Edgeworthstown exhibition aids Pieta House – Fighting against suicide and depression and for urban horses and horse fairs
The fight against depression and suicide has many armies, one of the most prominent of late being PIETA House, and at a …
The New Politics – much like the old politics – Getting blocked on Facebook by Ken Smollen – Blog
The homeless crisis is the issue of the day, with occupations in Dublin, and all sorts of groups offering all sorts of …
Marching Again for Water – 2016 Banagher Horse Fair a Great Success – Readings from the Pallet postponed – the annual Pilgrimage to Banagher
Around this time of the year there are three things on the agenda, the Banagher Horse Fair, the annual Readings at the …
66 Days – A Poor Tribute to Bobby Sands
Just in from watching “66 Days”, the Bobby Sands film, which is a poor tribute to the man, a twisting of history, …
Looking Back at 1916 – The Horrors of Today – and a Fearful Future – Blog
As a horrific week in Europe comes to a close, with the murder of Fr Jacques in France by ISIS affiliated fanatics, a …
Blog – Nashville Comes to Galway at Monroes Live
Offaly singer songwriter Pete Kennedy has been making a name for himself in America the past few years, and is now bringing …
Blog – Walking into the Light – Darkness In Light in Galway 2016
This has been a year where the loss of folk before their time has been all too common and public. I also …
“The Window Crisis” and “The Miracle of the Porch”
This article first appeared in the 2014 edition of the “Banagher Review” Dad was a handyman in his spare time… handy to …
Whiff of Scandal – Government, Orgies, Dead Pigs, Talking to Bees and about the Homeless – At the Cinema watching Legend
The Krays are the stuff of, as the film title suggests, legend, and it was a must see when the film of …
People Power Wins at 2015 Banagher Horse Fair and I Manage Not to Get Arrested – Drowned Boy Forgotten in Turkey
I managed not to get arrested at the Outlaw Horse Fair in the Wild West of Offaly… however it was a close …
Missing Electric Picnic and Readings At The Pallet – Unexpected Appearance at Amusing – A Little Boy Drowns in Turkey
Its been a surreal few weeks, with Scene of the Rhyme on in Tullamore, an unexpected appearance organised at the last minute …
Blaggards and Blackguards, Slavery, Civil Rights, the Irish and the Longford Connection
When I was a child, I collected stamps. Sad, I know, but I loved it. One of the counties I got stamps …
#freethenipple
#freethenipple hashtag is getting a lot of coverage across Europe at the moment, and is a movement to support. At its root …
Double Dutch and Gaelic at Tin Jug Reading in Birr and Portrait of the Poet as a Not Young Man
It is not often you get to listen to verse in both Dutch and Gaelic, and the Fannings poetry night in The …
Vibe of the Tribe: Castlepalooza and Scene of the Rhyme 2015
The Scene of the Rhyme featuring Tullamore Rhymers Club featured both in Joe Lees as its own monthly night, and as the …
Bell Book and Candle Stocking chapbook – At the Fringe of Galway Fringe Festival – Drama at Galway Mechanics Institute
Chapbook hits Bookshelf in Galway The chapbook is formally on a bookshelf… for sale… at €5 – the sole stockist in Galway …
The Human Behind the Headlines – At the Cinema watching “Amy”
Amy – the human behind the headlines After the furore of her death, and the frenzy of her life, I wrote one …
Scene of the Rhyme Preserved after Tullamore Rhymers Bandits Hijack the Eco Bus Cafe at Valentia Island Festival
It was a right Scene of the Rhyme – two days in a row, a captive audience were held at rhymepoint on …
Memories of Tullamore at Ireland’s Smallest Comedy Club – Setting off for Valentia
I was down tonight at Irelands Smallest Comedy Club, where fellow Tullamore man (Im not Longford now that its cool to be …
Not at the Races as Poetry in the Park gets lost in Athlone Triathlon
Poetry in the Park is an initiative in the cultural life of Athlone running for the past year or so that I …