Our Chair, Tony Brady, starts the New Year with thoughts about the year past and the one to come:
While welcoming 2015 and aware of its challenges, let’s recall Fermanagh Writers 2014 achievements. Prizewinning poets: John D. Kelly, Mary McElroy, Seamus Carollan. Published authors: Dermot Maguire, Dianne Trimble and Cait Valelly. Angela McCabe published a Collection of her poems: Honeymoon in Coalisland (Alba, London). Remembering too the joyful/serious Rudyard Kipling festival event directed by Teresa Kane with FWs readers in Ballinamallard, its river and bankside. Our contribution to the ancient cultural ritual held in Lisnaskea’s Upper Lough Erne Festival. Marie Tracey via Cavan Writers again promoted cross-border evening in Blessings Poetry Slam. Our readings in the Ardowen Theatre and Bridge Enniskillen Centre, all coordinated by John Monaghan and Bob Baird. The curragh boat building with Tammy Swift and rowing on Lough Erne by some of our members. Including here the on-the-water kayaking organised by Tony Viney accompanied by his unsinkable canine Barney.
2015 will see Fermanagh Writers continuing to participate in local cultural activities and renewed further enterprise funded by Northern Ireland Arts Council. A third Anthology is taking on a distinct shape. The Management Committee will consolidate the suggestions towards formulating and applying a standardised critiquing protocol for its Tuesday readings sessions of poetry and prose. Our established values: appreciative critical integrity, acceptance of difference, respect for broad based opinion, will sustain and carry Fermanagh Writers through to this time next year. Ably serviced by our ever patient and indefatigueable Secretary.
“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. “ T.S.Eliot.
A Happy New Year to all our Fermanagh Writers.
