Statue of Ledwidge will be unveiled
SLANE CASTLE SEMINAR ON LOCAL POET AND SOLDIER ON OCTOBER 14
A major seminar centred on the life of Slane poet Francis Ledwidge - Francis Ledwidge: Poetry and the First World War 1917-2017 - is to be held at Slane Castle on Saturday 14th October next and intending patrons are advised to book tickets for the event, which is limited to an attendance of 100 people.
The seminar will be opened by Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry O’Connor and Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee Chairperson Rosemary Yore and will include contributions from Professor Gerald Dawe, Trinity College, Dublin who will chair the first session, Lucy Collins (Ledwidge Country), Jim Haughey (“The Helpless Child of Circumstance”, Ledwidge’s poems about enlistment), Terry Phillips (The experience of war), Nerys Williams (Poet(c) of the Black Chair: reading Hedd Wyn and Francis Ledwidge).
Philip Orr will chair a session entitled “Francis Ledwidge’s War” and will include contributions from Myles Dungan (Ledwidge the Warrior), and Frank Ledwidge (The attack on Kidney Hill, 15th August 1915). A reading of Ledwidge’s poems will be chaired by Peter Fallon and will include contributions from Gerald Dawe, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Philip Orr and Gerard Smyth.
Myles Dungan will chair an open forum discussion, with contributions from Frank Breaton, Tom French and Frank Ledwidge.
Following the seminar, a new book “A Bittern Cry”, punlished by Meath County Council, Poetry Ireland (Eigse Eireann) and the Francis Ledwidge Museum, will be launched at the castle. It includes contributions by Richard Ball, Eavan Boland, Gerald Dawe, Padraic Colum, Sean Dunne, Lord Dunsany, Peter Fallon, Tom French, Con Houlihan, Michael Longley, John McAuliffe, Thomas McDonagh, Cahal Bui Mac Giolla Gunna, Gerard Smyth, Jessica Traynor, Brian Turner, Katherine Tynan, David Wheatley, and Gareth Yore. Violinist Julieanne Forrest will perform at the launch. A statue of Ledwidge, provided by Meath County Council and executed by artist Liam O Broin will be unveiled following the seminar and book launch at Slane Castle.
Tickets for the seminar may be booked at https://solsticeartcentre.ticketsolve. com/shows/873579280 or info@francisledwidge.com.