Scattered Scribblers poetry book launched
JOURNALIST and TV presenter Vincent Browne launched a poetry collection written by members of Charleville’s ‘Scattered Scribblers’ poetry circle at the Charleville Park Hotel last Thursday night.
The collection was arranged in aid of Focus Ireland, the charity that works for the relief of the homeless in the country.
Local poet Fiona Fitzpatrick, who was the chief organiser of the event, introduced the event and thanked the other members of the Scattered Scribblers, who are Donal O’Flynn, Sr. Bernadette Maria Knopek, Maura Kelly, David Gormley, who all contributed their work to the collection. They were introduced by the MC for the evening, Cllr Ian Doyle. Each read three of their own poems from the book to a very appreciative audience that attended the event.
Representing Focus Ireland was Dick White from the Cork branch of the charity, which, he said, has been in Cork since 2007. “We cater for homeless people who have nowhere else to go, and we still have a huge job of work to do in catering for those unfortunate enough to find themselves homeless,” he said.
He thanked the Charleville group for donating the proceeds of the evening to Focus Ireland and said that 89% of the money donated to them goes to their work for the homeless, which currently stands at 8,000 people aged from 80 years down to three years old.
Vincent Browne, in launching the poetry collection, said that he could not understand the extend of homelessness in Ireland, which is one of the richest countries in the world. He congratulated the Scattered Scribblers poetry on their initiative in organising the event for Focus Ireland. Right: