Desmond O Grady comp. excitement..

Myself and Catherine Ryan are both thrilled to be on the long-list for the Desmond O Grady poetry competition, that's 2 of the Millwheel Writers represented which is good stuff indeed! Catherine's poem "Snapshots" is a truly impressive piece, about photography, family, technology, time. Brilliant. My poem "Plant Reproductive Material Law" is pretty much what it says on the tin, a look at the new EU directive which seeks to criminalize seed-saving, and puts even more control over food into the hands of giant multinationals. Etc. So fingers crossed for both of us!
http://www.desmondogrady.com/poetry-competition-2013/
UPDATE! Congrats to Catherine!! whose beautiful poem has made it onto the shortlist!!! mine has stayed behind, but is cheering wildly!! go go go!

Third place at the Red Line!

Not bad! shame I couldn't get to the festival, but happy "Jamie's Red Yo-Yo" won third prize last night.
...Also glad to have Hellsteeth on sale now in the fascinating Cruchain Ai heritage centre in Tulsk, county Roscommon...
I am leading one of the creative writing workshops tomorrow morning in Roscommon Library. They're followed by readings and an open-mic for participants, it should be a great day... fingers crossed! Tomorrow is also Frackdown day across Ireland - anti fracking demo's on in most towns, join one near you, if you're not coming writing that is...

Red Line Book Festival...Stony Thursday Book...Sabotage review...

Some good news...
Happy to be shortlisted for the Red Line poetry competition, sorry can't get to the festival- it looks really good- next week http://www.redlinebookfestival.com/ ;
also delighted to have a poem coming in the next Stony Thursday book;
and you can read a nice review by Afric McGinchy on the Sabotage website, of my chapbook Hellsteeth.. though maybe the meaning of some of my poems has been lost in translation, the review overall is very positive, so that's got to be a good thing... http://sabotagereviews.com/

Culture Night thanks

Great turnout in Ballaghaderreen library on Culture Night, thanks to Deirdre and all library staff for organising a lovely evening. My chapbook Hellsteeth is now available there for reading. Helen Grehan and Jane Casey were excelent, as expected. Photos soon..

over the edge..

Glad to have made it onto the very long longlist for the Over The Edge - New Writer Of The Year competition.. the shortlist is announced in Galway on Culture Night, when I'll be doing a knock em dead poetry reading in Ballaghaderreen so will miss that, probably for the best! no tears in this tiara ...

Culture Night reading, Galway Review, etc

I'm delighted to have been asked to read my poetry on Culture Night  in Ballaghaderreen library.
Looking forward to it, and thrilled to be alongside the incredible+lyrical Helen Grehan, and Jane Casey.
It should be a good night, all welcome - get there for 7pm, Friday 20th September...

Other good news is I have 3 poems on the Galway Review website now, plus another couple in their archive. Also have one in the latest issue of Crannog, and also Ropes.
My website sadly leaves a lot to be desired - there's nothing much on there!- only thing is you can buy my chapbook from it. Will eventually get it in order!...

Hellsteeth in the Roscommon Herald, and more shops..

There's a nice piece in today's Roscommon Herald about "Hellsteeth"...
Some more shops are stocking it too, so people can now pick it up at; Eammons bookshop in Sandycove, Dun Laoghaire; The Book Mart in Ballymote, Co Sligo; The Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen, Co Sligo; the Una Bhan craft shop, and the Book Lady book shop in Boyle; and of course the offices of the Roscommon Women's Network in Castlerea.

Countdown goodie bag!

Countdown! I was just over in Salford with Roj and Roshin, being a contestant on the classic Channel 4 programme Countdown! If possible I probably love it even more now than before. Dream come true! Check me out on July 10th.. about 3pm.

Also, Hellsteeth is available now from the following places; The Book Lady in Boyle; The Una Bhan craft shop in Boyle; The Roscommon Womens Network in Castlerea; and to read in the library of the Seomra Spraoi social centre in Dublin.

Hellsteeth successfully launched!

Thanks to everyone who came to the launch and open-mic on wednesday, it was great fun, and loads of people got up to read their poems and stories, which were really enjoyable. My mum, stepdad, and daughter were there doing their bit which was great! David on the camera, so here's a few of the photos from the night.. and thanks again.

launch of Hellsteeth

Lawrence

Maureen

Ashling / AKA my middle child!

Gerry

Chris

Catherine

Pete

Marita

Sarah

Fionnuala / AKA mum!

David

Hubert and Micheal

Huberts Woofers

Hellsteeth... and other poems..

My chapbook, Hellsteeth, is getting a mini launch on the 29th of May. I'll do a bit of a read, then it's open to the floor, in an open-mic type atmosphere although without an actual mic.!
If you're in the area and would like to join in, or just come and listen to local writers, please do -
It's in the Roscommon Womens Network, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, from 7.30pm -
and if not, watch this space and the booklet will be available to buy soon...