More than 30 poets as Kilbixy night returns

The largest crowd ever attended Kilbixy poetry night last Friday, when more than 30 contributors recited their own works, many of them composed during lockdown, or those of a favourite poet.

This is the seventh poetry night and the first since 2019. Missing were Watson Mills, who died last December, and Johnny McManus from Skeagh, a regular contributor, who also passed away in the interim.

The event is organised by Betty Murtagh and Eleanor Murtagh of Westmeath Rural Arts and in attendance was the chairman, Eamon Donoghue. Proceeds go to North Westmeath Hospice, who were represented by Veronica Larkin and Teresa Collentine.

Betty said she knew Watson, who came up with the original idea of hosting a poetry night, was ‘present in spirit and we better live up to his expectations’.

As they arrived, guests were greeted by Ita Kiernan and Rene Seery from Killare and serenaded by Miriam Walsh, daughter of Tom and Mary Walsh, Churchtown, Emper, on the keyboard.

Michael Baynes read a poem in memory of Watson Mills, commemorating his love of church, community, local history and nature. Patricia Baynes read ‘Pensioner;, a poem about the struggle members of Cumann na Mna had to get pensions, followed by another about planting, cultivating and ultimately taming a beech hedge.

Published author, Tom McGahan from Dalystown, Moyvore, sporting his signature tweeds, recited ‘The Struggle’, an amusing ditty on trying to get up in the morning followed by a sombre account of the hanging of James MacPherson.

Another local man, Pat (Mo) Heduan from Milltown read a couple of amusing pieces he penned during lockdown about life in a fictional village of his childhood and the excitement of a first dance.

Pat Kenny from Keoltown, Ballinea, nearly brought the house down with his witty recital, ‘The Ballynacargy Brainy Pig’, who devoured the farmer before the roles could be reversed.

Patsy Jordan from Tristernagh, Ballynacargy, recited her own Coolnahay Harbour, an ode to the place where she was reared.

Matty Coffey recited ‘The Kerrigan Boys’ by Edward Harrington, a poem of 18 verses, without notes, without faltering, and with passion. Michael McDonald from Mullingar and Oliver Higgins from Williamstown, Moyvore, read their own works.

Sheila Cusack recited a moving poem about the devastating effects of drugs, while John Noonan recited ‘Annaskeagh Lone Bush’, a moving poem of his featured in the Chasing Shadows collection. Una Harrington read ‘Leisure’ by William Davies, bemoaning the fact that ‘We have no time to stand and stare’.

Niall Kevin Sheridan read a Patrick Kavanagh poem, as did Rita Tynan from Shandonagh.

Louise Ryan read from her own collection of poems – ‘Seeds of Life’ – which she wrote when she was 16, and ‘New Beginnings’, while Margaret Nohilly read ‘Dancing the Villanelle’, a poem she wrote in the villanelle style when she turned 70.

Patricia Burton read ‘Give me three grains of corn mother’, highlighting the plight of famine victims during the Great Hunger. Liam Manning read two funny ditties, one about the joys of growing older, and the other about the nightmare of forgetting to leave out the blue bin.

Dermot O’Rourke started writing poetry during lockdown and gave a flavour of his creations, the most moving being an ode to his beloved niece Alison on taking her first steps.

Brian McLoughlin, a regular contributor, gave a rousing rendition of his poem – ‘The Fleadh, The Fleadh, the Mullingar Fleadh’ and had the audience joining in for the final verse.

Mary McGuinness, Irishtown, Ballynacargy, read two poems about mothers letting go, which she penned when she was a member of the Milltown Writers Group, led by the late Grace Brennan.

Another member of that group, Mary Lynn, Rathconrath, read a Seamus Heaney poem followed by her own – ‘The Wicked Thief’ – about the pandemic and all it stole from us, while Mary Lynn from Lakenstown, Ballynacargy, recited Percy French’s ‘The Four Farrellys’.

Inez Kenny, former principal of Moyvore NS, spoke of how poetry helps us transcend the ordinary, making it extraordinary. She read a verse from Seamus Heaney about moving from childhood to adulthood.

Jimmy O’Connell recited his own ‘Lake Derravaragh, County Westmeath’ followed by a clever take on Ulysses entitled ‘Reading Ulysses in Mullingar Cathedral’.

Lorraine Murphy, whose recently launched book ‘Into the Woods’ is already at number eight on the crime fiction bestseller list, recited ‘Love’, a poem about love surviving age, rows and difficulties, and ‘School Days’, an account of the woes and wonders facing adolescents.

Tom Reilly received loud applause when he read ‘In Praise of Mullingar’, as did Jacqui Wiley, who read ‘The Owl and the Chimpanzee’ by Jo Comacho and ‘Invisible’ by Maxine Bailey.

Dr Brendan Mahon recited three poems that he was inspired to write during the pandemic, the most powerful being about the tragedy of people having to wave goodbye to dying loved ones through curtained partitions.

Charlie Nolan, ex-Department of Fisheries, read a heartrending poem about the ravages of heroin addiction entitled ‘A Mother’s Prayer’. Josephine Purcell read about hospital patients of different levels of seriousness gnawing at each other’s histories for scraps of hope.

Donal Lawlor recited his own ‘Lough Owel Summer Evening’ about sunset at Tullaghan Bay, followed by ‘Moving On’, a poem inspired by Patrick Kavanagh about a country boy heading off to live in ‘the smoke’ and finally, his take on the villanelle.

Derek Walsh from Milltown read his own poem about the fleadh, while Raymond McCague read a poem he wrote about growing up between a ‘green’ hall and an ‘orange’ hall on the border and another about the Pope’s visit in ‘September ‘79’.

Dan Scally rounded off the evening with his ‘Prey Pray’ about a hare caught in a snare and another, ‘Moonlight Oil’ about late night pub chat.