Kate O’Shea

Introducing Fermanagh’s Women Aloud 1

March 1, 2016 fcwg Uncategorized Diane Jardel, Jenny Brien, Kate O'Shea, Women Aloud Fermanagh, Women Aloud NI, women poets, women writers

During the coming week we’d like to introduce you to the women who are part of Women Aloud Fermanagh on 8th March in Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen. Today we’ll meet Kate O’Shea, Jenny Brien and Diane Jardel.

Kate O’Shea: She writes a wide range of poetry, for both page and stage, from snap shots and observations right through to strong conversation starters on issues such as mental health, illness and general life challenges.

Jenny Brien: She is a woman of transgender experience.

Her poems and short stories look for unexpected grace in strange and neglected places. Sometimes they find it.

Diane Jardel: She is a published poet finding inspiration in the nature world around her in Enniskillen. She been working as a poet/facilitator visiting rural schools during the past four years.

A Poetry Recital To Launch FSNI Poetry Contest

August 10, 2015 fcwg Uncategorized Fermanagh writers, Funeral Services NI poetry contest, Kate O'Shea

Fermanagh Writers can be justly pleased and satisfied with the poetry recital they hosted on 28^th July, their part in the rollout of the Funeral Services Northern Ireland Poetry competition, organised and presented in the Collage Collective premises, Enniskillen before an appreciative audience. Every seat was filled and several audience members stood at the back of the room. We were pleased to welcome representatives of FSNI and appreciate the work they did to promote and organise the event.

John Monaghan, Fermanagh Writers’ Vice Chair, coordinated an eclectic fare of poetry readings, comprising the themes of humour, love, joy, angst and human connection. Given that the theme of the 2015 competition is Light, aspects of the phenomenon in nature and human experience, contrasted with Darkness, were explored and presented in a variety of ways, conveying insights that our poets expressed from their range of personal experience. The final competition judging and Award ceremony will take place at the Stormont Northern Assembly building in late September 2015.

Following the readings, the audience joined the participants in taking refreshment provided by the promoters. Their unobtrusive professional photographer recorded the evening’s proceedings, from the introductory welcome by FWs Chair, Tony Brady, to the concluding group photograph gathering together all concerned in staging the event.

Thank you to poets: John Monaghan, John L. James, Kitty O’Shea, Bob Baird, Jenny Brien, Ruth Leonard-Cramond, Pauric Dolan (including his music accompaniment), Dermot Maguire and Natasha Martin.

Thank you also to Helen Daniel, Dianne Trimble, Thomas McGovern and Anna James (a previous winner of this Competition), for attending in support of their fellow Fermanagh Writers.