Boyne readings to feature two Meath writers

Two men from Trim and Athboy will be the featured readers at the monthly Boyne Readings and Open Mic in Trim tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Organised by the Boyne Writers' Group, Trim, the session will take place in the Village Hall of the Knightsbridge Retirement Village, Longwood Road, Trim, starting at 8pm. Visitors are very welcome. The two Meath featured writers are Brendan Carey Kinane, Athboy, and Michael Clemenger, Trim. The Open Mic section of the evening is aimed at writers who like to read their own material in public. "If you're not a writer, you're still very welcome to attend and listen," said Boyne Writers' chairman, Paddy Smith. "Some quiet, thought-provoking moments away from the pre-Christmas bustle wouldn't go amiss in the week before the festive season and we can promise some quality material from both our featured readers." Michael Clemenger has had his memoir, 'Holy Terrors', published within the last month by The O'Brien Press. This is an inspirational account of how he rose above years of sexual abuse to become a psychiatric nurse and a lecturer in biological sciences. "Michael's book is by no means a so-called 'miz-lit' type of story," said Mr Smith. "It has a determination and even a sense of humour running through it that is remarkable, and it's going to be a real treat hearing the author himself reading from this book." Brendan Carey Kinane, who is a member of the Boyne Writers' Group, was brought up in the north Co Dublin village of St Margaret's and now lives with his family in Athboy. During 2007, he was long-listed for the Fish International Poetry Prize and wrote the winning entry in the Boyle Arts Festival Poetry Competition. Last year, he was awarded second place in the Golden Pen Poetry Competition and was runner-up in the Padraic Fallon Memorial Poetry Competition. He was also successful in Comartas Fíliochta Éist 2008 and was shortlisted in the Attleborough Poetry Competition (UK). This year, Brendan had a poem highly commended in the Caomhnú Poetry Festival Competition, Cavan, and he was shortlisted in the Over the Edge Writer of the Year competition. The Boyne Readings and Open Mic sessions, which are held on the third Thursday of each month, have been attracting up to 35 people on an individual evening. Paddy Smith added: "Although we start at 8 o'clock, we always manage to finish by 10 o'clock when we have a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits, all included in the €5 admission." Enquiries to Paddy Smith on (086) 157 7526 or Michael Farry (086) 828 3314.