This month's three topics for our 30-3-30 competition are
1) 'I wish' 2) Mental health 3) Nostalgic Memories (30 words;3 topics; £30 winner prize)
Submisssions to be in by Friday June 23rd midnight. Results announced at our Open Mic on 30th in Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh.
Contact details in body of email. Titled poem in attachment with no personal details. Title of work not included in 30 words. Word doc etc no PDF’s
RULES: Judge’s decisions are final. Winner takes all. £30 star prize and Highly commendable certificates for runners up.
*One poem per submission on one subject. Submitting for each topic is allowed on separate attachments.
*Original unpublished work. Format open.
*Winner announced at next Open Mic (last Friday of month), also 2 Highly Commended certificates presented.
*Reading by author on the night, when possible, and cash prize presented.
*Winning work showcased on our website (copyright remains with the author).
Our guest artist Sinead McKenna got the night off to a brilliant start showing all of her musical and singing talents to another packed Abbey Lane last Friday.
Such a hard act to follow but Sandra McDonnell-Hill leapt at the opportunity to point out the irritating
lean towards pomposity some 'famous' poets persist on expressing through their work. Well said Sandra.
Once again we had a wonderful mix of acts throughout the evening poets, storytellers, musicians, singers comics and 'poems and poise' presented by Thomas Healy at the evenings end.
They were Jacqui Ruddell,Mark Brownlee, Matthew Toner, John Henderson and Jay Rafferty all poets. Peter McAnespie,Steven Butler, Theo Sinton all singer songwriter musicians. John McAndrew storyteller, Matt McCullough stand-up comic and lastly possibly a new genre Thomas with his drawings and odes.
Along with our fabulous raffle and poetry competition presentation a great night was had and all for £5! Next month's ,June 30th and a new guest artist awaits.
Comic Matt McCullough
We are delighted to announce the results of our In House poetry competition for May.
Winner of the prize money was Jay Rafferty and Highhly Commended Jacqui Ruddell. Absent for the presentation and also
recipients of certificates Mollie Maguire and Stephen McStravick. Many congratulations to all who participated
June's 3 topics are; 1) 'I Wish' 2) Mental Health 3) Nostalgic Memories.
All the usual rules apply, 30 words, 3 topic and £30 prize money. Send entrants to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your titled submissions on attachments. Pick one topic or all three and submissions must be in by Friday 23rd June midnight.
All finalists work posted on our website and Social media pages remains the writers property.
Snobbery by Jay Rafferty
A stain glass snout snorts
wet over the town. Contemptuous,
holier than thou, a pedigree of mortar
and sandstone. Like its clear glassed
siblings weren’t hewn in the same quarry.
******************
Hello by Jacqui Ruddell
“Hello mum,
It’s late, I cannot sleep,
My heart feels numb
I’ve tried counting sheep
Now you are gone
I message your phone;
‘Wish you knew
I sorely miss you’”
******************************
Just Getting Home
Aroma of Sunday roast fills the air.
Laughter bellowing throughout the house.
Witnessing smiles released from faces.
Rapidly wrapped in loving arms.
Scrumptious flavours enrapture my taste buds.
I’m home.
********************************
GOOD AND EVIL. by Stephen McStravick
LOCK UP YOUR CHILDREN
IT’S EVIL WITH A “ D”
DEVIL’S MUSIC.
COTTON BLACK POOR BLUES
JUMPED THE FIELDS AND CAME TO TOWN.
THE RIGHTEOUS WHITE ARE ALL SHOOK UP
AHUH-HUH !
This Friday 8pm Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh City guest artist the multi talented fiddler Sinead McKenna. Doors open 7.45pm £5 BYOB. A warm welcome awaits all performers. An event for all the community.
One of Augher's most talented daughters is Sinead McKenna. This renowned singer-songwriter, trad musician and champion fiddle player is our guest artist for this month's Open Mic on the 26th.
Sinead was one of a few dozen exceedingly-talented Irish musicians and dancers chosen to fly to Dubai to represent the Emerald Isle at the World Expo recently.
The launch of her album is due in the coming days and if you are lucky enough to get in to Abbey Lane you can hear those songs and tunes played live. This young lady's talents are not to be missed and Armagh Theatre Group are chuffed Sinead has accepted our invite as Guest Artist for May's Open Mic Night.
AN
(AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH NICK HERN BOOKS LTD)
ATG’s Summer production Bleak Expectations by Mark Evans 8 th & 9th and 15th & 16th June 2023 Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh Based on the award-winning radio series by Mark Evans, Bleak Expectations takes you on a joyfully anarchic journey through Dickensian London and beyond. Follow the heroic misadventures of young Pip Bin as he battles mistaken identities, contemptible conspiracies and surreal plot twists in his quest to save his family and find true love. In his directorial debut, Adam Trotter has assembled a talented and enthusiastic cast containing a virtual avalanche of new faces to the ATG stage. So let us say a massive “Harrumble & Huzzah” to Lily Conway (Pip Bin) Alannah Mone (Poppy Bin & Flora Dies-Early) April Flynn (Pippa Bin) Matthew Toner (Harry Biscuit & Skinflint Parsimonious) Josh Cuddy (The Hardthrashers) Laura McCool (Ripley Fecund) Rosemary McCool (Agnes Bin) Sinead McGeown (Gently Benevolent & Harlan J Trashcan) Felim Rafferty (Thomas Bin & Bakewell Havertwitch) Noeleen Harvey (Broadly Fecund) Tim Hanna (Sir Philip Bin) Gillian Faulkner (Crutch Person & all other parts) Tickets (£15) are available NOW! Just follow the link to Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bleak-expectations-tickets-629183042417
INSTINCTS by John McAndrew
I have two ,
killer and creative.
I must follow one but not the other,
However tempting to kill my brother,
I shall, instead, continue to murder
my mother tongue.SECOND CHANCES by John McAndrew
In life, love, work, and play
nobody gets a second chance
where first impressions count.
But when that quota’s filled,
they look below the surface
older, better informed, wiser.NEIGHBOURS by John McAndrew
Do hermits want neighbours?
Recluses, friends?
Or citizens in solitary confinement , visitors?
If not in this life then in the next,
neighbours in Hell above, or Hell below.Neighbours
Mum, did you hear those neighbours next door?
Screaming, yelling, and thumping the floor.
But wait, a thought has come to the fore.
I was once those neighbours next door!A Second Chance
I am lucky to have a second chance.
As a cancer survivor I seize each day,
Try new adventures, push boundaries,
Appreciate the world around me,
And I am thankful.After 4 years in excile Abbey Lane welcome the return of Colin Hassard , Banbridge's world famous musical poet.
Our scene of a packed Abbey Lane Theatre from 2019 will remind you how popular Colin is with our audience. Now an established international author with is debut poetry collection 'Age of the Microwave Dinner' in 2021 Colin now ranks as the 16th most famous person from Banbridge.
With the results of this month's 30/3/30 poetry competition, raffle, BYOB and a host of talented participants + OUR GUEST all for £5....get there early. STILL TIME TO ENTER 30/3/30 competition...deadline 24th March email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. See all the details on this website or FB Armagh Theatre Groupatg.
Ain't no mountain high enough...
Hugh thanks to Marian Rafferty ( the famous Rafferty's of Ballymacnab) and friends in there fund raising efforts climbing the Banks of Seagahan Dam...No no no wrong!
The heights of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. A mere 19,341 ft. Well done to you and this HUGH CONGRATULATIONS for achieving your goal. ATG is very grateful for your wonderful donation of £550 towards our funds. Just giving page is closed, thanks to all who supported Marian.
After a successful launch on Friday's Open Mic we look towards March 31st as our next date for Open Mic and the
30/3/30 poetry competition; 30 words /3 topics /£30 prize. The three topics for March are
1) SECRETS 2) WAR 3) CHANGED TIMES.