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 *Original unpublished work.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’” 

******************************  

• 1) HOME ;   by Mollie Maguire

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 !

It was a miracle that such a mountain of stones moved at all as the crowds that gathered at Abbey Lane last evening  for the ceremony could barely move themselves. 

A feeling of disbelief and doubt was evident as the first bucket of stones strained sinews and forced sweat drips before it had reached its destination 10 meters away.

This task was then repeated for the next 2 hours as a gentle breeze cooled our brows. Even an unexpected shower was welcomed

as shovels scraped and dragged filling the galvanised buckets to the beat of a chain gang melody. 

The mountain of granite chippings sunk to a hill, then a mound, spirits rose and energies were  renewed as the completion of our task neared. 

Then a call from the 'coalface' 10mtrs away, ''we need more stones! It won't be finished tonight''

A cry rang out of the crowd.

''I have piles at home.....( we looked at each other thinking -Don't we all?).....of stones I mean''

A true miracle, our saviour among us and he is offering us FREE stones to complete the ceremony.

And we did and all lived very sore ever after.

Next Open Mic is ,of course on the 28th of April, not as previously posted 24th!

The month of March winner of our 30/3/30 poetry competition is Sandra Mc Donnell-Hill with her poem 'Lost in Change' from topic ;  Changed Times.

Sandra has only recently returned to writing poetry and it is us that benefits from her reborn urge to write.

Sandra (centre) receiving her prize from guest artist Colin Hassard. Highly commended certificates were also given to 

Dymphna Ferran and John Mc Andrew.

Sandra's obvious clarity of thought and feeling are evident here in her winning submission.

We are having a second reading of our Spring season comedy play next week in Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh. 

This call out is to encourage more adult male participants to join with a strong female cast for performances in May.

Armagh Theatre Group have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help encourage you to step on to a stage  for your first time ever, or since school dramas, or to tick off your bucket list.

We will take you from a hesitant nervous wannabee to a confident accomplished actor accepting applause from a full auditorium. 

All we want from you is enthusiasm and commitment and we guarantee laughter all the way.

*EVERYONE is welcome next week especially those males up for the challange.*

If you are interested in joining Armagh Theatre Group this is a great opportunity to come and see who we are and what we are about.

DAY.....Wednesday  15th March 23'    Time.....7.30pm      Place..... Abbey Lane Theatre, Abbey Lane Armagh BT61 7DW

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.

Abbey Lane's raffers echoed with the sounds of laughter, music, rhyme and song as a full house enjoyed the great mix of talent

present at this month's Open Mic.

After the presentation to the prize winners of the first 30/3/30 poetry competition Rachel took over MC duties for the rest of the evening and introduced us to a great selection of artists from Carryduff, Dungannon, Magherlin, Rathfriland, Moira, Richhill, Jerrettspass, Cappagh and Armagh City surrounds.  Our visitors where from as far as Banbridge, Belfast and America.  We must be doing something right!

As promised we had Musicians, poets, singers, storytellers,comedian, spoken word poet and a yarn spinner. We had a raffle!  And all this for £5... We had a Ball.  Thank you to all who managed to get in and who supported the artists with such warmth and encouragement.

The artists were:

Adam Trotter, John Henderson, StevieC, Harry Perrin, Lily Rose Conway, Matthew, Theo Sinton,John McAndrew, Mark Brownlee, Cathy Carson,Bridie Donaghy, Ellen McKenna, Molly, Jay Rafferty and Dymphna .

Thanks to all the ATG members who helped in any way setting up, raffle tickets etc and clearing the space for the Youth Group session on Sat morning. 

We are back again on 31st March with results of our monthly poetry competition and what im sure will be another great night's entertainment at the Open Mic in Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh.        'The Capital of Talent'

Rachel Toner presents Lily Rose , Eugene and Joe  their awards at  Abbey Lane Theatre's inaugural poetry competition which kicked off February's Open Mic.

Lily Rose Conway was delighted to be presented with our cash prize for overall winner.

'Great Oak'. on the topic Nature, was the unanimous winner among the judges and  Lily Rose read out her poem in front of a full house . 

Highly commended certificates were awarded to Eugene Dugan-Brause for his 'Deadlock Deja Vu' on the topic Groundhog Day and Joe McGinley's

'Three in to two' on the topic Loves Triangle. 

We would like to acknowledge all the poets who submitted to the competition and to such a high standard throughout.

'Great Oak'    by LilyRose Conway.

Sharp snaps, halted tracks

Soaring oak, old as ages,

Painfully bent, barraged,

Felled at hands of men.

Groaning surrender,

Sinfully fascinating sight,

This timeless majesty slain,

Joining its neighbours blight.

                  ***

'Deadlock Deja Vu' by Eugene Dugan-Brause

Border on water

Border on land

Border in the government

Dwelling of the damned.

You who share power,

show us the way.

Probably not. Likely not.

Not on Groundhog Day.

             *** 

'Three in to two' by Joe McGinley