29th June, 2007 - In Association with the Strawberry Festival - "A Reading at the Fair"

The venue is:

1798 Centre,
Millpark Road,
Enniscorthy,
County Wexford.

MC is Niall Wall, and some readers and performers on the night:

Philip Casey
Mogue Doyle
Eamonn Wall
Maria Nolan
Carmel Doyle
Andy Doyle
Noreen Sheridan
Fintan Murphy

“This is a passionate, erotic, mature novel that displays many of the virtues which contemporary Irish fiction so conspicuously lacks: an intelligent vision of an adult relationship coupled with an intelligent vision of contemporary Irish society. Plus, he has a supple prose style which is a constant joy to read.”
- Ronan Sheehan, The Irish Press, on Philip Casey’s The Fabulists.

“The novel contains wonderful natural language, and it positively drips with imagery, I became so caught up in the flow of the writing, that it was hard to stop and think just what it was that made the novel so good… Doyle has bucket loads of talent. I simply adored this evocative book.”
- Sue Leonard, Books Ireland, on Mogue Doyle’s Dancing with Minnie the Twig.

“His poems are charged with a thoroughly contemporary and a profoundly literary awareness of what it means to be Irish, and a writer, in America.”
— Kathleen McCracken, Poetry Ireland Review, on Eamonn Wall’s Iron Mountain Road.

Launch Pad is an initiative created to encourage, develop, and promote the work of creative artists in the Enniscorthy area. The format for Launch Pad is as follows: Each night there will be slots of 10 minutes which will be filled by both new and established artists featuring new work. The pieces will not be limited to prose and poetry but will include new songs, reviews, music, comedy, local history, science fiction and memoir. The only requirement is that it's original.

Launch Pad is a voluntary organization. It was founded in October 2002 when a core committee identified the need for a forum where local writers could meet and relay new work to others.

Other projects by Launch Pad include: hosting a Writers’ Weekend of workshops and concerts in 2004; the publication of The Scaldy Detail (a collection of original writings from County Wexford) in 2005; and in 2007 the Second Edition of The Scaldy Detail will be published, where funding has already been awarded for this by Wexford County Council. Submissions will be called for on the evening of the 29th June, with an end date of 14th September, 2007. It is then hoped to launch it in the new Enniscorthy Cultural Centre next December or January.

Performers at Launch Pad evenings in the past include: Mike Hanrahan (of Stockton’s Wing), Philip Casey, Eamonn Wall, Billy Roche, Ron Hynes, Enniscorthy Theatre Group, Clive Barnes, Gerard Whelan, Lorcan Brennan, Dan Walsh, Martin Codd, Mick Egan, Fintan Murphy, Whisht!, Betty Thompson, Paddy Berry, Peter Murphy (Hotpress), and Mogue Doyle, to mention a few.

www.elaunchpad.org
Registered Member of the County Wexford Community Forum

Photo of contributors on the night

Honorary presentations were also made on the night to Eamonn Wall, Philip Casey and Mogue Doyle, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Launch Pad. It is well deserved, and their support of local arts is something to be admired and nurtured.

The night itself was a long list of firsts: Mogue read from his forthcoming novel; Eamonn from his forthcoming collection of poetry; Philip from his forthcoming book; Maria, Noreen and Carmel were all first time contributors to Launch Pad; and Andy read from the upcoming Tim Flood Memoirs, which he ghost wrote.

Thursday 16th November, 2006 - A reading from 'Tales from Rainwater Pond' by Billy Roche

The award-winning Wexford-born playwright will read from his new collection of stories on Thursday 16th November, 2006 @ 8PM sharp. The venue is:

1798 Centre,
Millpark Road,
Enniscorthy,
County Wexford

Admission is free and tea and coffee will be served. MC is Paul O'Reilly.

It will be followed by a Q&A session, chaired by local actor Michael Dunbar, and the floor will be open for people to ask Billy questions about his work.

This promises to be an evening not to be missed with Wexford’s own Billy Roche, and a delightful treat for people from Enniscorthy, and beyond. It is also an opportunity to welcome, and support, a writer that has contributed so much to Wexford drama and prose, and brought Wexford, and its people, alive on the international stage.

“Tales from Rainwater Pond features many of Roche's trademarks, bitter sweet nostalgia, a meticulous eye for detail, a wicked sense of humour, and his unremitting honesty that at once sooths the senses, but that can hit home like a sledgehammer.”

Billy Roche was born in Wexford. He was for many years a singer, fronting his own band, 'The Roach Band'. He is considered to be one of the most influential playwrights of his generation. 'A Handful of Stars' (1988) was his first stage play and it was produced at the Bush Theatre in London. It won the John Whiting and Plays and Players Award. His next play, 'Poor Beast in the Rain' (1989) won the 1989 George Devine Award and the Thames Television Award. The latter provided Billy with a bursary to become writer-in-residence at the Bush Theatre and to write his third play 'Belfry', completing Billy's 'Wexford Trilogy'. 'Belfry' won the London Fringe Award for best play in 1991. The Trilogy was filmed for the BBC and directed by the late Stuart Burge. His other work includes 'Amphibians' (1992) and 'The Cavalcaders' (Dublin, The Abbey, Peacock Stage, 1993). 'Amphibians' was Billy's fourth play, which was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and was first performed at The Pit, directed by Michael Attenborough. Billy wrote the screenplay for the film 'Trojan Eddie' (1997) which was directed by Gilles McKinnon and starred Stephen Rea and Richard Harris. It received the Best Film Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1996. Billy has been writer in association with both the Abbey Theatre and Druid Theatre. In 2001, his play 'On Such as We' was performed at the Abbey Theatre and starred Brendan Gleeson.

Although known primarily as a playwright, Billy also published a novel, 'Tumbling Down' (Dublin, Wolfhound Press, 1984) which draws on his early years in Wexford and the characters who frequented his father's bar on the seafront.

He has just completed a collection of short stories called 'Tales from Rainwater Pond'. He lives in Wexford. Billy Roche is the only Irish playwright to have had four plays running in London at the same time.

Billy, Michael, and friends on the night

Wednesday 7th June, 2006 - “Launchpad & Toffee & Thyme”

Readings for "Launchpad in June" will take place 8:30pm, Wed 7th June, 2006 in Toffee & Thyme Cafe, Enniscorthy. Readers include Mark Kelly, Fintan Murphy, Liz Mellon, Helen Kirwan and Norman Darlington.

MC'd by Paul O'Reilly.

Thursday 30th March, 2006 - “Launchpad @ the Wexford Book Festival”

Readings from The Scaldy Detail will take place 8pm, Thursday 30th March, 2006 in The Potato Market Cafe, Wexford. This event is part of the Wexford Book Festival and leading authors will read on the night, including Philip Casey and Mogue Doyle.

MC'd by Denis Collins, there were also performances from Mark Kelly, Paul O'Reilly, and Andy Doyle.

Wednesday 11th January, 2006 - “Launch of The Scaldy Detail”

The Scaldy Detail, the first publication by Launchpad, was launched by the editor, Eamonn Wall, in the IFA Centre, Enniscorthy. MC'd by Eddie Crean, a packed house was there to welcome those who contributed to the book, who on the night read their work. It was MC'd by Eddie Crean and performers included:

Eamonn Wall
Sean Clarkin
Patricia McNally
Caroline Doyle Busher
Colm Murphy
Denis Collins
Helen Kavanagh
Fintan Murphy
Paul O'Reilly
Ken McGannon
Gloria Binnions
Andy Doyle

And it was finally sealed with a fabulous performance by Clive Barnes at the end of a memorable evening.

This was Eamonn's speech on the night:

"The minds, pens and keyboards of the poets, memoirists and story writers featured in The Scaldy Detail point us in many directions.

To cities and towns; villages and fields; to Dublin getaways and Carnsore protests; to Dad’s Army and the Waltons. We see a mother and son in a kitchen; hear of the conscious and unconscious colliding. We explore loneliness, grief, and celebrate the beauty of a woman’s hair. We know too how difficult life can be without glasses, the dreariness of too many hours spent in a study hall, that you can’t negotiate with the law, and that Jesus strides the Shannon with a guitar case in hand. We have a blackbird but no unicorn.

Each piece included in The Scaldy Detail has much to recommend it in what it as to say and record of the world and, more crucially, in how it has been formed and shaped. Throughout, these lively and emotive writings are shaped by sharp intelligences. Each of the writers’ lives very much in the here-and-now, while at the same time remaining aware of, and rooted in, Ireland’s rich oral and literary traditions.

For me, it was been a great honour and a constant delight to have been involved, albeit in a minor way, in the Launch Pad project. For the last few years, the committee, and everyone from the community who have attended its events, has worked with foresight and diligence to provide opportunities and venues so that local writers could have a stage and a safe space in which to perform. This enterprise has continued a tradition that has been alive in the county for many years. One half of the title of the publication references a similar enterprise that occurred in Gorey in the 1970s, the other half, of course, is uniquely Enniscorthy. The Scalders of a new millennium.

When I note that this is a local publication, I do so to stress its importance. Famously, Tip O’Neill, the great American politician, declared that “all politics is local”. It is the same with writing – “all writing is local”. The concerns of writers are local primarily, even if they don’t appear to be that way at first glance. The local can become the universal. Patrick Kavanagh noted that writing must be parochial but not provincial, and I’m sure that the work in this volume is testament to this dictum.

County Wexford has been blessed with many illustrious writers and we have much to celebrate. We claim and cherish a rich and diverse tradition of excellence. One of Wexford’s great gifts to Ireland has been the books of its writers and one of Ireland’s great gifts to the world has been its literature. These works have established our identity in the world.

For the enterprise to continue, new literary voices must be encouraged. Launch Pad is an investment in the future, and a testament to the fact that for Enniscorthy people the written word is vital and living. Tonight, we are celebrating the work of the writers. This is their night and I’m immensely proud to be part of it all. Let me offer particular thanks to the Launch Pad committee, to the press for warmly welcoming this initiative, to Paul O’Reilly for all his work on design and other matters, and most of all to the writers. This Scaldy Detail is launched."

Thursday 28th July, 2005 - “Launchpad in July”

Doors open 8.30 pm.

Shenanigans (Upstairs Function Room),
Market Square,
Enniscorthy,
County Wexford.

All are welcome.

MC'd by Paul O'Reilly.

Featuring a night of words and music:

• Stephen O’Brien
• Dru Wall
• Carole Wood
• Andy Doyle
• Martin Mackey
• Ken McGannon
• Jeff Morrison

Wednesday 29th June, 2005 - “Launchpad in June”

Doors open 8.00 pm.

Shenanigans (Upstairs Function Room), Market Square, Enniscorthy, County Wexford.

MC'd by Paul O'Reilly.

All are welcome, featuring a night of Singer-Songwriters:

Stephen O’Brien
David Nolan
Carole Wood
Ian Davin
Steven Tallon
Thomas Moorehouse
Jeff Morrison
David Byrne
Ken McGannon (and a poet)

This was a fabulous night, the room was packed, and plenty of young blood came along to support. Well done to Stephen and Zoe for organising a great success.

	Novelist Mogue Doyle
	Award winning singer, songwriter, guitarist Clive Barnes (www.clivebarnes.com)
	Local poets David Kehoe, Maria Clifford, Helen Kavanagh, and Ken McGannon
	Raconteur Mike Kelly

	Carnew native Lorcan Brennan who will read selected Poems from his 2004 collection marking his 40th birthday and reflecting on his life thus far
	Award winning novelist Gerard Whelan
	Young local poet David Kehoe
	USA based Poet Eamonn Wall
	Singer and Songwriter Paul O'Reilly
	Local poet Anthony Doyle
	Renowned journalist and broadcaster Dan Walsh