Boyne Berries 10

A poem of mine, 'My Lad', is to be included in 'Boyne Berries'!

The magazine is a journal of poetry and prose, published twice a year (March and September) by the Boyne Writers Group. It's edited by intrepid poet, historian, actor and blogger Michael Farry. This special tenth issue will be launched twice, yes, Twice! - at the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Thursday 29 September at 8pm and at Charlie Byrnes Bookshop, Galway, on Friday 30 September 6pm. I hope to get to one of them, here's to hope:)

I recently found a series of online poetry workshops by Jane Holland in Mslexia, that are really worth checking out, they made me realise I often became (unnecessarily?) attached to elements in a first draft, to quote -

"... There is no such thing as the sacrosanct first draft, which must under no circumstances be changed, for fear of losing something precious and irrecoverable. Writing is a process, and during that process any number of decisions, conscious or otherwise, are made before a single word is written. There’s no mystery about this. Your initial choices may be instinctive, but they are washed through filters of arrogance, influence, self-censorship, experience, fear, understanding, partiality…the list goes on. "

Is nothing sacred!?

MacManus Short Stories

A me, me post !

The stories shortlisted for RTE Radio Ones 2011 Francis MacManus Awards are now available to listen to HERE. (They last approx ten minutes. My story's called The Everyday Woman...)

An Exhibition Of Banned Books

An Exhibition Of Banned Books

This sounds like a really fascinating exhibition of watercolours by John Jones both for the questions it asks and for the cover art.

The Irish Censorship Board have issued no new banning restrictions on any novels released during 2010/11. So is there a need for a Censorship Board on books, or is it redundant? The exhibition features 100 banned novels by 100 authors from 1930 to present.





Libraires confirmed so far:

* Aug 2nd – 25th // Mountmellick Library/Gallery, Co. Laois.
* Oct 1st – 22nd // Leixlip Library/Gallery, Co. Kildare.
* Nov 1st – 15th // City Library HQ, Co. Cork.
* Nov 17th - 30th // County Library, Co. Cork
* Jan 10th – Feb 11th, 2012 // Abbeyleix Library, Co. Laois.

Censorship in Ireland
Books are prohibited if the Censorship of Publications Board considers them to be indecent or obscene.
Periodicals are prohibited if the Censorship of Publications Board considers them to be frequently or usually indecent or obscene.
Both books and periodicals may be prohibited if the Board considers that they advocate abortion. Periodicals may also be prohibited if the Board is of the opinion that they have given an unduly large proportion of space to matters relating to crime.

In practice, however, publications are usually only reported to the Board for obscenity.

If you are convicted of possessing prohibited publications, you may be liable for a fine of 63.49 euro or six months imprisonment. Be Warned!