WOWO Thursday 13 February 2025, 7-9pm GMT

Our programme this evening is dedicated to short stories and poems, with a memoir, a video and a travelogue thrown in for good measure! Again, we can look forward to being impressed and beguiled by the variety and skill of our talented contributors.

The Boy by James Conway brings the reader into a compelling, misty past, in which a young boy, on a fishing holiday with his father, experiences the first tentative stirrings of adolescence. The mysterious disappearance of a child leads to rumours, legends and misunderstandings in the local history, all remembered by him many decades later.

The Leaving of the House by Eileen Miller contrasts hospitality conventions in the US and at home. The departure of loved ones is also shown as the leaving of the house, transporting the reader into an aura of changing atmospheres in a sensitive and moving text.

The Sunday Visit by Mary Hodson is a delightful memoir of pleasant childhood visits to the farm of loved relatives. The story captures the resonance between the innocent child and the caring grandfather in an environment of nature, family and tradition.

The White Cliffs of Dover by Mary Hodson is a deeply moving family memoir that follows a pilgrimage to Belgium to visit the grave of a relative who died in the Battle of Ypres in 1917. As the family retrace his journey, the narrative captures the weight of loss, remembrance, and the importance of passing down these stories to future generations.

Meeting Mary by Veronica O’Neill is an exploration of an unexpected encounter. Beautifully written, with unexpected twists and turns, we see a bond form between two sensitive ladies who have experienced life and are still looking forward.

They by Póilín Brennan is an enigmatic poem which examines the unseen influences that shape our lives. The poem explores an omnipresent force, leaving the reader to interpret who or what ‘they’ represent, while imparting a sense of unease and reflection.

Threading Time by Deirdre Anne Gialamas is a meditation on the passage of time and its impact on the human experience. The piece weaves through memories, contrasting fleeting moments of joy with the weight of nostalgia.

Two Weeks in Japan by Joyce Butcher takes us on a whirlwind tour of a land both exotic and modern. Descriptions of the beauties of nature, the sobering history of Hiroshima, and quixotic public signs form a text full of interest, reflection and humour.

Vertical Ridges by Jutta Rosen contrasts the abundance and comfort of life today with the rigours of the Famine in the 1840s. The desperate and backbreaking efforts to provide food are visible to this day on the hillsides of Connemara, for those who know what to look for.

My Two Lambs by Deirdre Anne Gialamas is a deeply personal poem dedicated to two beloved figures. Displaying rich, dynamic language, the poem expresses love and a sense of spiritual connection, even as time and distance separate them.

Nora’s Decision by Mary Hawkshaw spins the tale of Mary’s reaction to an unexpected letter, which helps her to change her self-awareness. In a masterly unfolding of her emotions, the listener is guided to a powerful, unexpected finale. The sensitive story is embedded in moving and dramatic video images which were also created by the author.

Two Poems from John Hodson’s Poetry Book showcase the poet’s sharp wit and keen observation of life. Together they offer a compelling glimpse into a unique poetic voice that was waiting to be discovered.

With such a full programme, some items might be postoned for presentation next week. We wish all participants a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Programme

Short Story The Boy James Conway

Short Story The Leaving of the House Eileen Miller

Short Story/Video Nora’s Decision Mary Hawkshaw

Short Story The Sunday Visit Mary Hodson

Memoir The White Cliffs of Dover Mary Hodson

Short Story Meeting Mary Veronica O’Neill

Poem They Póilín Brennan

Short Story Threading Time Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Travelogue Two Weeks in Japan Joyce Butcher

Short Story Vertical Ridges Jutta Rosen

Poem My Two Lambs Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Poem Two poems from John Hodson’s Poetry Book John Hodson