I had been invited to the launch of Boyne Berries 17 magazine, in Trim, Co. Meath.  The date was Thursday, 16^th March 2015.   Last summer, and to my amazement, my story “Play it Again Sam” had been selected to be included in the Spring edition of the magazine.   I had been asked to read my story at the launch.

When I first got the e-mail to tell me that my story had been chosen, I thought I was seeing things.  I could not believe it.  But I was thrilled also.   When the time of the launch drew near, my son Dylan said he would drive me down toTrim, and my daughter Natalia said she would come too.  They both had a long day at work.  Dylan and myself left Bray, and drove over to Ballinteer to pick up Natalia, who drove the rest of the way in her car.  It was busy on the motorway.  People were heading home so the traffic was slow in parts.  On the outskirts of Trim, one of the roundabouts had a monk ringing a bell in the middle of it (a stone replica of course).    There were a few ruins of castles on the outskirts.  It looked a pretty town.  We eventually found the Castle Arch Hotel, with an hour to spare.  Natalia and Dylan were starving, so we had time to relax and have a meal in the hotel.

The launch was due to start at 8 pm.  We walked up the stairs, arrows directing us to the function room where people were already taking their seats.  The proceedings were introduced by the young lady whom I had been in touch with by e-mail, Orla Fay, the Editor of Boyne Berries magazine, 16 and 17.  (It is in book form more than a magazine).  There was no microphone, so you had to project your voice as best you could.  I’m not sure how many people were there, but the seats were three-quarters full.  Above us were the most beautiful chandeliers, befitting the rest of the room.  It was an old hotel, very elegant and efficient.

The entries consisted of poems, fiction and prose.  Each person was introduced by Orla, with a little biography, then they took the podium to read their piece.  Initially I was a little nervous but not as bad as I had been in the days before.  Eventually my turn came.  The fiction and prose were towards the end of the proceedings, after the poetry.  There were people from all around Ireland, some from America, Canada and New Zealand, Europe and the UK.  One lady originally from Dundalk but now living in Arizona introduced the proceedings.  Another lady from the USA sent an audio message as she could not attend.  The man who came from New Zealand (or was it Australia), said, jokingly, he wished he had thought of that, it would have saved him the journey to Ireland!  We were all invited to have tea and biscuits after.   It finished about 11.30 pm. Then we had to make tracks to drop Natalia home and get back to Bray and Greystones, where Dylan lives.

It was a privilege to be part of this launch.  I was amazed at the achievements of most of the writers and  delighted and grateful that my daughter and son made it possible to be there.