Carlow Writers Group

The Riverains

The Riverains is a selection of work by Carlow Writers’ Group. Contents the Wedding by Anne MacDarby, Youngsters by Brendan by Mason, Fear Og by Philomena Lyttleton, Child by Philomena Lyttleton, I Will Wrap Your Negative Around Me by Susan Lanigan, Quantum Outcomes by Susan Lanigan, Data by Susan Lanigan, The Parting by Margaret O’Rourke, The Honeymooners by Michael Neenan, The Flower You Gave by Valerie Roche, The Hourglass by Gregory Wall, Farmhouse Guests by Amy Monahan, The Perfectionist by Maire Ni Thoibin, Tranquillity by Betty Ryan-O’Gorman, The Joker by Martin Fennell, More Than I’d Hoped For by Bridgett O’Shea, Last Stop by Dermot McKenna, The Letter by Brendan Mason, Victim by Christine Walker, Trinity by Anne MacDarby, The Orchard by Moira Collins, Twice Bitten by Christine O’Hara, Bubbles by Robert Duffy, Poor Child by Karen McDonald, Regret by Karen McDonald, Yew by Colette Ni Aoidh, On Approaching One’s 60th Birthday by Maggie Brady, The Void by Doreena Jennings O’Connor, Judy Garland by John Scott, Moonligh Sonata by Lily Dempsey, Requiem by Christine Walker.

Carlow County Library

The Riverains
Carlow County Library

The Riverains

Carlow County Library

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The Carlow Writer's Group was founded in 1988 and for many years produced collections of short stories and poems in both English and Irish. The annual collection of contributions from fledgling writers was a mainstay of literature in the county in the late eighties and early nineties. Directed by Deirdre Brennan and Pádraig O Snodaigh the group met monthly in the Beams Restaurant and grew to over thirty members before the last publication in 1996. Many of the members achieved success in national publications and won places in national writing competitions.

Trimming the Velvet
Carlow County Library

Their publications in chronological order were as follows:

"The Spindle-tree" (1989).
"Winter Hosting" (1990)
"Na Clocha Nua" (1991)
"The Running Stream" (1992)
"Under The Beams" (1993)
"The Riverains" (1994)
"Trimming The Velvet" (1996)

More recently a vibrant amateur writing scene has been active in Carlow under the tutelage of established director and novelist Sean Hardie.

The Spindle-tree

The Spindle-tree is a selection of work by Carlow Writers’ Group. Contents the Right Type of Friends by Margaret O’Rourke, Jack in the Box by Robert Duffy, The Handyman by Dermot McKenna, Childhood by Deirdre Brennan, Egypt’s Child-King by Marie McGrath, Song by Larry O’Reilly, The Face that Speaks by Lily Dempsey, Peter’s Funeral Phil Littleton, Lenten Mass by Olivia Doyle, Pot-pourri of childhood by Betty Ryan O’Gorman, Embryotic Blossoms by Maria O’Rourke, In my dreams by Valerie O’Rourke, Edel by Maire Nic Aoidh, Finscealaiocht by Deirdre Brennan, Paris by Padraig o Snodaigh, Mo Rockstar by Clodagh Ni Bhranain, Siulaim tri sheomra by Rita Kelly, Tiuilip by Phil Lyttleton, Sliocht as saothar fada by Antaine o Broin, The birth by Marian Dalton, Meat by Martin Fennell.

Carlow County Library

The Spindle-tree - Carlow County Library

Winter Hosting

Winter Hosting is a selection of work by Carlow Writers’ Group. Contents The Workshop by Anne O’Hara, Introduction to Memoirs by Dora Murphy, Why is He Here? By Frank Magee, A Call at Easter by Dermot McKenna, Coverture by Deirdre Brennan, Cuairt ar Ghallipoli by Deirdre Brennan, The Hostage’s Treasure by Betty Ryan O’Gorman, Three Mothers by Amy Monahan, Tincear Og ar a Rothar by Phil Lyttleton, Planted in Quicksand by Phil Lyttleton, My Girl by Christine Walker, A Oganaigh Chinn Oir by Clodagh Nic Bhranain, Bantiogar ar na Tileanna by Clodagh Nic Bhranain, Ravenfield by Marie Whitney, A Pensioner’s Battle with Time by Lily Dempsey, You are my Wings and I am your Sky by Valerie Roche, The Worms by Sheila Kelly, Shane by Jimmy Byrne, Crioslach Fomhair by Padraig o Snodaigh, The Homecoming by Margaret O’Rourke, The First Day by Martin Fennell, The Prostitute by Robert Duffy.

Carlow County Library

Winter Hosting - Carlow County Library

Na Clocha Nua

Na Clocha Nua translates as The New Stones is a selection of work from the Carlow Writers' Group. Contents Gumbeen by Lily Dempsey, Ireland vs. England by David Whelan, The Barrow Way by Anne O'Hara, Before the Bell by Phil Lyttleton, Love's Jesses Binding by Deirdre Brennan, Unlucky Ellie by Margaret O'Rourke, Changes by Christine Walker, Defendant, Aged Six by Dora Murphy, Apple by Martin Fennell, Behind the Shutters by Margaret O'Rourke, Whispering Sounds by Valerie Roche, Going Away by Sheila Kelly, A Change in the Timetable by Jill Conlon, Christmas by Martin Fennell, Two Birds by Martin Fennell, The Alexander Graham Bell Express Line by Marie Whitney, The Parish Social by Dermot McKenna, Greeting by Jill Conlon, Biddy's Bracks by Robert Duffy, Castletown by Amy Monahan, The Stream by Martin Fennell, Duilleoga Fomhair by Padraig o Snodaigh, Laethanta Saoire by Phil Lyttleton, An Taistealai by Deirdre Brennan, The Gipsy Lady by Sheila Kelly, The Miraculous Medal by Betty O'Gorman, The Day I met W.H. Auden by John Scott, Early Warning by Amy Monahan, The Crossroads Dance 1937 by Michael Neenan.

Carlow County Library

Na Clocha Nua - Carlow County Library

The Running Stream

The Running Stream is a selection of work by Carlow Writers’ Group. Contents Ageless by Sheila Kelly, Litir o Pharnell by Padraig o Snodaigh, Dogged by Success by Margaret O’Rourke, The Art Committee by Jill Conlon, Under the Dropping Ball by John Scott, Sios an Barrow Track by Phil Lyttleton, Snug-time by Lily Dempsey, Last Confession by Maire Ni Thoibin, Who’s Laughing? By Robert Duffy, Were It Not… by Valerie Roche, The casualty Ward by Michael Neenan, The Gardener by Deirdre Brennan, the Passing of Paddy Molloy by Dermot McKenna, Mar a Bheidh Go Deo by Deirdre Brennan, An Chluas Bhodhar by Deirdre Brennan, The Sophisticated Traveller by Maggie Brady, Fading Flowers by Martin Fennell, Death in Terms by Martin Fennell, The Tree by Margaret O’Rourke, Who’s for Cheesecake by Karen McDonald, Childhood Memories of the Barrow Track by Betty Ryan O’Gorman, Who Said? By Anne O’Hara, The Question by Jill Conlon, Death Remembered by Christine Walker, The First Environmentalist by Amy Monahan, View from a Graveyard by Phil Lyttleton.

Carlow County Library

The Running Stream - Carlow County Library

Under the Beams

Under the Beams is a selection of work by Carlow Writers’ Group. Contents What About the Turkey? by Brendan Mason, Dha Cheann o Akhmatove (i.m. Phadraig Ui Chleirigh) Padraig o Snodaigh a d’aistrigh, Behind the Scenes by Anne O’Hara, Amhran Gra Mhuinseo by Clodagh Nic Bhranain, Lamping by Betty Ryan-O’Gorman, Party Peace by Valerie Roche, The Sineater by Maire Ni Thoibin, Playboys by Amy Monahan, Fame by Robert Duffy, Treading the Minefield by Doreena Jennings O’Connor, The Horse Woman by Michael Neenan, A Home in Chicago by John Scott, Susie by Maggie Brady, Ainniri na Neachtlainne by Deirdre Brennan, Migrants by Deirdre Brennan, Ballinree Bog by Christine O’Hara, First Meeting by Karen McDonald, Pip by Margaret O’Rourke, Reminiscences of a Foreign Country by Martin Fennell, Going for the Pension by Dermot McKenna, Boarding School by Philomena Lyttleton, Sunburst by Marie Whitney, The Russian Boat by Dora Murphy, An Litir by Maire Aine Nic Ghearailt, Be Careful What You Wish For by Bridgett O’Shea, Salutation to Summer by Christine Walker, Reflections of the Past by Christine Walker, Sitting Stones by Lily Dempsey, Pog! By Colette Nic Aoidh, Hands Up, Who Remembers Audie Murphy by Margaret O’Rourke, Confrontation by Maire Aine Nic Ghearailt.

Carlow County Library

Under the Beams - Carlow County Library

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