Belfast poet Gerry Dawe's passing leaves us all the poorer

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Created: 03 June 2024

To acknowledge the passing last week of North Belfast poet Gerry Dawe 1952-2024.

The Ulster poetry family have lost another gem.

The Lost by Gerald Dawe

After the denunciation they came piling in,
Even the static of my clothes hurt,
The handle of a door stung like a bee.

I couldn’t walk it off in the skiffs of rain
Along the dreamy sea coast that late spring,
They dogged me, my blunderings,

Like Chinese whispers, twitching curtains,
And the birds in the trees scattered
While those I once knew gave only

A blank stare to my salutations,
Wisps of cloud rose skywards
Through the Velux I’d grown used to

And the empty yards all shadow
And shade. Further afield,
The followers stormed the sacred gate

And all the lost were named.

Gerald Dawe’s most recent collection, The Last Peacock, was published in 2019. 

'IMPACT' launch in the Palace June 12th

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Created: 02 June 2024

 

If you wish to attend our launch of ATG's play IMPACT please RSVP before 4th June to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

There will be books on sale at the event and the writers in attendence. Limited numbers so hurry!

 

 

 

May's Open Mic gives us great Sax and songs

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Created: 01 June 2024

Seonaid Murrray and David Jackson rocked Abbey Lane Open Mic with some great music followed by wonderful poetry, stories,

singing and yarns from our class contributors all evening.

Tim Hanna's story about 'Mr Gotobed' continued the Open Mic on a high level, Jerome Mallon, poetry; Matthew Toner, fantasy story;

Jay Rafferty, newly launched poetry book; John Henderson, Dementia poetry. After our famous raffle our 30-3-30 poetry competition  with winner of the cash prize  Mary Jbara and Paula Clarke Highly Commended certificate winner.  Rachel Toner and Werewolves abound in her story; Laura Rose McCool gave a beautiful rendition of 'I'm leaving on a jet plane' (John Denver); Kerry Clarke poetry 'Charting the Season' Theo Sinton with several songs in his distinctive baritone voice....class; and finally as always Dymphna with words of advice to the newly wedded couple Sofia and Adam from Switzerland who got hooked at Navan Fort. Advice on how not to keep warm in the marital bed!

Some of the evenings contributors; Kerry Clarke, Laura Rose McCool and Jerome Mallon

L

Big thanks for all who helped on the evening , to our special guests Seonaid and David, to our contributors but most of all to our wonderful audiences who know how hard it can be to get up and perform and always show their appreciation.

Next Open Mic is on 28th June in Abbey Lane. 

ATG are launching 'Impact' book on 12th June in the Palace and we have 2 one act plays for your entertainment on 20 to 22 June in Abbey Lane Theatre , tickets via Ticketsource.

So Armagh Theatre Group still pushing the boundries of our local arts scene in many ways . Thank you for your continuing support.

May's poetry competition winners and their poems

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Created: 01 June 2024

This month's winner of the cash prize is Mary Jbara with her poem ' Under the Surface' and our Highly Commended certificate

recipient is Paula Craig with her entry 'Picture from the Past'. Both poets presented by our MC for the evening Rachel Toner.

Mary Jbara's entry 'Under the Surface' 

Paula Craig's Highly Commended entry 

'Picture from the Past'

Picture From the Past

I found a picture from the past on paper creased and curled,

Faces fixed in amber watch from another world.

Beribboned little girls donning aprons freshly starched,

Dwell deep in dusty drawer, unaware how time has marched.

Sweet smiling seraph, Sophie; you’d reached the age of four,

I knew from family folklore, you’d see not one year more.

Throughout my childhood days, your name was hushed when spoken,

A spirit infant born with a heart already broken.

If ever proof was needed of how swifty decades pass,

Is my father’s mother captured as a vibrant, lustrous lass.

No forehead etched with worry or hair of mottled white,

But lithely limbed and flaxen with eyes that glittered bright.

It had never come to mind that she could have been so young,

A fragrant, worthy rival of the flowers she stood among.

Seated on a bench beneath the willow-shaded garden,

Grim Victorian parents, that time forgot to pardon.

Him with handlebar moustache; stiff stare and sombre suit,

Her with lace about the throat and polished, button boot.

Scarcely did they know about the wars that darkly loomed,

This steely, stoic couple were a generation doomed.

Studying this old snapshot marred with age and stain,

Forsaken in a cabinet, yet it’s where I got my name,

I think that I am feeling or the conclusion that I’m drawing,

There is something atavistic, that is in us, always gnawing.

It only takes a prompt – the surface to be scratched,

To unveil our gems of history, time had safely stashed.

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The 30-3-30 Poetry Competition Themes for June's OMN

1) The Spice if Life

2) Life Before Technology

3)On Shakey Ground .

Usual rules apply ; Maximum of 30 lines ;3 themes, choose one or all; £30 cash prize  30-3-30 

Send your entries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with all poems titled and  as an attachment in the email. Your name ONLY

in the body of the email .  Deadline for entries June 23rd midnight. Attendence at the Open Mic on 28th is requested if shortlisted.

Those shortlisted will be informed by email on Mon 24th. Judges decisions are final. We wish you all the best with your entries.

May's poetry competition themes.

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Created: 22 May 2024

Our themes for May’s 30-3-30 poetry competition are;

1)Under the surface (what lies beneath)

2) Strange conversations (did they really say that?)

3) My planet.(Do we have a toxic relationship with our planet?)

Deadline for entries Sunday 26^th midnight . Next Open Mic 31^st May

The cash prize winner and Highly Commended certificate winner will be presented during the evening so we ask all entrants of the competition to endeavor to attend. 

Summer drama at Abbey Lane Theatre

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Created: 21 May 2024

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/armaghtheatregroup/2-one-act-plays/e-rlmpkv

Laundry and Bourbon  by James McLure
"The action centres on the discontent and very funny gossip of three small town wives whose marriages have turned out to be less than what was hoped for. On a hot summer afternoon, Elizabeth and her friend Hattie sit out on the porch folding laundry, sipping bourbon and coke and gossiping. They are joined by the self-righteous Amy Lee who cannot resist blurting out that Elizabeth’s husband Roy has been seen around town with another woman. Whilst the ensuing conversation is increasingly edged with bitter humour, there emerges nevertheless a sense of Elizabeth’s inner strength and her quiet understanding of the turmoil which has beset her husband since his return from Vietnam."

Waiting for ​You By ​Mark O Leary
Waiting to see the doctor or wishful thinking, someone waiting for that certain other someone, unbeknownst to either. Laughter is a remedy for many ills and we are treated to an abundance of laughs as an eccentric and motley group pass through the surgery recounting a litany of woes, real and imagined

May's Open Mic Special Guests

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Created: 16 May 2024

We are delighted to confirm this months' special guests as Seonaid Murray and David Jackson.   

Both Seonaid and David are accomplished musicians based in Belfast. Seonaid has visited Abbey Lane on numerous occasions facilitating workshops, more recently last year with Creative Lives poetry project along with Colin Hassard.

David, a new face to Abbey Lane Open Mic, will accompany on guitar while Seonaid plays sax. 

Come and enjoy the music, poetry, stories and songs at Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh on MAY 31st . Doors open 7.30pm ;£5 at door BYOB ;Slots of 5 mins available on the night for participants. Poetry competition and prize Raffle.  All welcome.

Seonaid Murray is a Saxophonist and Community Musician. She studied English Literature and Music at Bath Spa University and Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. She plays with several bands including; Colin Reid's TS4 Quartet, Colin Hassard's Dirty Words and The Vintage Revue. Seonaid is currently the Creative Places, Edenderry Coordinator working for Creative Lives and facilitates a range of freelance Community Music workshops locally.

David Jackson joins Seonaid on guitar - David is a DJ and Guitarist. Seonaid and David worked together on the Moon Base project at The Black Box in Belfast and through the Moon Music group, for and by people who identify as disabled recorded 3 original albums of music collectively! 

ATG Publishing launch 'IMPACT' in print

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Created: 13 May 2024

April's Open Mic with Down's Danny Doran

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Created: 29 April 2024

The languid style of Danny Doran and the honey tones of his singing had Abbey Lane enthralled

as he started April's Open Mic last Friday. 

A songwriter, musician and comic of vast experience Danny is also the driver of the 'Happiness Cafe' in 

South Down area helping people affected by Dementia and Alzheimer symptoms. We were delighted to

have Danny as our guest on the night.

Hot on his heels our contributors to Open Mic kept up the high standard set by Danny with poets, musicians,

singers and storytellers all entertaining us for over 2 hours.

Poets/writers on the night Joseph Conlan ;John Henderson; Rachel Toner; Mark Brownlee; Molly Maguire;

Mary Farran, Ellen McKenna; Joe McGinley; Brett Lemick; Liam McIllvanna and Malachi Kelly.

Musicians/ singers Dennis McCloskey; Theo Sinton ; Thomas P K Healy and Danny Doran once again.

Dynphna Ferran completed the evening with her usual (unusual) humour and witty poetry. 

Along with our poetry competition '30-3-30 ' and loads of prizes in Abbey Lane's famous raffle a wonderful night's

entertainment was enjoyed by the big audience.... and all for £5 pp.  

Next month's Special guest is saxophonist and community musician Seonaid Murray May 31st Abbey Lane Theatre

Armagh.

April's Poetry competition results and themes for May.

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Created: 28 April 2024

WINNER for April's competition as presented at the Open Mic was Ellen McKenna with her poem 'Inner Musings' using the theme Inner thoughts.

Highly Commended certificate went to Joe McGinley for his poem 'If I had not chosen' in Courage and Fear theme.

Here we see Rachel Toner our MC presenting the delighted winners. Well done to all on the short list. Seanin Hughes, Brett Lemick and

Liam Mcillvenna

Inner Musings by Ellen McKenna

My thoughts depend on the mood I’m in,

What features in the news each day,

My interactions with people,

The myriad tasks that need completion.

They flit between topics,

Some like butterflies, sunny and beautiful,

Others like wasps, barbed and judgemental.

My thoughts are mine alone,

Influenced by my age, my upbringing,

My opinion of right and wrong.

Spinning and whirring within the confines of my being,

Often not ‘woke’ or politically correct.

It is therefore fortunate that

No one can yet see into my mind

And read my inner thoughts.

'If I Hadn't Chosen ' by Joe McGinley

                                 *

If I hadn’t chosen between courage & fear

I’d definitely still be sitting down

Instead im standing up here.

I questioned the facts whether written or said,

And courage prevailed were fear would have fled.

Sometimes courage like pride comes right before a fall

But fear just prevents you from even trying at all.

So, if you ever have to choose between courage and fear,

Choose what you love, it’s why we’re all here. 

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May's poetry competition themes are

  1)Under the surface (what lies beneath) 

  2)Strange conversations (did they or I really just say that?)

  3)My planet (do you have toxic relationship with the planet?)