE LENDENNIE
salmonpoetry
Dogs Singing
A Tribute Anthology
Compiled & Edited by
Jessie Lendennie
DUBLIN LAUNCH:
The Unitarian Church
112 St Stephen’s Green West
Dublin 2
Tuesday 14th December, 7.30pm
Launch introduction by Sharon Ní Bheoláin
Visit our website for further details:

With the Boyne Through Trim

Just had it confirmed that by The Author's Friend that as a result of their new website that orders for With the Boyne Through Trim' have been growing and that this will almost certainly result in a new print run. The breakdown sees 25 orders from the USA

New Hibernia Review

Congratulations to Tom French on having a number of poems in the current issue of 'new Hibernia review'. Published by the Centre for Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas, St Paul, Minnesota the New Hibernia Review publishes new poetry, memoirs, book reviews and much more

Liam O Meara on the Francis Ledwidge Awards

The Yeti

I’m with Darwin on this one

Huxley and Hooker too

So instead of trekking across

Desolate mountain ranges

Looking for a seven foot tall

Semi-celibate recluse

I would expect to come face to face

With a race of ungainly

Auburn haired introverts

A promiscuous assemblage

Of loose limbed athletic types

With just a hint of hairiness

Brown eyed beings

Fighting for space in a sort of

Malthusian nightmare

And of course they would have digital cameras

And the office party

Would be the highlight of their year

Despite appalling weather some braved the hazardous roads to attend the annual Francis Ledwidge International Awards presentation.The competition was oganised by the Inchicore Ledwidge Society. There was a selection of sandwiches provided and some welcome hot coffee available. There was even a magician to help dispel the gloom of the artic conditions and the impending budget. He could make coins vanish with the dexterity of Brian Lenihan, but was powerless to do anything about the snow. Rachael Hegarty took centre stage and showed why she has previously been nominated for the Hennessey and the Francis Mac Manus prizes. She was born in Dublin and educated in Boston, Massachusetts and Trinity College, Dublin. Her narrative poem “Lament for Colm Owens,” dealing with gangland crime, was an unusual choice for this year’s Ledwidge award, but one that proved very popular. Orla Martin, placed Third, gave a delightful performance of her poem “Europa.” This year, entries came from Peru, Canada, USA, UK, and various places throughout Ireland. There was a particularly strong showing by Meath and Cavan writers. The Society’s chairman, Liam O' Meara, complimented Tommy Murray for the knowledge and encouragement he has imparted to young writers in Meath and he read Mr Murray’s commended poem “Yeti” in his absence.

Snow

Just another poem to celebrate the snow

Snowflakes

Through the hush

Of a soot scented evening

I watch them

Laughing and winking

On the wet windowsill

Doorstep

And windowsill

Before fading

Like faggots in a flame

Moments of glory

And mood swings

Crash landing

In a frenzy of

Fan whipped fury

Goose plucking down

In sparkling confections

Of cinquains and sonnets

And full throated renderings

That mimic the fickle vagaries of spring

Tommy Murray

The Francis Ledwidge Awards

Being commended in this year's Francis Ledwidge competition is really great. Over the years this competition has been a happy hunting ground for me coming fourth and second as well as getting around ten Highly commended and commended certificates. Other members of the Meath Writer's circle who have received more than one prize here include Monica Sherlock from Navan who incidently is one of the best poets in Meath. Louise Scott from Garlow Cross also had a few wins here as well as Frank Murphy.
I still remember with affection my first win there . It was for a poem called Stella's Cottage which also won in The Allingham Arts Competition . I have never met more dedicated people that Liam and Michael and feel not a little proud to be included in three of their anthologies especially 'Ingredients of Poetry', which just happens to be one of the most informative books on poetry I have ever come across

Snowfall

The forecast had been spot on

Just enough

To cover a scattering of rooftops

With thin strips for chimney stacks

And telephone poles

Enough too

To ensure

That for a few short hours

My garden would look exactly

Like those of my neighbours

An d despite the years of inactivity

And neglect

I could now take my place

Among the most diligent

And capable horticulturists

In the locality

Tommy Murray

Feedback from the Viaduct Bards

Nice comments from Emer on my reading for the Viaduct Bards. Got a signed copy of her book ' Kill Your Television' and enjoyed the poems. They have promised to celebrate with me when I get published in the only literary publication that has so far eluded me.