Boyne Berries 14 Launch Night

 

 

Boyne Berries is the literary magazine of the Boyne Writers' Group.  It is published bi-annually, in the spring and in the autumn.  It was first published on the first of March 2007.  I am very proud to be associated with the group and its magazine and to have served on the editorial board in the past with Paddy Smith, chairman of the group and Michael Farry, secretary and editor. 

 

Kate Demspey, of The Poetry Divas and the Emerging Writer blog, is the guest editor for this issue of Boyne Berries.  She won the Plough Prize in 2010 for the short poem Amsterdam Otto Recommends which you can listen to her reading here http://www.theploughprize.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150:kate-dempsey&catid=68:poets

 

The Launch takes place in The Castle Arch Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath this coming Thursday, 26th September, at 8pm.  Kate Demspey will speak about the magazine and many of the contributors will attend and read.  Entry is free and all are welcome.  Copies of Boyne Berries 14, and past issues of Boyne Berries will be available to purchase on the night.  Alternatively you can purchase Boyne Berries here: http://www.boynewriters.com/buy-or-submit.html

 

I have a poem included in the magazine which I intend to practice reading prior to the event.  It should be a great night.

 

I've thirty one lines of my new swan poem written but I'm leaving it to settle for now and I will return to it tomorrow. 

Lunchtime Readings at The Irish Writers' Centre - Susan Connolly

This coming Friday at 1 pm you can catch Susan Connolly in The Irish Writers' Centre where she will read poetry.  The event is in association with Poetry Ireland.  I won't make it but if you can be there then you will be in for a treat as Susan is a wonderful writer.  I think she is one of my favourite Irish poets.  She read at The Boyne Readings in Trim (which incidentally I kind of miss, hopefully they will return in the new year) and she has a poem published in Boyne Berries 10.  Susan has many lovely poems about life, relationships, ancient Ireland, her native places and the beauty of the countryside.  Yes I am a fan!! Go and buy one of her collections ( For the Stranger, Winterlight, Forest Music) for yourself and you'll see what I mean. 

These are busy times in the literary world.  In fact I have just been thinking that I haven't taken my foot from the floor all year in regards to writing.  This week Kate Dempsey will read Some Poems from The Moth editions in Maynooth Contemporary Arts Centre at 7.30 pm.  On Thursday night there is an event in The Irish Writers' Centre celebrating  Frank X. Buckley.  I have been invited as I entered a competition to write some poems based on the paintings in the Irish Writers' Centre.  It looks like it will be a fabulous event.  I don't know if I will be able to attend Kate's reading or the latter as I am in work all this week until 6 o'clock.  The winners of the Frank X. Buckley Competition are Elizabeth O'Carroll, Paddy Doherty, Susan Stairs, Eleanor Hooker, Eoin Hegarty and Patricia Clark.

Boyne Readings & Open Mic, May

Kate Dempsey, Triona Walsh, Barbara Smith (The Poetry Divas)

The Boyne Writers' Group was well represented last night in the Open Mic and thanks to Frank Murphy of The Meath Writers' Circle and Honor Duff of the Cavan/Meath Litlab (sorry I mispronounced your name Honor) for attending and reading. 

The Poetry Divas themselves were fantastic to hear.  Thank you Kate, Triona and Barbara.  You can read more about the night at http://thetarapoetryblog.blogspot.com/

Boyne Readings and Open Mic April - Kate Dempsey

Kate Dempsey

It was an enjoyable night when Kate Demspey came to town and a cheerful atmosphere filled the room.  I particulary enjoyed her poem Mash:

I judged the mashed potato contest
giving marks for presentation, flavour, consistency
The winner, a dimpled woman of Amish appearance.
What's your secret? I asked before I woke.
It's about love, she said, all about love.

This poem appears in the Poetry Divas 1 pamphlet.

Kate read  for about 40 minutes and kept us all entertained and listening.  It was great to meet her and partake in some chat afterwards.  You can see in the photos the light in the window behind the readers fading.  I can't think of a better way to spend an evening.

Michael Farry

Open Mic readers on the night included members of the Meath Writers Circle, Boyne Writers Group and others.  I had worked on a poem myself called St. Mary's comprising of two sonnets especially for the event.

Blogs containing more about the reading include: 

http://michaelfarry.blogspot.com/

http://thetarapoetryblog.blogspot.com/

http://emergingwriter.blogspot.com/

Emerging Writer for Boyne Readings

What is it that she is emerging from? Some kind of primeval literary goo? I could see this heading towards the realm of Jung and the collective unconscious but I don't want to confuse myself any further tonight!

Tomorrow night will see Kate Demspsey as the featured reader at the Boyne Readings and Open Mic.  I know little about Kate Demspey's work so it will be an education to hear her read.  She writes wonderful, informative blogs that are on the pulse of the literary scene.  She has been published in a wide variety of magazines and she has won many awards. 

The reading takes place at 8 o'clock in the Village Hall, Knightsbridge Village, Longwood Road, Trim, Co.  Meath.  Admission is 5euro.  The reading by Kate will be followed by an open mic session.  All are welcome.  For more info see http://michaelfarry.blogspot.com/