Boyne Berries 12

I did attend the launch of Boyne Berries 12 last night. It was good to see lots of members of The Boyne Writers' Group, old and new and to hear them reading especially Tom Dredge, Evan Costigan and Caroline Finn. Tommy Murray represented The Meath Writers' Circle.

Gregory Castle, a professor of literature from Arizona, launched the magazine and spoke about his love of Ireland and his distant relative, a Huguenot who had fought in the Battle of The Boyne. He spoke about Ogham stones and the rich history of poetry in Ireland, the bardic tradition and the Icelandic sagas. He quoted Shelley: "Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world." This quote is used in the poetry broadsheet Riposte too!

I read my poem which is about my time in Australia. The magazine will be winging its way to Oz later, to my sister, for whom the poem is dedicated. While reading the poem I made a mistake which threw me a bit, lots of room for improvement in reciting for myself. I also felt the murder of Jill Meagher clouded the poem, for me anyway. Such a terrible event.

Kate Dempsey's egg shaped poem "At the Cold Buffet" is a wonderful curiosity while Honor Duff's "Her True Colours" ends with a delicate punch. Michael Farry and Paddy Smith are the dynamic duo and Greg Hastings cover design is as distinctive as ever.

I can't say enough good things about the production. Well done to everyone involved.