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.

I met the Recycleman on a street in Malaga

He took a shine to my cap

Said he'd like to have one like that

Asked me if he could try it on

Why not said I

With a twinkle in my eye

So he put it on and fell for it

Would you like to swap

Said he to me

I tried his on but it didn't fit

No way said I with a twinkle in my eye.

But I posted his picture

For all of you to see.

Click photos to enlarge.

Photos taken by my wife Josephine.

Paul Sheils Interview

My son Paul was interviewed on LMFM Thursday 21 March 2013 about his trip to the Artic Wilderness. For interview

CLICK HERE  When you get there go to March 21


Below is an excerpt from the Meath Herald

Click to enlarge

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The Next Big Thing

The last time I played Tag I was about 12 years old that was when I discovered another game called ' Postman's Knock'.  For those of you too young to know it goes something like this, ' Postman Postman don't be slow be like Elvis, go man go. For more information ask the older generation.
Imagine my surprise recently when I found myself being tagged by none other than Frank Murphy of the Meath Writers' Circle. He tagged me in an online blogging chain called ' The Next Big Thing'  At first I was a wee bit suspicious but then my military training kicked in. I covered crawled and observed. Let me explain you're walking across hostile territory a shot rings out what do you do?. You immediately take cover, fall to the ground, crawl away from where you fell and observe, try to see where the shot came from, that is, if you're not already dead. After susting it out I thought! what the heck might as well be got for a sheep as a lamb. So here goes.

My Next Big Thing

Is a collection of short stories and poems.


What is the working title of your book?

' Sheriff Writes Again '

What genre does your book fall under?

Short Stories and Poems

Which actors would you choose to play your charactors in a movie rendition?

Mrs Brownes Boys and girls!!

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Simple straight forward down to earth.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About a year.

What other book would you compare this book to within your genre?

Hidden Depths

A collection of poetry and prose from members of  ' The Small Impact Writers' Group ' who are based in Navan.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 People, place, events. For example here's one of my poems.


TRY TALKING

Second of February 2002 I saw you.
A young girl no more than twelve I'd say
Happily dancing in snow.
The first snow of winter they said.
I wanted to reach out and join in your happiness
But couldn't.
You were after all thousands of miles away
In the land of Mohammed.
Afghanistan
Graveyard of empires.
And yet there you were in my sitting room
Via the television.
For weeks I had been watching the news.
The unrelenting bombing of Tora Bora.
Operation Enduring Freedom
They called it.
I watched in awe at this beautiful scene
Of a young girl dancing in snow.
A brilliant white the sign of peace
Falling from high Heaven.
What a contrast from B52s belching out
Their cargo of death.
In the sure knowledge that their enemies
Have nothing to reach them.
They say love can move mountains.
I say bombs will only distort them
And strengthen the peoples resolve.
History can and does repeat itself.
Might is not always right.
Try talking.

By Michael ' The Sheriff ' Sheils

What else about your book might pique the readers interest?

That's a tricky one- the title perhaps?.

When and how will it be published?

Hopefully this year. Not sure whether to self publish. Looking at other options.


Tagging, James Linnane

James Linnane was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1962.  He has lived in various parts of Ireland, he has had many jobs with a career spanning barwork, security, construction and engineering work. James spent some time in New York in the 1980's where he published his first book a collection of poetry and prose, titled ' Never take an Irishman seriously unless he's armed ' in 1988.
When James returned home from New York he worked for a number of years as a security guard on building sites throughout Dublin. In 2011 he published his first novel ' The Life And Times Of A ' GOTCHA '. The book is based on actual events and is now available on e-book. The word Gotcha is a slang word for security guard. He is a member of both the Meath Writers'Circle and the Boyne Writers. He has had poems published in Boyne Berries and Revolve ( A local magazine in Meath ) and two poems on the recent CD published by the Scurloughstown Olympiad in Trim as well as two on the previous years CD. James was on the winning team in the Battle of the Books in 2011 and again in 2012 when they lost to the Meath Writers' Circle. James is also a commedian and Karaoke star in his spare time he has also adjudicated at many a pub row in Trim where he takes no nonsence. He now lives in Ballivor, County Meath, with his wife and two daughters.

Here's looking at you baby.