Navan writers pool talent to fundraise

A Navan writers' group has brought all its talents together to produce a 2012 calendar to raise funds for a group catering for the homeless. Navan Writers' Group (Small Impact Writers' Group) will use the poetry and prose of its members, along with the photographs by John Doyle Photography, to highlight the issue over the next few months leading up to Christmas. The writers - Ann Ritter, Noel MacInerney, Sean Reilly, Christopher Azize, Jimmy Byrne, Michael Sheils, Jay Rill, Mossie Forde, Kieran Murray, Edel Gillick and Louisa Gillick (11) - wrote their pieces over a period of time resulting from their meetings at Navan Library every Wednesday night and got huge help from Cllr Joe Reilly in encouraging Navan Town Council to come on board with sponsorship for the printing of the calendar by Costello Print in Navan. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to Drogheda Homeless Aid. An official launch of the calendar will take place on Wednesday 5th October at 7.30pm in the Solstice Art Centre, Railway Street, Navan. The calendar will be officially launched by Meath GAA personality Sean Boylan. All are welcome and admission is free. Following the launch, the calendar will go on sale on Saturday 8th October at Navan Town Centre and SuperValu, Johnstown, priced at €5 each. Edel Gillick of the writers' group said that the calendar, through poetry, prose and photography, would give an insight into and highlight the many facets of homelessness in our times. "We are delighted to be able to give the proceeds from the sale of the calendar to Drogheda Homeless Aid. Meath does not have a hostel of its own for the homeless, but we know that the Drogheda hostel opens its doors to Meath people who may find themselves homeless for one reason or another," she said. Cllr Joe Reilly asked the people of Meath and Louth to support this creative and worthwhile project "which highlights the plight of the most vulnerable in our society in these difficult times. I know that Drogheda Homeless Aid gets great support from the town and county where it is based and I am sure that the people of Meath will open their generous hearts to this project. The Navan Writers' Group are to be praised for taking this very innovative step. The sale of the calendar will have twin results - it raises badly-needed funds for the hostel but also highlights the issue of homelessness", he said. Paul Murphy of Drogheda Homeless Aid thanked the writers' group and Cllr Reilly for their work in doing something practical for the homeless. "The aim of all those at Drogheda Homeless Aid's hostel at North Strand, Drogheda, is to restore dignity and hope by providing care, support and shelter for the homeless while encouraging self-development, independent living and, ultimately, resettlement."