Boyne Readings and Open Mic, Summer 2012

Arion and the Dolphin, Albrecht Durer

Boyne Readings and Open Mic



The Coffee Shop

Knightsbridge Retirement Village,

Longwood Road,

Trim, Co. Meath



Summer 2012


Thursday, April 19th 8 pm – Michael Slavin

(author of Showjumping Legends Ireland 1868-1998, The Ancient Books of Ireland, The Book of Tara and Ambassadors on Horseback: the Irish Army Equitation School.)


Thursday, May 17th 8 pm – Tommy Murray

(author of two poetry collections, Counting Stained Glass Windows and the recently published Swimming with Dolphins)


Thursday, June 21st 8pm– Orla Fay

(launch of Drawn to the Light, the third chapbook in The Boyne Writers’ Group chapbook series)


Please note that an open mic session will follow each reading. Admission is 5 euro.


All welcome.

Tara, Michael Slavin and Boyne Berries 11 Launch

I spent some time on Tara yesterday.  In the woods on the sloping trenches there were ropes and plastic belts tied to some trees.  The ropes had branches of trees tied to them.  Does anyone know why this would be?  It seemed a bit sinister though it could just be that people were swinging out of the ropes?

It was a gorgeous day on Tara.  The trees are beginning to bud and I could imagine the landscape lush and green as it will be in summer, and I could see the landscape covered in snow and ice, as it was a couple of winters ago. 

I bought a book in the book store on myth and legend from Michael Slavin and asked him about the Boyne Berries launch.  He was preparing for it.  You can see him in interview here -

Shamrock Haiku Journal

Shamrock is an international online quarterly journal that publishes quality haiku, senryu and haibun in english.  It was founded in January 2007.  The current issue can be read here

http://shamrockhaiku.webs.com/currentissue.htm

Shamrock is owned and edited by the eminent Anthony Kudryavitsky.  I've had a haiku accepted by Anthony for publication and I'm pleased about this as I have worked hard to improve my haiku writing.

The Song of Wandering Aengus

W.B. Yeats (1865–1939). The Wind Among the Reeds. 1899.

9. The Song of Wandering Aengus

I WENT out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,	5
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,	10
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran	15
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;	20
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

Boyne Berries 11

Boyne Berrries 11 will be launched on Thursday, 29th March, at 8pm in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim Co. Meath.  The launch will be performed by the sports commentator and author, Michael Slavin.  He has written such books as Showjumping Legends: Ireland, 1868-1998 and The Book of Tara, among others.  He also runs the book store on the Hill of Tara.  From an earlier blog piece of mine:

After spending a wonderful afternoon exploring the Hill of Tara with my nieces we wandered into a little bookstore on the Hill. The girls picked up some very old children's books and I a booklet on The Druids at Tara. When we were paying the man running the store said he would sign the booklet for me, being none other than the author himself. Michael Slavin is the author of The Book of Tara.

I love this ancient place and have been reading about the 5 roads to Tara. Today we went to Rath Grainne (Grainne of Toraiocht Diarmaid agus Grainne fame) and found our path along the woods on the slopes. We visited the Well of the White Cow, which is also known as St. Patrick's Well, The Well of the Dark Eye, the Well of the Healer and Cormac's Well I think. The Sons of Mil worshipped Edain Echraidhe (the white mare). Before them the white cow was worshipped. Around Tara the valleys belong to the white mare and the white cow where the rivers Gabhra and Skane meet. 

Admission to the event will be free and tea and coffee will be provided.  Writers featured in the magazine will read from it.  The magazine will be available to purchase on the night and from The Boyne Writers' site http://www.boynewriters.com/

Silver Blade Magazine Issue 13

Silver Blade is an online magazine of cutting-edge science fiction, slipstream, classic and modern fantasy.  I have a poem published in the current issue, issue 13, called The Park.  I have to thank the poetry editor John C. Mannone for his interest in this poem and for his help and advice editing it with me.  While it had good prospects it lost track towards the end and we both offered each other versions of endings before agreeing on the final piece.  It was novel to have an editor take such an interest. 

Silver Blade originates in the United States and I had to sign a contract before my poem was published.  I've never had that happen before either. 

The Park can be read here

http://www.silverblade.net/content/?p=1024