Dreams of Reality: Modern Irish Poetry

Pomegranate: A poem in honour of the launch of the Pomegranate Charity tonight

2012-05-03T12:47:00.000Z

Today is National Infertility Day and it coincides with the launch of the wonderful charity Pomegranate . Pomegranate raises funds for those who cannot afford expensive infertility treatment but who yearn for a child; and it also raises awareness of the issues surrounding infertility. Without SIMS Clinic we would not have been able to have our beloved son. The idea that others are denied the

It Was At Tara

2012-04-27T12:31:00.001Z

It was at Tara that my love did stand sword in hand hand on heart and gave me his pledge It was at Tara that my son did stand in front of clan in the face of tradition and was given his name. It was the same Tara that once took my pain. Beneath sweeping skies and in the teeth of rain Tara gave me peace again.

Phoenix

2012-03-23T11:31:00.002Z

First published as part of a calendar in 1993 to celebrate the reopening of the Music shop in Stephen's Street (Charles Byrne Musik Instrumente, est 1870)PhoenixAs each note tremblesrises, quivers, dies,so seasons turn -and after sunrise, dusk and nightas bright to darkas year will follow yearand out of Winter's dark embracecomes earth in all its Summer's grace;as out of one man's lonely hoursa

Bród, a poem.... #bródclub #Irish

2012-03-07T11:25:00.005Z

RTE have a great initiative going at the moment thanks to Bernard Dunnehttp://www.rte.ie/brodclub/The idea is to get 100,00 Irish people who like me, have some Irish but rarely use it, to start using it again. Dig it out, root through your memory and sprinkle a cúpla focail through your conversations and texts and facebook status updates throughout the day.I can read Irish fairly well but my

This is Not a Valentine

2012-02-16T13:16:00.006Z

This is not a Valentinefor a start it's two days lateand will not rhyme.This is not a paean to one dayto flowers or cards (ours unexchanged,unwritten, stolen and returned)I say again, this is not a Valentine.This is not a Valentine;it is a hymn to mundane days,days without titles and nightswithout expectations; when a wearyhand stirs a bottle, takes a turn,loads a wash, puts on dinner.No, this

On swings

2012-02-03T16:13:00.004Z

I saw my son fall in love todaywith swingsin a city playgroundin the town I love.Up til now, their charmshad left him cold;this afternoon I saw an alchemyof joyA boy, a swing, the evening suncold air on cheek and childish funhead - tilted backand eyes half closedlegs reaching foward, arms strainingandas the arc diedfrom glorious heightsto gentle rockingone word;more!

PPP Publishing - IN and OUT by Inga Brigitta

2011-11-01T15:02:00.002Z

Exciting news! Calling all poetry lovers, Inga Brigitta's collection In and Out is almost ready for release! Details of how to order will be posted on http://www.ppppublishing.com - it will retail at £8.95 plus postage from cafepress, or will be available in Ireland from PPP Publishing, and direct from the poet herself in the UK.This is the ideal xmas gift for poetry lovers, or just for yourself.

In Dublin, on an Autumn Day

2011-10-21T13:44:00.003Z

Written this morning in the Stephen's Green as my one year old slept happily in his Bugaboo, all wrapped up against the Autumn bite. There is nowhere quite as pleasant as the Green on a quiet Autumnal morning.In Dublin, it is a treatto find a seat in the Stephen'sGreenNear the fountainson Constance's SideWhere if you sit quiet and stillOn an Autumn MorningChill in the air, and Leaves fallingA

My piece "legacy; these acts make you immortal" on the Balanced Witch Blog

2011-10-11T16:19:00.001Z

http://thebalancedwitch.com/family/legacy-these-acts-make-you-immortal/Delighted to contribute a piece to The Balanced Witch blog - this is my piece on motherhood and the spiritual journey. Read and comment, and support a lovely blog/site.

The Balanced Witch Blog; my piece "legacy"

2011-10-11T16:17:00.001Z

2011-09-28T16:17:00.001Z

For Ronan Mac Aongusa, Transparent years (a poem of UCD)

2011-09-17T16:25:00.002Z

For Ronan, for 25 years.Transparent Years25 years agoOn the concourse of UCDOr hanging in the students unionWe were arrogant and lostIn impossible measuresTransparent in our voicesIdeals worn with cynical prideTitling at dragons and chasing dreamsAngst and alcohol, side by side25 years ago,you became a sentinel in my lifeprompting me when I stumbledone of the foundationsof who I am.We have both

In Search of a Lost Girl

2011-08-31T09:37:00.003Z

Inspired by Immrama, and the bringing of meditation and journeying techniques into modern life In search of a lost girl The summer of my youth was spent In smoky pubs; making rain While the sun shone. On and on, I traversed the lines And wasted time like golden coin. How to glimpse again the vanished day? Travel through the shades and speak To my younger, lost self? And take her by the hand

Wilderness

2011-08-05T10:51:00.003Z

This is an old one; I found it recently online and thought, well if it's on other sites it should get a place on my own blog...I have mixed feelings about it, it is a poem written about the claims of old friends who are no longer friends. It was written for someone I knew in my teens and twenties, a very different place in my life. WildernessWe were lost for a while, despite mapsYou looked into

Robert Lee Brewer "Escape" (Second Volume of Poetry) Preoder!

2011-07-30T11:03:00.003Z

Just ordered a new book of poetry from Robert Lee Brewer, the second of his collections. "Escape" should be good, if it's half as good as "Enter" I'll be happy. Anyone looking for a good book of modern poetry, check out his blog (click on the title above) or twitter @robertleebrewer. It's only $10 plus postage. Enter was an excellent, well selected, cohesive collection and a thoroughly enjoyable

Fame at Last...Charlie on Italian TV this summer

2011-06-28T12:28:00.003Z

Well Charlie himself will be interviewed on Italian TV soon; he's no stranger to print and radio interviews although this may be his first TV one. Some favourite interviews over the years have included one he did for the students in Rathmines College of Commerce, a radio documentary for Lyric FM on buying a first violin and a wonderful print interview (later part of a book) by Rose DOyle for the

Doctors in Bahrain: Update

2011-06-23T13:52:00.004Z

There is an excellent segment on the Joe Duffy LIVELINE show on RTE radio one (today Thursday 23rd June 2011)about the Doctors and medics being held, tortured and falsely accused in Bahrain.You can listen to the podcast if you miss the show: just visit rte.ie and look for Liveline and then for Thursday 23rd June show. If I have time I will post a direct link later.http://www.rte.ie/radio1/

Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley: Oppress Stonehenge's Neo-Pagan Hippies: Guardian

2011-06-22T15:13:00.000Z

Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley: Oppress Stonehenge's Neo-Pagan Hippies: GuardianThis is an excellent blog post from"Archdruid" Eileen - while I personally hold no brief for the modern "Druid" and some of the antics surrounding sacred sites by the tree hugging hippy neo-Druidic movement I think this sums up why we all have to make room for other people's beliefs and practices. Well written and

Pagan Writers Community

2011-06-02T09:31:00.002Z

Anyone who writes with an eye to alternative spirituality should check out Pagan Writer's Community on Facebook and also the new website on http://grou.ps/paganwriterscommunity/An excellent resource for esoteric writings, pagan poetry and fiction and to connect and interact with other writers.

Listowel Writers Week June 1st-5th 2011

2011-05-31T10:30:00.003Z

Listowel Writers Week start June 1st and runs to June 5th inclusive; it boasts a great programme of events and lots of variety - theatre, poetry, novels - with readings from great authors including Neil Jordan. Ronan Wilson and more!check out http://writersweek.ie/ and consider a different Bank Holiday Weekend !

Aisling (competition poem)

2011-05-28T10:12:00.004Z

To read the poem from the John Murray poetry competition, check out HERETo listen to it being read by Pat Boran, and hear the other excellent entries and the winners check out HERE (the poetry competition is 6th down the page)Many thanks to everyone who emailed or twittered how much they enjoyed the poem and thanks for all the extremely kind comments. I think you'll really enjoy the standard of

I got a highly commended on the John Murray Poetry comp

2011-05-26T09:18:00.002Z

Well, I am very pleased with myself this morning. I tuned in to listen to the results of the poetry competition, hoping that someone I knew might have done well. They read out about four or five poems, including the category winners and a sample of commended poems. Imagine my utter delight when the judge read out my poem Aisling and commented on it. The standard of entries was so high, it was a

In Bahrain Today

2011-05-25T09:35:00.009Z

This is a poem for the medics arrested in Bahrain as part of the brutal clampdown on pro democracy demonstrators; some were arrested for their politcal prodemocracy views and others for helping injured demonstrators in the street. They are falsely accused of inflicting worse injuries on patients than originally suffered. The charges are cruel, injust and downright lies. Some of the Doctors will

Last day to enter RTE poetry competition!

2011-05-12T11:54:00.000Z

Tomorrow is the closing date for entries to the John Murray Poetry Competition on RTE radion one in association with Listowel Writers' Week.The theme is Ireland 2011 and the poem must be 20 lines or less. There are three categories, two for school goers and one for adults. Read the submission guidelines at the link above.

Ladies' Day

2011-05-07T16:57:00.001Z

Just heard of the death of a friend; she hadn't been around in the last few years but I have very fond memories of her charm and elegance. This is for her.Ladies' day August in DublinFor her was hatsShoes and otherSartorial excessesBut mainly hats Ladies day at the RDSSore shoes on inexperienced feetI complained but she laughedSuffer for fashion, ladiesThe rituals of ladyship She took seriously