Boyne Readings and Open Mic April

The first Boyne Readings and Open Mic of 2012 will commence this Thursday, 19th April at 8 p.m.   The featured reader will be Michael Slavin who performed the launch of Boyne Berries 11. When it came to choosing readers for this session of the Boyne Readings Michael Slavin seemed to be a name on everyone's lips.  Previous readers have included the wealth of Tom French, James lawless, Kate Dempsey, Susan Connolly, Michael Farry, Frank Murphy, Tommy Murray, Brendan Carey Kinnane, Kieran Furey, Noel King, Oran Ryan and Ross Hattaway among many.  The Boyne Readings have been running since April 2009.  Read Michael Farry's blog piece about the inaugural event here

 http://michaelfarry.blogspot.com/2009/04/boyne-writers-readings-and-open-mic.html 

Born in 1931, Michael Slavin has been a keen observer of horses since the time they were worked on his family’s farm in Cavan in the thirties and forties. When he moved to Dublin after the War the Horse shows at the RDS became an annual pilgrimage.  Soon after returning home, from studying abroad in the late sixties, he began a career as equestrian journalist and commentator. He has written for the Irish Field, Irish Farmers Journal, Horse and Hound plus other equine publications in six countries. He acted as RTE Radio’s Show Jumping and Eventing commentator for 20 years. His previous books include Irish Show Jumping Legends 1868-1998; The Ancient Books of Ireland and The Book of Tara. He now runs an antiquarian book shop at the Hill of Tara.

Admission is 5 euro.  Tea and coffee will be served.  All are welcome to attend and participate in the Open Mic.  The event takes place in The Coffee Shop, Knightsbridge Retirement Village, Longwood Road, Trim, Co. Meath.

Boyne Berries 11 Launch

It was a fantastic and successful night. The 11th issue was launched by Michael Slavin. Paddy Smith and Michael Farry were Masters of Ceremonies. I read my poem "May Beneath the Castle".  The highlights of the night were Michael Farry reading "Atonement" by Caroline Van Der Meer and Danielle McLaughlin reading her short story "In the Shore Field". Michael Farry honoured the memory of Adrienne Rich. Peter Goulding was in the audience and L.A. Speedwing recited her poem "Lunch Breaks" too! Well done to all the hard working and talented Boyne Writers.

Michael Slavin

Danielle McLaughlin

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 -

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/

The Book of Tara

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.  Now the M3 cuts through the valleys and this is why so many people were against the motorway coming.  Some people say that Opus Dei are part of a conspiracy to ruin the area.  I think that it would be tragic to lose the voices of our past.