Launch of Short Film ‘Na Doirse’

Gaeilge ABC are hosting the public premiere of the short film ‘Na Doirse’ (in Irish with English subtitles) will be happening in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh (H91 FV4D), Knocknacarra, at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 13 May.

The film is a fictionalisation of part of the life of the writer/director, and deals with issues of access, and some of the daily struggles she experiences, particularly with doors – na doirse.

Mary Tynan, a highly-experienced actor with a chronic neurological illness, who produces and presents the programmes Deich and Rogha Nuacht na Seachtaine on Flirt FM, directed the film with the help of the award-winning filmmaker Seán Breathnach, as part of her MA (Cleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin) in University of Galway.

This Irish language event, organised in conjunction with Gaeilge ABC will consist of a screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with Mary and Seán. Admittance is free of charge, and refreshments will be provided on the night.

Everyone is welcome to join us on the night!

Seoladh Gearrscannán ‘Na Doirse’

Beidh premiere poiblí den ghearrscannán Gaeilge Na Doirse ar siúl in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh (H91 FV4D), Cnoc na Cathrach ag 7:30pm, Dé Máirt, 13 Bealtaine, eagraithe ag Gaeilge ABC.

Is ficseanú ar chuid den saol an stiúrthóra é an gearrscannán seo atá lonnaithe i gCathair na Gaillimhe, a bhaineann le cúrsaí rochtana, agus a thugann léirmheas dúinn ar shaol mic léinn aibí le míchumas agus na streachailtí ina saol laethúil – na doirse.

Is í Mary Tynan, bean le tinneas néareolaíoch ainsealach, atá ina láithreoir ar Flirt FM (Deich agus Rogha Nuacht na Seachtaine), agus aisteoir le neart taithí, a stiúir an gearrscannán le cúnamh ón scannánóir iomráiteach Seán Breathnach, mar chuid dá máistreacht i gCleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

Beidh taispeáint den ghearrscannán, le seisiún ceisteanna agus freagraí tar éis na taispeána le Mary agus Seán, ar an oíche.

Is imeacht saor in aisce é seo atá oscailte don phobail uilig agus atá eagraithe i gcomhpháirtíocht le Gaeilge ABC. Is í Gaeilge teanga an imeachta.

Beidh fáilte roimh chuile duine a bheith ann ar an oíche!

Park Run Nua le Mary Tynan

My first attempt at mobile journalism, after unsuccessfully pitching the story to an actual news crew.  I decided to do it at the last minute, and didn’t have a microphone so the sound quality is very bad on the interview.  Text of the voiceover is as follows:

Seoladh Park Run nua in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe maidin inniu. Is é seo an dara Park Run sa chathair – thosaigh an chéad ceann i gCnoc na Cathrach i 2014.

Is eachtra saor in aisce é Park Run a tharlaíonn ar fud na cruinne gach Satharn ag leathuair tar éis a 9 ar maidin. Oibríonn gach duine go deonach ann. Tá céad is daichead a trí Phark Run ar siúil in Éireann gach deireadh seachtain, agus bíonn cinn nua ag tosú an t-am ar fad.

Tá an ceann nua seo eagraithe ag Anna Sheehy. Is mac léinn PhD san ollscoil í, agus bhí roinnt ball den Chumann Mac Léinn Iarchéime ann mar oibrithe deonacha freisin. Labhair mé le hAnna.

Agallamh anseo

Ghlac timpeall ar dhá chéad daoine páirt sa rith inniu, méara Cathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleor Eddie Hoare, san áireamh. Cé go raibh an fhearthainn ag titim go trom ag an deireadh, is dócha gur bhain an chuid is mó de sult as an ócáid, agus bhí an-jab déanta ag na heagraithe go léir.

Is mise Mary Tynan in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

 

 

Actors with Irish Wanted for a Short Film in Galway City

Loosely based on Persuasion by Jane Austen, Áitiú agus Ionracas is a retelling of that novel set in modern-day Ireland.  Áine has spent her adult life taking care of her invalid mother, whose recent death has meant Áine finally gets to start her own life in earnest.  When she was a teenager, she was in love with another girl, but she let her go to start a new life in the US, on the advice of her brother, for several reasons which seemed to make sense at the time.

At the start of the film, Áine is about to start a new job as assistant to the artistic director of a local theatre, when she finds out that Freddie, the love of her life, has moved back from America.  On the first day of her new job, she meets another new employee, a stage manager recently returned from the US …

This is a student film, for the MA (Cleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin) in University of Galway.  The film will probably also be entered into festivals.  Seán Breathnach, director of the feature film Foscadh, is mentoring this film’s director.  Unfortunately there is no pay, but you will get a copy of the finished film for your showreel.  The filming will take place in a couple of locations in Galway City, including the Taibhdhearc, the national theatre for the Irish language.

There is a lot of interest in Irish language films at the moment, both in Ireland and internationally, and this is a chance to be part of this movement.  You don’t need to be 100% fluent – the crew will be working through English – you just need to be able to say your own lines fluently and understand the other actors’ line and the story of the film.

If you would like to be considered for one of the roles, please email the director, Mary Tynan, at mttynan@hotmail.com with your CV and headshot (small file please – if there’s a photo on your CV that’s fine) and a link to your showreel if you have one.

DATES

12, 13 & 14 February in Galway City

FOIREANN AISTEOIRÍ

Freddie
Playing Age: 35 – 50
Middle-aged woman, lesbian, stage manager
This character kisses two other women in the film – the actor will need to be comfortable with this

Peadar
Playing Age: 40 – 60
Middle-aged man, Áine’s brother

Mairéad
Playing Age: 30 – 60
Woman, artistic director of the theatre

 

Ag Lorg Aisteoirí le Gaeilge le haghaidh Gearrscannáin i gCathair na Gaillimhe

Is athinsint ar Persuasion le Jane Austen é Áitiú agus Ionracas.  Chaith Áine a saol mar duine fásta go dtí seo ag tabhairt aire lena máthair easlán, a fuair bás le déanaí.  Anois tá deis ag Áine dul i gceann an tsaoil faoi dheireadh.  Nuair a bhí sí óg, bhí sí i ngrá le cailín, ach scar sí uirthi mar bhí deis ag an gcailín saol nua a thosú sna SA.  Rinne Áine é sin ar chomhairle a dearthair, mar gheall ar fáthanna éagsula a rinne ciall ag an am.

Ag tús an scannán, tá Aíne chun post nua, mar cuntóir don stiúrthóir ealaíne amharclainne áitiúla, agus faigheann sí amach go bhfuil Freddie, an cailín i gceist, tar éis bogadh ar ais ó Meiriceá.  Ar a céad lá sa phost nua, casann sí le fostaí nua eile – bainisteoir stáitse a bhog ar ais ó na SA le déanaí …

Scannán mic léinn atá ann, le haghaidh an MA (Cleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin) in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.  Is dócha go gcuirfear an scannán isteach i bhféilte scannán freisin.  Is é Seán Breathnach, stiúrthóir an scannáin Foscadh, meantóir stiúrthóir an scannán seo.  Ar an drochuair níl aon pá i gceist, ach gheobhaidh tú cóip an scannáin críochnaithe le haghaidh do seóspól.  Beidh an scannánaíocht ar siúl i láithreacha éagsula i gCathair na Gaillimhe, an Taibhdhearc (an amharclann naisiúnta Gaeilge) san áireamh.

Tá spéis mór i scannáin Gaeilge faoi láthair, in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus seo deis bheith páirteach leis an ghluaiseacht seo.  Ní gá duit bheith líofa 100% – beidh an criú ag obair trí Bhéarla – ach caithfidh tú bheith in ann do línte a labhairt go flúirseach, agus línte na daoine eile agus scéal an scannán a thuiscint chomh maith.

Má mhaith leat triail a dhéanamh le haghaidh ról éigin, seol rphost chuig an stiúrthóir, Mary Tynan, ar mttynan@hotmail.com le do CV agus grianghraf (beag – má tá ceann ar do CV sin ceart go leor) agus nasc do sheóspól má tá ceann agat.

DÁTÁI

12, 13 & 14 Feabhra 2023 i gCathair na Gaillimhe

FOIREANN AISTEOIRÍ

Freddie
Aois aisteoireachta: 35 – 50
Bean meánaosta, leispiach, bainisteoir stáitse
Pógann an carachtair seo beirt bhan eile sa scannán – caithfidh an aisteoir bheith compordach leis sin

Peadar
Aois aisteoireachta: 40 – 60
Fear meánaosta, deartháir Áine

Mairéad
Aois aisteoireachta: 30 – 60
Bean, stiúrthóir ealaíne na hamharclainne

 

It’s Clearly Christmas by Loyola

Loyola describe themselves as the first music band to come out of Galway Ireland!  While that is clearly a joke, their brilliant first single is clearly not.  Launched just in time for Christmas, It’s Clearly Christmas takes a critical look at the excesses of the season.  A strong melody, clever lyrics and haunting chords make this debut our Christmas Number 1.

You  can follow Loyola on Instagram at @loyolatheband, purchase the single at bandcamp, itunes or apple music, or listen to them on Spotify, Tidal, or your favourite music streaming app.

 

 

Happy Ever After? by Mary Tynan

In a follow-on to I Need a Vaccine, Mary gives us a new take on an old classic (Bobby’s Girl), especially for New Year’s Eve.  What happens when you get what you think you want? She says:

“I actually wrote this parody before Vaccine – on Valentine’s Day 2021 (I was hosting an alternative online party for single people that night) – so it is my first ever song parody, but I didn’t get around to making a video until now.  I promised myself that I would get it done in 2021 though, so here it is.”

TW: this song contains swearing and feminism.  If you have ever used the words “Not all men” in a non-ironic way, then please don’t watch.

 

Kick or Treat, by James Keaney

It’s doubtful that any other person, apart from the artistic director, has contributed to Notes From Xanadu in as many different ways as James Keaney.  He has been both front of house and backstage for all of our live performances in the theatre, as well as playing the piano in our launch concert and taking the part of Colm in Riders to the Sea last December; he did work experience on all aspects of the arts centre during TY (transition year in secondary school, for readers outside Ireland); and has shared his work as a prolific composer/musician with us on many occasions.  And it’s in this last guise that we are featuring him today: James has released a new single especially for Hallowe’en, and we think it’s delightfully spooky.  This is Kick or Treat! 

If you would like what you hear, you can follow James on Youtube and Soundcloud (and on Notes From Xanadu, of course).  James’ albums can also be purchased at Bandcamp.

Canadh agus Caint – Part Three

There will be a third session of Canadh agus Caint returns for a second session on Wednesday, 25 August, at 7.30 pm.  We will start off by learning a simple song in Irish, and then see where the conversation takes us.  Irish speakers of all levels are welcome, from complete beginners (we recommend Duolingo) to fluent Gaeilgeoirí.  As usual, you need to register for this in advance by emailing notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com, and materials will be sent out in advance

This month, Canadh agus Caint will be hosted by our artistic director Mary Tynan, and we will be learning Bean Pháidín.  See you there!

Beidh an triú seisiún Canadh agus Caint ar siúil ar an gCéadaoin, 25 Lúnasa, ag 7.30 pm.  Beidh muid ag foghlaim amhrán simplí as Gaeilge, agus ansin, tar éis an canadh, an caint.  Beidh fáilte roimh daoine le gach leibhéal Gaeilge.  Mar ghnáth, ní mór duit clarú le haghaidh an imeacht – seol ríomhphoist chuig notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com – agus seolfaidh muid nasc agus focail an amhráin duit roimh an oíche.

Beidh Canadh agus Caint óstailte le ár stiúrthóir ealaíne, Mary Tynan, agus beidh muid ag foghlaim Bean Pháidín. Bígí linn!

Chronic, by Mary Tynan

I’m the person you don’t see –
The person with ME,
The person who’s hidden
Away in her room;
Often in bed,
Stuck in her head,
Maybe reading a book,
Or listening to a tune,
Making friends on Facebook or Twitter

We’ve been forgotten
For many a year,
But come a pandemic,
And we appear;
Now we can watch a play,
Go to a class,
See our friends on a video call –
Suddenly, we’re part of it all,
Included at last

But what happens to us
When usual returns?
Do we also return –
To our rooms, our cocoons?
Will we be forgotten again
When you’re making new plans –
When things return to normal?

Mary Tynan

Xanadu Reading Challenge – June 2021

One of the lovely things about being an online arts centre is that Notes can Xanadu can feature writing and literature alongside other art forms.  With this in mind, we have created a reading challenge for 2021.  Each month there will be a theme, with several sub-categories, and the challenge is to read one or more books each month to fit the topic.  Feel free to add sub-categories, the only rule is that one book each month should be a new read.  The entire challenge can be downloaded in pdf format here.  We also have an Excel spreadsheet, thanks to Karin Hammarstrom, one of our participants, which you can also download, and use to track your progress.

Every month, we’ll introduce the theme and sub-categories in a post like this, and also give some reading suggestions.  The sub-categories are only a guide, feel free to adapt and expand as you like.  Please leave a comment and tell us what you are reading, and whether you are enjoying it, or any other information that you would like to share with your fellow readers.

For , the theme is Language.

Sub-categories:

• a book in a language with which you are familiar, but don’t read in very often, if at all.
• (if you are monolingual) a beginner’s “Teach Yourself” book in a language you are interested in.
• a coding manual in a programming language you don’t know, or in which you have more to learn
• a book about the history of language or linguistic

Reading suggestions:

. Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exúpery
. Harry Potter in any language
. Teach Yourself .. in 24 hours

I’m reading:

Teach Yourself Javascript in 24 hours

Come back next month for our July suggestions, and don’t forget to leave a comment below to tell us how you got on in May or June!  Happy reading!

 

Stitch ‘n’ Bitch at Xanadu – June 2021

Our next Stitch ‘n’ Bitch takes place on Thursday, 17 June, at 6.30 pm BST, in one of the rooms of Xanadu Online Theatre.  For those who haven’t heard the term before, a Stitch ‘n’ Bitch is when people get together to work on their various projects while having a natter and a bit of craic at the same time.

The Xanadu Stitch ‘n’ Bitch is hosted by Aoife Flood, a highly experience knitter, who will be on-hand to answer any questions and offer help; beginners are welcome.  You don’t have to be knitting though: you can crochet, embroider, sew, or do any other craftwork you may have underway.

The event is co-hosted by Notes From Xanadu Artistic Director Mary Tynan.  If you wish to attend, please register by emailing notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com.  See you there!

About our host: Aoife Flood’s knitting journey began on a trip to New Zealand in 2007, when she came across a book of designer knitting patterns while browsing in a shop. She decided that, if she wanted to have these designer clothes, the best way was to knit them herself. So that was it; she got the bug and has been hooked ever since. Aoife will sharing some of her wonderful work with us in a gallery exhibition in the coming weeks.  She is wearing one of her own pieces in the photo.

Canadh agus Caint – Part Two

After a successful launch in April, Canadh agus Caint returns for a second session on Thursday, 10 June, at 7.30 pm.  We will start off by learning a simple song in Irish, and then see where the conversation takes us.  Irish speakers of all levels are welcome, from complete beginners (we recommend Duolingo) to fluent Gaeilgeoirí.  As usual, you need to register for this in advance by emailing notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com, and materials will be sent out in advance

This month, Canadh agus Caint will be hosted by Suzanne Ledwith and Julia Kennedy, with assistance from our artistic director Mary Tynan.  See you there!

Beidh an dara seisiún Canadh agus Caint ar siúil Deardaoin, 10 Meitheamh, ag 7.30 pm.  Beidh muid ag foghlaim amhrán simplí as Gaeilge, agus ansin, tar éis an canadh, an caint.  Beidh fáilte roimh daoine le gach leibhéal Gaeilge.  Mar ghnáth, ní mór duit clarú le haghaidh an imeacht – seol ríomhphoist chuig notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com – agus seolfaidh muid nasc agus focail an amhráin duit roimh an oíche.

Beidh Canadh agus Caint óstailte le Suzanne Ledwith, Julia Kennedy, agus Mary Tynan. Bígí linn!

Suzanne Ledwith and BoyManDead Double Bill

On Saturday 29 May, at 7.30 BST, we are delighted to be hosting a double bill live concert in the theatre, in front of a small, select audience.  The two musicians concerned both performed at the launch concert for Xanadu Online theatre back in September 2020.  The gig will be recorded and streamed to a larger audience at a later date.  In the meantime, both artists have given us a taster to be getting on with!

Suzanne LedwithSuzanne Ledwith is a multimedia artist from Mullingar. Something stirred once Suzanne heard and saw a guitarist playing.  After a few weeks of friends showing her chords and mastering the F major chord quickly, she knew she had to have a guitar.  Enter a KC 110, parlour style, nylon string acoustic with a heavy bass end.  Fingerstyle songs, her favourites.

She was asked to join a band and went from bedroom to pub corner to stage, to festivals and then competitions. Her first band was with Patricia Raleigh on lead and rhythm guitar and Suzanne on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.  Later joined by Monica Raleigh on bass guitar and Paul Muldoon on drums, they were known as Dreams of Id.

“Suzanne Ledwith has the voice of an angel.” – Hotpress magazine

Suzanne went solo after the band broke up, then to college to do a BA in Music and Philosophy in NUI Maynooth.  She returned to Mullingar and began to work as a teacher in the Further Education Sector, where she still works.  She completed a Higher Diploma in Further Education in NUI Maynooth and finally a Masters in Community Music in Limerick University, which influenced her musical style, prompting her to explore more folk and world music.

During the Higher Diploma, she began playing with Steve O’Keeffe (The Pale) on drums and percussion and later Bernard Byrne (The Pale) on bass guitar and Roger Mullarkey on wooden flute.   Darren Flynn mixed a 7 track EP (Darren studio recorded 4 tracks, and Frank Byrne live recorded 3), called Change of Address.  This was released in 2006 with gigs in Crawdaddy, Dublin and The Stables, Mullingar.

Suzanne played live with Dónal Lunny and Máirtín O’Connor at the Festival of Fires, at the Hill of Uisneach in Co Westmeath in 2012, and for the past few years’ she has been working on an album project with Dónal when time allows.

“Suzanne Ledwith’s songs are unique.  They carry the emotional charge that music and lyrics can deliver when they are expressed by a true artist.” – Dónal Lunny

Three of the songs from this ongoing project have just been released as an EP.  Where lines Meet was recorded by Suzanne, mixed and pre-mastered by Dónal Lunny and mastered by Ivan O’Shea (live Sound Engineer with Danú).  Here’s a taster of both the EP (which you can buy here) and the concert: Leaving Ireland.

 

BoyManDeadBoyManDead is the musical alias of Chris Levens. Mainly because he was bored of just saying his own name when he did gigs or promoted his stuff. It kind of backfired as he still has to say it so you actually know who he is and he can take credit.  Chris hails from the United Kingdom, more specifically the unassuming county of West Sussex.

Having picked up a guitar a little later in life, he finds himself in his early-to-mid-thirties at a level some have called “relatively proficient” and by which his mum is extremely impressed.  He’s played in a few different bands over the years, in amongst performing on his own. Influences include Kurt Vile, Bon Iver, Jeff Buckley, Neil Young and The Eagles to name but a few. The resulting effect is always soulful, lyrically intricate and hopefully with a catchy tune woven in there somewhere.

In addition to the music, Chris is also a professional actor and has appeared in shows in London’s West End as well as many regional playhouses throughout the UK.  More recently, he play the part of Ivan Vassilevitch in Xanadu Online Theatre’s production of Anton Chekov’s The Proposal in December 2020.

He’s currently based in California’s Bay Area where he lives with his wife Ariel. Here’s a sample of what’s in store for his audience on 29 May: California Winter.

Stitch ‘n’ Bitch at Xanadu – May 2021

Our next Stitch ‘n’ Bitch takes place on Thursday, 20 May, at 6.30 pm BST, in one of the rooms of Xanadu Online Theatre.  For those who haven’t heard the term before, a Stitch ‘n’ Bitch is when people get together to work on their various projects while having a natter and a bit of craic at the same time.

The Xanadu Stitch ‘n’ Bitch is hosted by Aoife Flood, a highly experience knitter, who will be on-hand to answer any questions and offer help; beginners are welcome.  You don’t have to be knitting though: you can crochet, embroider, sew, or do any other craftwork you may have underway.

The event is co-hosted by Notes From Xanadu Artistic Director Mary Tynan.  If you wish to attend, please register by emailing notesfromxanadu@hotmail.com.  See you there!

About our host: Aoife Flood’s knitting journey began on a trip to New Zealand in 2007, when she came across a book of designer knitting patterns while browsing in a shop. She decided that, if she wanted to have these designer clothes, the best way was to knit them herself. So that was it; she got the bug and has been hooked ever since. Aoife will sharing some of her wonderful work with us in a gallery exhibition in the coming weeks.  She is wearing one of her own pieces in the photo.

Xanadu Reading Challenge – May 2021

One of the lovely things about being an online arts centre is that Notes can Xanadu can feature writing and literature alongside other art forms.  With this in mind, we have created a reading challenge for 2021.  Each month there will be a theme, with several sub-categories, and the challenge is to read one or more books each month to fit the topic.  Feel free to add sub-categories, the only rule is that one book each month should be a new read.  The entire challenge can be downloaded in pdf format here.  We also have an Excel spreadsheet, thanks to Karin Hammarstrom, one of our participants, which you can also download, and use to track your progress.

Every month, we’ll introduce the theme and sub-categories in a post like this, and also give some reading suggestions.  Please leave a comment and tell us what you are reading, and whether you are enjoying it, or any other information that you would like to share with your fellow readers.

For May, the theme is Music.

Sub-categories:

. a biography or autobiography of a musician or composer
. a novel where music is one of the main themes
. a book that teaches you how to play an instrument

Reading suggestions:

. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
. Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday
. John W Schaum Adult Piano Course Book 1

I’m reading:

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

Come back next month for our June suggestions, and don’t forget to leave a comment below to tell us how you got on in April or May!  Happy reading!

 

Are You Goin’ to the Ploughin’, by Breda Hyland

And I’m still not ready,
when the day arrives,
and the alarm kicks me
out of bed.
I jump into faded denim jeans,
and second best runners,
and throw on a jacket
just in case.
“Sure it could come wet at the ploughin’.”

The neighbours have already left.
I fill the flask and grab the lunchbox
and the dark blue wellingtons,
I bought at the sale in Paul Byron’s
The day before.
Before I know it,
The early morning sun
Is flooding my eyes,
And Screggan is waking up
To the arrival of locals and strangers
And families and foreigners,
queuing to get through the barriers
“to make the most of the day at the ploughin’.”

The men in boots and wellingtons
And arthritic legs and walking sticks,
stand in admiration of the pedigree cattle,
and new breeds of sheep
never seen before.
No wool, no tails, no horns
with name they can’t pronounce
from countries never seen,
“By Jove you’d see strange things at the ploughin’.”

They saunter in groups,
And fill their pockets with brochures
And special offers,
For the day that’s in it,
And half listen to reps,
promoting minerals and vitamins
for guaranteed growth.
and it makes them hungry too
“and you can’t beat a good breakfasht at the ploughin’.”

The stands are surrounded
By girls and women and ladies
Sampling eye shadow and mascara
And buy one, get one free.
And the coat in the wooden hanger
“one size fits all” half price offer
And I wait in the queue
And it hasn’t fitted anyone yet
And it doesn’t fit me either.
And the assistant picks up her business card
“I have more online if you like to browse”
“Sound, I’ll check it out after the ploughing.”

There’s a bright yellow solus bag
Going free at the electric stand.
Well you wouldn’t be seen dead
Wearing it at home
But now it becomes the latest fashion accessory
You fill it with biros and keyrings,
And leaflets and brochures
And you enter competitions to faraway places
Never heard of before,
But you will hear of again
Because they now have your mobile and email
“Isn’t that the whole idea of taking a stand at the ploughin’.”

At midday I saunter over to Aldi
And get a selfie with Daithí
And taste the free food
And meet the neighbour that
I never meet at home
And the conversation moves
Through three generations
In thirty minutes
“and you could bump into anyone at the ploughin’.”

The men with the boots and wellingtons
Are now trying out the new machinery
And look at the size of that John Deere
And how in God’s name
Would it fit through the gap at home
If you could afford it
And the trailer to go with it
If you had enough grass to fill it.
And the sales rep says convincingly
“there’s a few thousand off today for the ploughin’.”
Evening sun sets in Screggan,
And the crowds dwindle
To get out before the rush.
I’m still browsing and I spot
The brown and cream scarf
That I have always wanted
Three for a tenner sounds good.
I wave to the camera on the way out
And hope I’ll be home in time to see myself
On television.
Walking across the car park,
Two farmers lament and moan
How everyone is carried away at the stands
“and sure no one goes to see the ploughing at all.”

Breda Hyland

Snug Sings “When I’m 64,” by Aurora Adams

We’re only 1 year old, not 64, but nevertheless we hope you enjoy our second piece of the weekend by highly-talented puppeteer Aurora Adams.

Sally, by Jackson Lara

As part of Day 3 of our birthday celebration, we give you Episode Three of The Prison Podcasts. This is the story of a unique and interesting correctional officer – Sally.

(Please note: this piece might not be suitable for younger listeners.)

Jackson Lara spent nine years working in men’s medium to high security prisons in New Mexico.  He first started as a correctional officer, then used his teaching credential to teach GED material to men preparing for the GED test.