Inklings, at the launch Mullingar Literary Festival

Inklings

The torch for the Mullingar Literary Festival 2025 was lit on Friday September 20, Culture Night, in Caffrey’s pub. Laurence Meehan, the festival chairman, spoke of Joyce and Wordsworth as admirers of Mullingar and its surroundings, and of the present throbbing literary output of this area, all of which means that Mullingar is ripe for a literary festival.

Patricia Gibney, author of million-selling bestsellers, was in attendance, as was Ann Griffin, author of ‘When all is said’, ‘Listening Still’, and ‘The Island of Belonging’, who conceived the idea originally. Anne was the main participant, interviewed by DJ and artist Don Mortell, the festival committee PRO.

Anne said she was the last pupil her English teacher would have predicted bing a writer, emphasising that it is passion, commitment and drive that will get you to the heights, regardless of your starting point.

Anne said, among many things, that her late father carried a rubber band and safety pin is his trousers pocket, a detail she opened her latest novel with. It’s the little details that paint the big picture. Anne suggested reading what inspires you, admitting she was inspired by the writings of John McGahern from Leitrim.

Festival secretary, Jimmy O’Connell, born in Dublin and resident in Kinnegad, recently shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize for his poetry collection, The Geography of Feeling, introduced the open mic session by presenting his poem about a young fellow made good from the badlands of GAA to the lofty melodies of the harp contest at last year’s fleadh.

Louise Ryan gave a beautiful poem on Hope – you cope when you cling to hope – Douglas Raeside copes by a different device: The Pint – Guinness – probably more than one pint, Douglas. Chele Crawley used to cope using fags; still she craves for them, but also craves to Give Them Up. Seems Chele is conflicted.

Derek Walsh brought the audience back to the abstract, in his poem Sublimer of Piste; Seeing yourself is about being yourself, Derek said Brian Mcloughlin informed the audience that 100% of divorces start out as marriages – with such mathematical acumen, he must be the festival treasurer. Jacqui Wiley is SAD, on the eve of the equinox; Jacqui’s Closing In was, yeah, about the weather, and the dark days ahead. The solution is simple, Jacqui: go to Australia for six months. No don’t, you are needed here to light up the place. Teresa McKevitt, who’s just published her first poetry collection: A Note in Passing, is sad about men, or rather disappointed by them, according to her poem Fear and Lusting.

Laurence, didn’t disappoint, and he closed the launch by thanking all who participated and all who attended (the room was full) as he ended with his poem: Blue is the Warmest Colour, a verbal painting of summer weather that we hope to see on July 4, 5 and 6, 2025, when the inaugural Mullingar Literary Festival will take place.

Laurence thanked the first sponsors, Buckley’s SuperValu, A Gorman Flooring and Amber Court Restaurant, for their contributions and thanked Niall in Caffrey’s for the venue and warm support, adding that Mullingar Literary Festival look forward to working with more companies and organisations around Mullingar in the coming months.

Anyone interested in taking part in or becoming a sponsor of the festival, please contact the committee on info@mullingarliteraryfestival.com.

Laurence Meehan, Jimmy O’Connell, Louise Ryan, Douglas Raeside, Chele Crawley, Derek Walsh, Brian McLoughlin and Jacqui Wiley are members of Inklings Writing Group, who meet on Tuesdays at 11am in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar. Visitors are welcome.