Michael Hartnett

It was in the imperial Hotel in Dundalk that I first met Michael Hartnett. He was presenting me with my prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Memorial competition and after wards he singled me out to talk about my poem. "You counted syllables boy," he said in his unimitable Limerick accent.
" I did ," I said wondering how he had been so quick to spot the form of the poem.
There were four stanzas in that poem and there were the exact number of syllables in each stanza and a few extra in the last one. This was quite acceptable according to the late poet and I had stumbled on it by accident. It is something that I never forgot and now when ever I write a poem I take particular note of this, unless of course it is free verse and even then one must deploy a regular rhythm
There is no substitute for the experience that one may pick up along the way and since then whenever I met a poet that I admire i always tried to get some little gem of information. There is no shortage of advice on such pecularities as punctuation and spelling but when it comes to things like Scancion advice is not as prolific. What poets like Kavanagh who sat by the canal and wrote verses for half a crown a time or McGill who picked potatoes for a living or indeed Ledwidge who worked on the raod from Navan to Slane knew about these considerations I am not sure but it worked for them.

The Meath Library Service and the Meath Writer's Circle
invite you to come along to the Navan library on All ireland Poetry Day 7th October at 7pm and read your favourite poem

Tommy Murray and Tom French

Monday = only two days now since this event was advertised and already a number of poetry lovers have expressed interest. Looking forward to meeting some lapsed members, poets like Pat Duffy who no doubt will have something to say on the present state of the economy and of course all the usual suspects. The growing list of readers that have agreed to read include Frank Murphy. Sean Kane, Willie Hodgins, Paul Martin, James Linnane, Mick Sheils,

The Year So Far

May Meath Oral History with Maurice O'Keefe

June The Meath Anthology

July Swift Satire 3rd Prize

July The Battle of the Books Trophy( Noel Dempsey)

August Guest reader at the White House, Limerick

August Certificate of Merit ( Golden Pen Competition )

September Poet of Fingal Trophy and Certificate of Merit

The Side Show

Meath Books have added a slide show to the site which may be of benefit to those seeking inspiration. For a larger picture just left click on the scene of your choice. The theme will change from week to week. This weeks theme is nature.
These images have been used in the Junior classes with considerable success. where students are asked to write Haikus and Tankas and various exercises involving the images.

Events and Map

Meath Books have added an events guide and map which may be seen at the bottom of this page.
This will keep readers up to date with forthcoming events

The Meath Junior Writer's Group

Now that the Junior Group is meeting again and looking forward to having their book 'Paper Trails' hitting the shelves It seems such a long haul going over all those poetry forms again. We began with the Haiku on the first day back and next Saturday we will go on to the Tanka. Over the coming weeks we will deal with some of the basic forms such as Diamante, Cinquain, Yenga and
Arcostic before going on to the Villannelle, Sestina and Sijo. The Sigo is in fact my own favourite form and comes from Korea. An interesting but very short form is the Charita from the far east and is little more than a plot for a short story.
Clerhews are fun especially when directed at another member. The Sonnet especially the Shakespearean Sonnet is challenging but is mainly reserved for the older members of the group.
Over the years we had some bright members and it is still hard to forget young Niamh Birmingham
from Navan who when she left was able to write poetry in as many as 38 different forms

The Poet of Fingal

James F Linnane – 26 September 2010, 9:45 PM

A great piece Tommy ,winning streak has nothing on you this year.Well done James.

Absolutely delighted to win the 'Poet of Fingal ' trophy for the third time
The award was presented to me by Cllr. Ken Farrell at t ceremony in the Carnegie Court hotel last night I also received a certificate


Photo, Michael Farry


The Poet of Fingal – Aine – 3:21 PM

Well done with this - a super poem!

It made me tingle as I read it. I enjoyed some of the images - words like raindrops on a windowpane, and in the 'tinder dry' days of Childhood.
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FatalEden – 3:35 PM

An excellent read, I'm not surprised you won the title.

I especially loved the line "Conferences of black umbrellas"

Keep up the good work.
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The poet of Fingal – Magser – 9:30 PM

Tommy. Congratulations. Lovely write. Loved the words "when the fair chance of clear skies and …". We always remember words - plucked from the mouths of youth - too wise at the time. Margaret
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Gauntlet! – iain6566 – 7:53 AM

Tommy,

"To run the gauntlet of hushed pavements" - truly sublime writing - well done!

Iain
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Hi Tommy

Congrats on your win yet again! Swords Writers had a few shortlists and one of our members won the short story comp too.
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Paddy Smith said...

Well done, Tommy. Well deserved. Congratulations from all in the Boyne Writers Group.

September 2, 2010 10:41 AM

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Lottery – SHERIFF – Yesterday, 1:19 PM

Well done Tommy. Great poem. We all have to go sometime. It's just as well we don't know when.

Cheeno – Yesterday, 1:39 PM

This has so much depth and quality of substance - rich in connection between present and past, and how those in the past saw their present and future through the wise words of their loved one, now gone. Beautiful, stark language.
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I would like to thank all those who have sent messages of congratulation, their words have not gone unnoticed
Tommy Murray Meath Books