SELL OUT AGAIN FOR BARD

Another uproarious evening’s entertainment awaits on Friday 19 November at the Armagh City Hotel when an assortment of new odes will be aired for the first time. Some of these will join the long list of much sought after Bard classics. The range of topics at the finals is wide and includes issues such as the recession, wedding invitations, shopping, overeating, dieting, football and returning from the dead. The organisers have stated that this will be the most competitive bard night yet with the quality of poems of the highest standard. Can Liam McNally be the first to win the event for a third time in a row? Will Jimmy Rafferty win for a record fourth time? Could Henry McGraths ‘Recession’ generate the greatest turn over of laughs or will a newcomer put on an irresistible performance?

The lineup for the 2010 Bard finals is as follows.

Damian McGirr.

Colette Corrigan.

Henry McGrath.

Tommy Murray.

Margaret Heatley.

Jimmy Rafferty.

David Myles.

Colleen Downham.

Donal McKenna.

Liam McNally.

Mary Byrne.

Patrick Montague.

The Stony Thursday Book

See Tommy Murray's contribution on page 13

Spanish Break for Tommy Murray

Absolutely delighted to hear that Castillo Peralada one of Spain's oldest wineries will be using my poetry in their promotional work

Wine has been made at the Castillo Perelada since the Middle Ages, as shown in several documents and parchments from the period to be found in the library. When Miguel Mateu bought this ensemble of monuments in 1923, one of his primary objectives was to revitalize the wine producing tradition, a tradition that is more alive than ever these days and which has incorporated the most modern technology to create wines that make full use of the nuances of the soils and vines of the Empordà.

Notes From His Contemporaries: A Tribute to Michael Hartnett

This is one book that I will be giving myself for Christmas. It was Michael Hartnett that presented with my first Award. That was in the Town Hall Dundalk in 1990. Before that I had never heard of the Limerick poet and was naive enough to ask him if he ever published a book. Yes was the quick response 23 to be exact

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The Poet Michael Hartnett died in October 1999. “The Collected Poems”, “A Book of Strays” and “Translations” were published in 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively by Gallery Press. Seamus Heaney has written that he is "one of the truest, most tested and beloved voices in Irish poetry in our time." This tribute includes poems, essays, interviews, anecdotes and memoirs supplemented by photographic portraits of the authors captured by his son, Niall, who compiled these works over the last 6 years. Contributions from Seamus Heaney, Thomas Kinsella, James Liddy, Paul Durcan, Brendan Kennelly, Eavan Boland, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Theo Dorgan, John Montague, Pearse Hutchinson, Michael Smith, Dermot Bolger, Michael Longley, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Liam o'Muirthile, Macdara Woods, Sydney Bernard Smith, Paula Meehan, Gerard Smyth, Leland Bardwell, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Michael Coady, Paddy Bushe, Hugh McFadden, Dennis O' Driscoll, Gabriel Rostenstock, Anthony Cronin and many others. 2nd Edition.

Launch of issue 3 of the Moth

2 December 2010 Ireland launch of issue 3
An evening of wine-tasting (courtesy of Blakes Fine Wines) and poetry with Kate Dempsey, Seamus O'Rourke and Tommy Murray.
Venue: Delish, Abbey Street, Cavan

Then on 16 December 2010 London launch of issue 3

Saggart Heritage Awards

Got my Highly Commended Certificate from Saggart this morning which means that while I haven't won the top prize this certificate is probably the most ornate that i have received to date.

The Moth

Just received news that my poem 'Handyman' is to be published in the forthcoming issue of 'The Moth' magazine. I am also to be one of three featured readers at the launch in Cavan on Thursday 2nd December where I will read a specially commissioned poem about a case of wine which I expect to receive in the next few days. Not quire sure how it works but I imagine that I am supposed to drink the wine and then write a poem about it