On reading two poems at Writers' Week

To Listowel
I came to savour That Brigadoon of pubs and pints
And pathways lined with waving quills

Climb perhaps, the odd creative hill

Alternatively
Just hoping
To stroll along some quiet shore
Listen to the ebb and flow
Maybe hear the distant breakers roar.

Instead, between the twin peaks of
Brian and John B

I stood upon a mountain top
And gazed across the sea

And later in the harbour in view of everyone
I walked lightly on the water
Out into the sun.

Editor's note: Brian and John B refer to Brian MacMahon and John B. Keane, two literary giants associated with the North Kerry town of Listowel.

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Biography

My poems have been published widely in magazines such as Fortnight, Riverine, Ratpit, Riposte, The Drumlin and have also featured on Ulster Television's "Valley of the Kings" I have also won prizes including Hopkins in Kildare, The Nora Fahy in Clare, The Kavanagh in Louth the Allingham in Donegal and the Ledwidge in Dublin. More recently I have been second in The Bard of Armagh and shortlisted in Strokestown. I have been leader of The Meath VEC Adult Education Writer's Circle since 1992