Monaghan Education Centre Book Launch Praise for young Monaghan poets
We are delighted to announce the latest publication from Monaghan Education Centre, which a second anthology of poems, which is entitled: “Following the Footsteps”. The book is available to buy at Easons, Monaghan and through the Education Centre in Monaghan.
A fantastic Presentation Evening was held to launch the book, in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan on 13th June, where all merit winners were invited to attend to receive their winners certificates and personal copies of the new book. Parents and teachers also attended this event and were delighted to hear a rendition of one of the published poems by Tommy McArdle, who was delighted to present the winners with their prizes on the evening. This is the second time that Tommy has been available to share our achievements, and we wish to publicly thank him for his time and support. Several pupils in attendance proudly recited their poems to the audience, which was a great addition to the evening.
Schools across counties Monaghan and Cavan contributed poems for the Publish A Poem project which ran from November 2010 to February 2011, and which was coordinated by Wendy Flood.
All poets and Teachers who participated in this project deserve recognition for their efforts in continuing to develop pupils’ sensitivities to issues which are important to us all, and for helping them to express these through poetry. Without them, this new book would not exist. In addition, the teachers who submitted poems to the project played a vital role in selecting poems for publication.
Thanks also for the advice and enthusiasm of Catherine Flanagan who provided a training session at Monaghan Education Centre for teachers who wished to explore new genres in poetry. Her presentation of ideas and approaches into poetry were unforgettable. As well as practical tips, she gave the teachers an exciting glimpse of how easily original thoughts could be channeled imaginatively into poetry, once we had stepped aside from the concept that poems should rhyme. The shoe was on the other foot, as teachers had to brainstorm ideas and create poems “on the spot”!
Thanks go as ever, to the staff at Monaghan Education Centre, for their support, thorough record keeping, helpful manner and technical brilliance! The role of Jimmy McGeough, Director of the Education Centre, in supporting this project was vital to its success, and his input has been much appreciated.
The Hillgrove provided a great service on the evening, and were able to pull an extra 160 seats “out of the hat” to cater for the huge crowd in attendance! Thanks also to Rory Geary for photographing the school groups on the evening.
Wendy Flood Co-ordinator of “Publish A Poem”. County Monaghan 2011