Catching my breath after a first year of being involved in producing Skylight 47, I am very impressed – and not a little sorry - to see on his blog michaelfarry.blogspot.com/ that Michael Farry has retired from being Editor of Boyne Berries, having produced 15 Issues. He is succeeded by Orla Fay, also of the Boyne Writers Group. Congratulations Michael.
‘At the AGM the chair person, Paddy Smith, offered a challenge to the group (BWG) worth keeping in mind, ‘Where are the poems about potholes on our roads or about what it’s like to be a member of the first human settlement on Mars or about the slow pace of funding for the arts in this country? (That latter issue, I’m convinced, is at the core of the recent controversy over Limerick City of Culture.)’ I couldn’t agree more. ‘Where is the material that deals with the taking over of the world by accountants? Or where’s the stuff that’s a lively commentary on RTE television programmes? Or that’s against Women Bishops! Depression and melancholy are not enough in our writing; we must be contrary too!’
Boyne Berries has been one of the first ports of call for new writers for all this time. I really appreciated having a poem published, getting to Trim to enjoy the launch of that issue and meeting other contributors and members of the Boyne Writer’s Group, of which Michael Farry is Secretary. The Boyne Berries Writers Group has an annual satire competition too, I see on the website Michael maintains. Kevin Higgins and all those in his Galway workshops who had a recent term or two on taking a satirical perspective, take note!
I met Michael at the workshop Alan Jude Moore held for authors selected for the Poetry Ireland
Introductions Series in 2011. He has been a generous supporter of our venture with Skylight 47, contributing poems and coming to readings and offering us a copy of his book, Asking for Directions (Doghouse, 2012) for Review. It was reviewed by Nicola Griffin who writes, ‘…this is a collection of precise language, never excitable but drenched in images that allow you to see the places and people of these stories, often quirky and sharp.’ She goes on to mention the humour in particular poems.
I wish you everything best in your retirement from being editor, Michael. I hope it means you’ll be able to visit our Galway events soon again. You are a historian as well as a poet. Can we expect a history of Boyne Berries? I’m now expecting a new book, or two – history and poetry, shortly. Hope so.
Thanks Susan for your kind comments and good wishes. I'll actually be reading at Over the Edge in Galway at the end of this month and possibly at the Crannog launch around the same time.
ReplyDeleteI should point out that those provocative comments you quoted were made by our Chairperson, Paddy Smith, in his address.
I'm really sorry for misunderstanding that, Michael. I thought I was being suitably controversial in response! Apologies to Paddy Smith, too, I look forward to your Over the Edge Reading. We can maybe expect a poem from you in the next issue of Crannog then.
DeleteCorrected Post back in place.
ReplyDelete