ACTIVITY DETAILS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
| Activity | CREATIVE WRITING |
|---|---|
| Leader | Sharon Flynn |
| Admin | Marion McDowell |
| Contact E-mail | marion-14@mail.com |
| Contact Phone | 07714009460 |
| Meeting Day | 3rd Tuesday |
| Meeting Time | 12.15-1.45 pm |
| Venue | Holmes Memorial Hall-ante room, Charlotte St, Ballymoney |
| Activity Description | The group prepare a piece of writing on a pre-allocated theme. The members read their piece and this is followed by discussion with advice and suggestions from the leader. |
| Current Arrangements | The group currently meet via Zoom on 3rd Tuesday each month. Time 12noon to 1.45pm. To maximise the time on Zoom pieces are written in advance and circulated by members to the group using email 1 week prior to the meeting. This allows time to read before attendance so that Zoom time can be used for discussion. This works well and has in no way spoiled the enjoyment of the activity. |
Some Examples
OOR TONGUE by Marion Mc Dowell
Ye can whammel yer buckets an cowp the stanes,
Ye can feed panada tae the weans,
But always min the tak and rhymes
An keep oor words frae bygone times.
Ye can clart the moul an scale the dung,
Ye can milk yer key an fire yer lum,
But niver forget the wae we spoke,
Our tongue is guid for a oor folk.
Ye can hoak for spuds an ginnel for troot,
Ye can bake yer fadge or a sode farl,
Always in min o times we knowed
To take us forit wae iz alang life’s road.
A cup o tae, a piece an jam,
A bit o kitchen, maybe ham,
We knowed hard times sae lang ago,
Its nae lake noo sae much to show.
So tell the weans aboot aul times,
O peat fires and brochen an stane an lime.
Keep it in min for aul times sake
So into the moro we can tak.
Our tongue in pride and honour baul,
Our past to keep for aye an aul,
Sa think lang for the guid aul ways
Tae keep them in min for aye yer days.
Ye can feed panada tae the weans,
But always min the tak and rhymes
An keep oor words frae bygone times.
Ye can clart the moul an scale the dung,
Ye can milk yer key an fire yer lum,
But niver forget the wae we spoke,
Our tongue is guid for a oor folk.
Ye can hoak for spuds an ginnel for troot,
Ye can bake yer fadge or a sode farl,
Always in min o times we knowed
To take us forit wae iz alang life’s road.
A cup o tae, a piece an jam,
A bit o kitchen, maybe ham,
We knowed hard times sae lang ago,
Its nae lake noo sae much to show.
So tell the weans aboot aul times,
O peat fires and brochen an stane an lime.
Keep it in min for aul times sake
So into the moro we can tak.
Our tongue in pride and honour baul,
Our past to keep for aye an aul,
Sa think lang for the guid aul ways
Tae keep them in min for aye yer days.
THE GOOD ROOM by Brendan Gillan
Only used for special occasions,
The family gathers in the good room.
Songs and stories by the old piano,
Keys polished for the night but sadly out of tune,
Drinks sipped, smoke rising to the damp corners of the ceiling.
Glasses clinking, laughter and chattering voices.
All quiet for the singer.
'Jonny Mac Eldoo and Magee and Me',
Eyes closed and throat warbling Into the almost silence,
Uncle Tanic sang,
With his one foot tapping rhythm
And then the cheer, the claps and calls for the next performer.
Sandwiches and pastries were passed around
Plates of crumbs returned to the dark pantry.
Many gone now,
Uncles, aunts, cousins,
Just faces in photos of family albums.
An old song heard perchance on the radio,
flashes my memory
Back to the good room,
in the old farmhouse
at Enach Cross.
The family gathers in the good room.
Songs and stories by the old piano,
Keys polished for the night but sadly out of tune,
Drinks sipped, smoke rising to the damp corners of the ceiling.
Glasses clinking, laughter and chattering voices.
All quiet for the singer.
'Jonny Mac Eldoo and Magee and Me',
Eyes closed and throat warbling Into the almost silence,
Uncle Tanic sang,
With his one foot tapping rhythm
And then the cheer, the claps and calls for the next performer.
Sandwiches and pastries were passed around
Plates of crumbs returned to the dark pantry.
Many gone now,
Uncles, aunts, cousins,
Just faces in photos of family albums.
An old song heard perchance on the radio,
flashes my memory
Back to the good room,
in the old farmhouse
at Enach Cross.
