Colourful Trim solicitor to guest at Boyne Readings

The life and interesting times of local solicitor Michael Regan will be one of the main features of the resumed Boyne Readings and Open Mic sessions this week in Trim. Michael will be reading from his autobiography 'Ten In A Bed' as he joins Drogheda poet Marie MacSweeney to fill the two featured reading slots at the session on Thursday evening at 8pm in The Village Hall of the Knightsbridge Retirement Village, Longwood Road, Trim. "But will he confine himself to the book?" asked Paddy Smith, chairman of the Boyne Writers' Group, which organises the monthly readings. "Knowing Michael Regan, I'd say it's a safe bet that we'll be treated to many's a story that never actually made it into the book, for whatever reason." The sessions are held on the third Thursday of the month. In addition to the slots for the featured readers, plenty of time is set aside for anyone else who would like to read their own material. There is a surprisingly big demand for this sort of thing and Boyne Writers' Group members have travelled to faraway places to participate. Writers from other groups in the midlands and Dublin frequently attend this, the only regular Open Mic in County Meath, but the sessions are by no means confined to writers. "Visitors are particularly welcome, whether they are writers or not, and whether they wish to read or not," said Paddy. "We are having two very different authors as the featured readers this week and this contrast is guaranteed to bring a good crowd." Marie MacSweeney's second collection of poetry was published last week. This is a two-part collection and contains her translation into English of the famous poem of grief and love, 'Caoineadh Airt Úi Laoghaire' and her own collection, 'Flying During The Hours of Darkness', written around the theme of love and grief. Her collection of short stories, 'Our Ordinary World and Other Stories', was published in 2004. She won the prestigious RTE Francis MacManus Short Story Competition in 2001 and her first poetry collection, 'Mother Cecily's Music Room', was published in 2005. Michael Regan's autobiography has been the surprise big hit in Irish publishing circles in recent years. Now retired, he has been to the forefront of many of the major community, sports and arts developments of the latter half of the 20th century in Meath. His autobiography is the fascinating tale of his escapades over the years and of his many adventures in and out of court. His book has elicited high praise from people in all sectors of society and is still much in demand three years after its publication. The Boyne Readers and Open Mic sessions have been attracting 30-35 people to each of the three events held so far. Admission is €5, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. Enquiries to Paddy Smith on (086) 157 7526 or Michael Farry (086) 828 3314.