WELL DONE ANTO

On Friday 5th June 2009 the people of Navan went to the polls and elected the following to the Navan Town Council : Brennan Phil Independent, Cassels Shane Fianna Fail, Dean Francis Independent, Fitzsimons Padraig Fianna Fail, Holloway Jim Fine Gael, Jamal Suzanne Fine Gael, McCabe Anton The Labour Party, Reilly Joe, Sinn Fein, Toibin Peadar, Sinn Fein.

Congratulations to all.

Anton McCabe and his proud mother Nancy on the night Anton was elected to the Navan Urban Council 6 June 2009.


Here are some photos.

RIGHT : L/R: Niamh McGowan, Jenny McHugh, Tracy McElhinny all the Labour Party elected to the Meath County Council. Photo taken at the count center Trim 08-06-09

Above

Celebrating Anto's election L/R Elen Smyth, Josephine Sheils
Margaret McCabe, Anto McCabe and Christy McQuillan.

Anton. McCabe, Josephine. Sheils, Christy. McQuillan.

Tina O'Brien and John Doyle.

Anto's angels, how come you're such a hit with the girls?

Michael Sheils and Anton McCabe
Outside the Town Hall the day I signed Anto's nomination papers.

Keeping tabs on the score L/R: Jonathan Brown, Daran O'Brien, Tina O'Brien, Anton McCabe

Jim O'Brien and at the back Ger Lynch.

Right : Noel Smyth, Josephine Sheils, Anton McCabe and

Jim O'Brien director of elections.









Left, Tina O'Brien and Jim O'Brien same name not related at fund raising night in the Balreask Arms Trim Rd.

Right : Rose O'Brien, Elen Smyth, Margaret McCabe and Josephine Sheils at fund raising night Balreask Arms Trim Road Navan.

Third from right Eamon. Gilmore, leader of the Labour Party, Nessa Childers on his left and Anton McCabe canvassing at the Friday Market Fair Green in Navan. Nessa was elected to the European Parliament and Anton was elected to the Navan Town Council.

Below on the campaign trail : L/R  J. O'Brien, Ger. Gibbins, A.McCabe, M.Sheils, Noel. Smyth, Ger. Lynch.

L/R: Ger Lynch,Noel Smyth, Anto McCabe,Jim O'Brien and Ger Gibbins.

DANCE

The following story was published in the Meath Chronicle 30 December 2000

DANCE

Sheriff couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't intended to go to this mass and if it wasn't for the craic the night before, he would have been at an earlier one. His heart was pounding, his mind racing when there on the altar he saw Brother John, the man who had tormented him over 30 years earlier.
This can't be happening, can it really be him?. How did he ever become a priest? thought Sheriff. Memories came flooding back of that terrifying incident so long ago. He couldn't concentrate on the mass. Turning his head from the altar didn't help. There was no escape.
For a long time, Brother John had been trying to force him to play football.
" You'll play football if it's the last thing you do, I can promise you that, when you go out for the break play football with the rest of the lads if not run around the field 10 ten times" he said. During the break some of the boys taunted Sheriff saying, you better play football or he'll kill you.
In his mind's eye, Sheriff could see himself standing alone in front of the class, trembling, not knowing what was going to happen next?. He had felt Brother John's anger before on many occasions. Brother John had a violent streak in him. Sheriff had seen him beat the same boys day in and day out and all for what?, nothing, just because they had found it difficult to learn.
Nothing had prepared Sheriff for what happened when he returned to the class.
" Well Sheriff did you play football? Brother John roared at the top of his voice."
" No Brother "
" Why " he said menacingly.
" I didn't want to, Brother "
" Did you run around the field? "
" I did a few laps but some of the lads began laughing, why should I put up with that? "
"There was a long silence. Brother John stared at him for what seemed an eternity.
" Dance! " he bellowed with a sadistic grin on his face.
" Why?,Brother. "
" I'll show you why? "
Sheriff felt the full force of his strap. The pain was excruciating.
" Dance! " he bellowed again, much to the amusment of the class. Brother John had worked himself into a mad frenzy. It was as if the Devil himself had taken over and was about to devour him.
" Dance! Dance!! Dance!!! he roared, like a mad dog showering Sheriff's face with spittle. Sheriff felt ashamed and humiliated, although he had nothing to be ashamed of. He managed to escape from Brother John's clutches, grabbed his schoolbag and ran home, returning a week later only to be further humiliated by the greeting, how's my little girl today? "
Now 38 years later Sheriff finds himself reliving that terrible incident, when his innocence was shattered by that brute on the altar. Brother John, ( the priest ), is now giving a sermon, the theme of which is, " every person is a treasure ". How dare you! was I not a treasure when you were abusing me?. Do I have to sit here and listen to your crap?. Look at you now as if butter wouldn't melt in your mouth.
They say the leopard never changes his spots. Brother John changed one collar for another but to Sheriff he is still the same, a well fed bully boy.
Sheriff thought of something Jesus once said; suffer little children to come unto me, for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sheriff is now a 51-year old man, no longer the child he was then and never again will he dance for Brother John.

DANCING

At a meeting of the Meath Writers Circle, Tommy Murray showed us a old postcard and asked us to write a poem based on the card.

Dancing


They're dancing! dancing! dancing!
Shouts the little boy
As he runs down the hill
And joyous music fills the air
As a man dances with his lady fair
Dancing to a nick nock tune
With joyous spritely steps
Whose the blackhaired beauty
Dancing with your man
Whispers a bystander
She's too good for him
I'll tell you that
Wouldn't you think
He'd get rid of the stick
And take off his hat
No doubt he'll do that
At the end of the day
When the sun sinks in the west
Not if I can help it
Be God I think I'll take a chance
And ask her to dance
Before the sun sinks in the west
If I play my cards right
I could be with her tonight
If not tomorrow
Begorra!!

..

Michael ' The Sheriff ' Sheils

The Wind Of Change

The Wind of Change

.

January 20/2009

Was a wet cold day in Ireland

But there was something else there

Something in the wind

Something awesome

Something palpable

Trees seemed to bow to the wind

A wind of change

Which blew across the land

A wind with a ghostly rhythm

Which seemed to blow

All the way from Africa

And it was heard to say

Obama! Obama! Obama!

It passed over the Atlantic

And on to Washington

Where it sent a flutter through

The Star Spangled Banner

There multitudes had gathered

Chanting: Obama! Obama! Obama

Yes we can! yes we can!

And I was there in spirit

Carried on the wind

The wind of change

Echoes from history were heard

When Obama laid his hand

On Lincoln's Bible

And the wind of change

Was felt in Guantanamo

Where next?

The Hills of Tora Bora perhaps?

Or maybe Palestine?

The list is endless

Long blow the wind

The wind of change.

.

Michael ' The Sheriff ' Sheils.

Waiting for you

While I waited for you

The sky suddenly turned dark

and shed an ocean of tears

Then this beautiful rainbow appeared

I thought I'd capture it

and share it with you

Click photo to enlarge.

Photo taken Jan 10th 2009. Building motor taxation office Railway Street Navan.

Carpet of White

L/R Michael, Amelia, Austin.                                                       Right Josephine.

I stood by a wood

on a carpet of white

Which had fallen

during the night

Posing for this photo

which was taken by

my darling wife

who stood on

the same carpet of white

Michael '' The Sheriff '' Sheils

Kedzierzyn- kozle Poland Christmas 2008

                                                                                                              

A Christmas Memory

A Christmas Memory

As I awoke on Christmas morn
snow was falling softly to the ground
Evergreens had turned white over night

and Santa had called to my delight

On the road outside a donkey lay

belly bloated hooves in the air

a cross upon it's back

And where it lay the snow turned red

The source a gaping wound in it's head

It was then I realised that he was dead

Hit by a car perhaps

or maybe a truck?.

.

Michael '' The Sheriff '' Sheils