Jim Connell

Above legendary miners' leader Arthur Scargill addressing the crowd at this years event.

On May 2nd 2010 I attended the annual Jim Connell Commemoration Parade in Crossakiel.  It was the 12th annual event and my first time to be there and I must say, if the Lord spares me, it won't be my last.

At a meeting in Kilskyre Hall 28th March 1997 a committee was set up with a view to erecting a memorial to the famous son of Kilskyre, Jim Connell, who was born there in 1852.  On 26th April 1998 a monument to Jim Connell was unveiled  in Crossakiel, Co. Meath, Ireland on the spot where he addressed a crowd of 600 in 1918.

Jim Connell wrote the Song " The Red Flag " in 1889 while travelling on a train between Charing Cross and New Cross in London.  It was written first to a tune called " The White Cockade " a lively Jacobite anthem but was later set to the music " Tannenbaum " and old German hymn.  It quickly became the anthem of the International Labour Movement. 
To hear Cllr Dermot Looney singing the Red Flag on the day CLICK HERE

For more songs of Irish Labour CLICK HERE

Pictured above Michael "The Sheriff " Sheils.

Photo by John Doyle.

John Doyle has travelled the length and breath of the country covering occasions and events. He has a great collection of photographs which can be bought from his site. So if you were at a particular event and would like to have some photos why not visit his site he just might have what you're looking for CLICK HERE   

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Congratulations

Congratulations to Willie Hodgins on a wonderful performance at the Boyne Readings where he was featured writer on the night. Willie put his heart in to it as he read from his book "Sunflower" but then that's where his heart is, in his poetry.
Willie was followed by an open mic session which was enjoyed by all. Somebody spilled a pot of coffee, I wonder who?

Pictured on the night L/R: Paddy Duffy, Willie Hodgins. Tommy Murray and guess who?

Just back from a trip to Poland where I managed to dodge the ash cloud.
Glad to see that William (Willie) G Hodgins is the featured writer at the next Boyne Writers' reading event on Thursday 20th May at 8pm in the Village Hall, Knightsbridge Village, Longwood Road, Trim, Co. Meath. Willie is a native of Bohermeen and a  member of the Meath Writers' Circle. He launched his first collection of poetry titled 'Sunflower' in the Navan Library on 23rd April 2009.
To hear Willie reading at the launch of Tommy Murray's book " Counting Stained Glass Windows" which was held in Trim Library on 20th August 2009.
CLICK HERE

In The Back Room

The Small Impact Writers' Group, who are based in Navan Library are holding a fund raising night in aid of the Kayley Dunne Appeal.
The event will take place in The Lantern ( The Back Room ) Watergate St, Navan on the 27th May next.
Local musicians and writers will be providing the entertainment on the night.
Admission at door €5.

Kayley is due to travel to America in October for a life changing operation.
For more information click here

Navan's Walking Bus

Over 1450 pupils from 10 primary schools in Navan took part in a record breaking attempt last Monday 26th April 2010.
They now hold the Irish record for the longest"walking bus" in the country.
Some 1454 children from second up to sixth class departed from the Fair Green and made their way around the town to set the record for Ireland's  longest walking Bus measuring 216.8m.
The record attempt was part of Navan Town's Council's initiative to promote the town's bid in the Smarter Travel Competition. Navan has been shortlisted along with 10 other towns in the Department of Transports Smarter Travel Competition and has the chance to share €50m in funding over the next five years. An integral part of the town's bid is getting the local community involved and finding out their ideas on how the town should develope in terms of sustainable transport.
Schools participating in the envent were: St Oliver's NS, St Paul's NS, Scoil Mhuire, Gael Scoil Eanna, St Anne's Ns, St Joseph's NS, St Mary's Special School, Scoil Naomh Eoin and Navan Educate Together.

For video   CLICK HERE

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Part of the crowd assembled on the Fair Green

Click photo to enlarge and once more for full screen.

Well done to all involved.

With The Boyne Through Trim

I don't know where Tommy Murray gets his energy he has managed to do it yet again.  Tommy has just published his twelfth book ( With The Boyne Through Trim ).

It's obvious that Tommy has a great love for his home town of Trim.  Tommy has well and truly put Trim on the map through his writings and dare a Navan man say it, I think the people of Trim should name their next street or perhaps housing estate after him.
I was thousands of miles away when Tommy launched his book and on my return the first batch were sold out so I had to wait a while but eventually got a copy.
In his book Tommy takes the reader on a nostalgic journey of the river Boyne from Stoneyford River to beyond Bective Abbey, a short journey one might say but one steeped in history.
Tommy's book is beautifully written and the imagery is somethingelse, ( there's nothing more miserable than a hen standing on one leg at the front door on a rainy day ), if I could, I'd give the hen a hug I thought as I read.
Thanks to Tommy a lot of Trim's recent history survives. Who for instance, especially amoung the younger generation would know that one of Trim's parish priest's was a part time farmer?.
After navigating the Boyne, Tommy then takes the reader on a ghost tour of the town, so if you'd like to know more about Trim get a copy of Tommy's book.

The book can be bought in Trim Post Office and in Antonia's Bookshop, Navan Gate, Trim, and in Trim Visitor Centre in Trim Town Hall.

MERMAIDS

I spied a pair of Mermaids

on the Costa Adeje.

So beautiful were they

I decided to take them away

to the Emerald Isle with me.

For all of you to see.

Michael " The Sheriff " Sheils