Hint of sadness at Kilbixy Poetry 10th anniversary event

The 10th anniversary of Kilbixy Poetry Night was tinged with sadness by the absence of one of the longest serving contributors, the late Matty Coffey from Monilea, Mullingar. Matty passed away on June 7 last in his 88th year.

This year’s event was an emotional rollercoaster from tear-jerkers to side splittingly funny poems. Most of the poems were by penned by the performers, compared to earlier years when the majority recited poems by their favourite bards.

First up was Mary Egan Campbell, who recited her poem ‘Tears’, first in Irish and then in English. It was a powerful poem about women and children dying of starvation to the sound of guns screeching and soldiers shouting, each one shaking in fear in the shadows, without hope, waiting for death.

The final contributor was Chele Crawley whose poem ‘Mammy, You’re a Whale’ described the onset of early menopause prompted by chemotherapy. It was delivered with force and had the audience in convulsions as she described mood swings, tropical moments and amnesia. Chele’s motto is ‘if life gives you lemons, make lemonade’.

Samantha McKenna read her poem about the fictitious ‘Lady of the Lake’, encompassing many aspects of local history including the Augustinian Abbey, the Malones of Baronstown (including a reference to the Shakespearean scholar Edmond Malone), and the Leper Hospital on the grounds of St Bigseach’s Church, where the poetry night is held.

One of the funniest contributions came from Pat Kenny, who described the Irish long goodbye and how hard it is to escape from the clutches of Irish hospitality. He compared it to ‘a man negotiating Brexit terms with his own wellingtons’. “You say goodbye in the kitchen, the hallway, the garden and out the gate,” he said, adding, “It’s emotional hostage taking with tea and ham sandwiches.”

Pat ‘Mo’ Heduan’s account of the widow Mary Anne joining the Milltown half set in the hope of meeting a new husband was also entertaining, while Tom McGahan, another local participant, recited ‘Llewelyn and his Dog’ and gave a funny footnote of how an American visitor once thought he was taking about Sue Ellen (from the once popular TV show Dallas) and contended that she had no dog.

Tom Reilly recited Tangmalangaloo, set in Australia, confessing that he first thought it must be connected to his area of Tang. Patsy Jordan, another regular contributor, recited her endearing poem ‘There’s no Rainbow without Rain’, and ‘Day by Day’, about the blessings of the changing seasons.

Father and son, Kevin O’Brien Senior and Junior, both contributed. Kevin Junior read a poem by Thelma Beere, who once lived where the O’Briens now live, in the Rectory close to Kilbixy. Kevin Senior recited poems by two local poets, Joe Murdock and Seamus Gavigan, and collected by Rita Nally as part of the Dúchas collection. Other contributions covered global warming, genocide, refugees, world peace, how to find joy and peace of mind, mourning and loss, and seduction. The contributors included Anthony Viney, Monica Martin, Derek Walsh, Patricia and Micheál Baynes, Marian Corbett, David O’Connor, Patricia Bruton, Brian McLoughlin, Jeanette Everson, Mary Frances Cox, Jacqui Wiley, Kevin Moore, Louise Ryan, Brendan Martin, Deirdre Bigley and Laurence Meehan.

At the outset Betty Murtagh, who runs the event along with Eleanor Murtagh, remembered Matty Coffey “who was with us from the start” and entertained audiences each year with his amazing recall of lengthy Robert Service favourites. Also remembered was the late Watson Mills, who founded the Kilbixy Poetry Night.

Eleanor Murtagh welcomed all the regular contributors and newcomers, in particular the newly appointed Rector of the Mullingar Union of Parishes, Rev Ian Horner, and wished him well in his ministry.

Margaret Claffey from the North Westmeath Hospice, to which the proceeds of the evening go each year, thanked the organisers and all who made donations, and assured them that all monies raised are spent locally.

She pointed out that there are only four hospice beds in Westmeath, two in St Camillus Nursing Home and two in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. Most service users are cared for in their own homes by the palliative care teams. Margaret confirmed that the new 20-bed midlands hospice in Tullamore is at the planning permission stage.