The Swift Satire Festival

It's that time of year again. The countdown to the Swift Satire Festival Trim has begun. The festival which is now in it's sixth year and growing from strength to strength, maturing with age as they say will be launched next Thursday 4th July in the Castle Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath at 8pm. The Battle of the Books will take place after the launch at 9pm in the hotel admission to the Battle €5.

For full programme of events  CLICK HERE


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Spiegeltent

The Navan Spiegeltent Festival, which is due to start tomorrow 20th June will tonight get an all mighty kick start from the Mighty Meath Team  All Ireland Champions in 1988 who are having a Royal Gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that momentous occasion.

Mc for the night - Hector OhEochagain with music by Swinging' Blue Cats.

Outdoor Gourmet BBQ and wine reception included in the ticket price.

Tickets on sale at the Solstice Arts Centre and Navan Town Council Offices price €25.

For more information    CLICK HERE

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Scurlogstown Haymaking Festival

The rain stayed away yesterday for the Scurlogstown Haymaking Festival.

Doris Daley award winning poet from Canada performed at the event but I missed her performance as I was in the recording hut at the time. I was lucky enough to see her on Friday 14th when she visited the Central Bar and Restaurant in Navan.

Below is a photo and video of her from the Central.

Sorry about the bad lighting for video.

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Filmed in the Central Navan.

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L/R: Ollie Reynolds, Michael Sheils, Jimmy Peppard, Frank Murphy.

Picture taken outside the recording hut. 

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One of the Donkey races on the day.

Well known poet Doris Daley, from Alberta Canada will be appearing in the Central Bar and Restaurant, Trimgate Street, Navan tonight Friday14th June at 7.30pm. Doris was named best female cowboy poet in North America in 2004 by The Academy of Western Artists. She was also named one of the top five cowgirl poets in 2007,2008, and 2009 by the Western Music Association.
The nights event will be chaired by Edel Gillick of the Small Impact Writers' Group from Navan.

Edel is also leader of the Meath Junior Writers' having recently taken up the position after the death of the late great Tommy Murray. She has invited members of the Junior Writers to take part in the nights event where they will recite some of their poetry. There will also be some members of the Small Impact Writers' in attendance.

Doris will be appearing at the Trim Haymaking Festivall on Sunday 16th in the Porchfields.

Congratulations to Seamus Smyth on the publication of his book, ' Recollections of My Life in Navan '.
The book was launched  last Thursday 30th May in Navan Library. It's a collection of memories and stories featured in Navan, Rathkenny, Slane and other outlying districts of Co. Meath. It's a great read for anyone with an interest in local history. Seamus has great recollections of his boyhood years at times sad but mostly humorous. For those with an interest in football he has a section on the De La Salles and the GAA.
Seamus is first and foremost a Professional Artist and speaks at length about the subject and has included a number of pictures of his favourite paintings in the book. He also tells some humorous stories from his time as a barman. He tells the following story from the time when he worked in Clem's Bar on Watergate Street.
I'll never forget the first evening I went in to work in Clem's. I was serving away and this big lump of a fella named Brendan Shields said to me in a loud voice: " Give me a pint....and a half one. " Sizing him up, I said in my most authoritative voice: " I don't think I'll give you any drink; you've had enough. "
" How do you fucking know? Do you have a dipstick? he replied - to find out what happened next buy Seamus' Book. It can be bought in Centra Trimgate Street Navan or from the Author himself, price €12 and worth every cent.

Pictured on the night, Seamus, signing my coppy.