Tony Curtis as glimpsed on television.

Seamus Heaney at a ceremony in the reading room of the National Library of Ireland on Wednesday 21st December 2011, where his literary papers were donated. The archive includes manuscripts of Heaney's poetry, handwritten and typed loose-leaf worksheets and notebooks that span his literary career. Seamus Heaney is one of the world's best-known poets. His work has encompassed literary criticism and translation, and he has held prestigious teaching positions in the UK and the USA. His poetry is uniquely popular, creating, in the words of the Nobel Academy, "works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past."

“It is a privilege and an honour to have my own worksheets, drafts, manuscripts and typescripts in our National Library, joining the great writers of the past and present who have also contributed. It is all part of a chain. A written, human chain.” Seamus Heaney.

Pictured from left to right:
Poet Michael Coady, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Seamus Heaney, Tony Curtis and Clifden's festival organiser, the wonderful Brendan Flynn.

Liveline's Top Books of 2011

Joe Duffy

On Wednesday 21st December on Liveline presented Irish broadcaster Joe Duffy. An Elephant Called Rex was mentioned on the show that day in relation to the 'Liveline's Top Books of 2011'

The 'after' the launch

Jimmy Kelly (Luke Kelly's brother from the Dubliners), Theo Dorgan and Tony have a session after the launch of 'Folk' and 'An Elephant Called Rex' at the Teachers' Club in Dublin, Ireland.

Rex gets launched yippie

Tony in full flight at the launch of An Elephant Called Rex and Folk, in Dublin last night. A great evening :)

Finally Rex gets launched

 

Hi Folks and finally this is THE launch of both AN Elephant Called Rex and Folk.... If your in Dublin and what to hear the poems straight from the horses mouth (as they say) come along. Why not buy one or both for Christmas!

The Mole and the Cosmos

 

Artist Philip McCracken is a multimedia artist casting in bronze, working with wood, stone, and composites. He and his wife Anne live on Guemes Island. Tony's poem forms part of the exhibition on the wall at the entrance to the Sisko Gallery in Seattle

Homeless Bunny

We saw this homeless bunny hanging around North King Street in Dublin. Looks like he's he's lost and in need of a hug! What do you think?
Later in the day he was gone so let's hope he's happy in some little persons arms (after a good wash)

Meet Sammy

 

This is Sammy, owned by a very nice gentleman called Michael Larkin. Sammy and Micheal attend many worthwhile protests and marches in Dublin. It was a pleasure meeting Sammy and Michael today.

Watch out for falling (z)arrows!

Death gets evil, or there is no misunderstanding here. 'Z' is out to get you...

Samuel Beckett would be proud of this

Seen this gentleman walking like this with a wearing a jacket with another over his head. No idea what he's doing but it looks like an image out of a Beckett play!

Trixie at 10

Trixie looking good at 10 years old

Tony Curtis reads on Guemes Island USA

Well-known Irish poet Tony Curtis gave a reading at the fellowship hall of the Guemes Island Church, at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15.

Curtis was a featured poet at the Skagit River Poetry Festival in 2010. He currently teaches local children as a visiting poet in the Festival’s schools program.

3 Amigos

Seen these 3 amigos waiting outside a shop in Thomas Street, Dublin, Ireland. And the little one was howling!

Post from Australian Poetry

On Saturday 5th March, Perth Poetry Club presents for your delectation and entertainment - all the way from Ireland - the award-winning poet TONY CURTIS.


Tony will perform at The Moon, 323 William Street, Northbridge from 2 to 4 pm, in two sets.

There will be open mic. as always.

I'm showing you now

Hello for here

Illustrative response to blog "Missing"

Dowry for keeping 'toe knee'

Missing

A black shaggy poet with a touch of bright white around the collar and cuffs last seen being ambassadorial in Kuala Lumpur but thought to be heading towards the airport with large boxes of books. He answers to the name toe knee, but responds fastest to the smell of hops and he wags a lot. Australians are requested to be especially observant around any licensed billabongs where he may be given to a fit of crooning. A reward is not being offered for his return but a sub-committee of members of Balbriggan Golf Club have assembled six camels, twelve fine milking goats, two dozen good laying hens and a few ducks which can be had by way of a dowry if he is found and kept. This offer applies to full-time residents of the southern hemisphere only. However, interested Orthodox Israelis residing in the vicinity of King David’s tomb or the Wailing Wall will be given due consideration.

Posted by: The sub-committee for barring the poet

Wissards and effelants

Granddads effelant is from Afrika and John McGowans effelant is from Grandma and mammy is from Po land. Effelants in po land are called Ma moths but they are all stinked. Grandad says I am like the holey gost caws sum times I speak in tungs and if I stay this lexic I will be put in DCU stead of UCD. Granddad says the impotent new pome book is d laid caws the pote is see king a sigh lum far far away in a peenle conoly but that they will send him back caws they have nuff wissards in Oz all reddy. Granddad says can garooze lives in Oz when they scape from the azoo. Granddad hopes the pote duzzint catch a nudder doze of the high koos. He says high koos is a dizzys of the anti podeez that fecks some potes if they for get to take dere pils. Granddad says the day toe knee duzzint take his Pils will be the day a skwadron of flying effelants dump on me. Anti Holly says sum day when granddad has taken too much sham pain for his gout we will meshur him with a rool er and we will finely no what is the hite of nonsense.

John Bogdan McGowan aka half-a-pole.

The book has arrived from the binders

Great news Rex now has the book and will be posting it out from Friday. Yippie

Link to some videos of Tony's Poems

http://www.youtube.com/user/pat2bornot2b

Big brother and little sister at play

We're two dogs just waiting for the snow to melt so we can go outside and roll in the grass again. Could be a long wait!!

Jessie & Callee

Trixie's friend for life

Trixie has not let this mad bird out of her sight, or out of her mouth!
What a comical pair;)

Newbie wants a book too!

Newbie the canaries is looking forward to the book which is now at the binders so all going well for the 8th of February :)







Go for it Newbie

New Toy for Trixie

Trixie's new toy from her friend Ruth













Have fun Trixie

Effelants

My name is John Bogdan McGowan but my Granddad calls me half-a-pole and Bess is his dog. I am 3 ¾ and Bess is 113 ½ in youman years and granddad says she is like life and the conomy becaws she is a bitch and she is bloxed. He calls her Bessdog now caws she chased the bugglers away. My Grandad and me saw effelants in the azoo doing number toos and we runned away. Granddad said he will get me the book by bartur with Arthur. He says tree pints will do it but too with a modik amodic a bit of luck. He says pints don’t grow on trees. He says he will get the pote to sing the book and when the pote is faymus like Shaymus it will be part of my heritance like my gold Panda. My mammy says my granddad is stone mad.

From: John Bogdan McGowan

'Folk' first reading at the National Gallery of Ireland

Today hot of the presses ‘Folk’ (ARC Publications) Tony Curtis reads from his new book at a pre-launch and signing at the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.

This was a very special day at the National Gallery of Ireland and thank you to all who attended.


John Sheahan (the Dubliners) opened the event by playing beautifully.


Tony reading from ‘Folk’


John Sheahan recites his poem ‘Luke’ (about Luke Kelly of the Dubliners)


Tony recited ‘Currach’ (from the book ‘The Well in the Rain’) he was accompanied by John Sheahan on the tin whistle, which was pure magic.

Washington Girl

I absolutely love your work. It is a great way of expressing what YOU see in the world and the words blend amazingly.
Erin McCarty (Washingtongirl11005)

Max (my dog)

Looking forward to a good read!!!
from Hugh

Bella Meehan-Dorgan

Watch out for the rhyming kangaroos!
This site has me in stitches. The vet will take them out on Friday.





Here's a photo for Rex's wall.

Trixie needs this book!

Hi I’m Trixie and I want this book, can’t wait I’m a dog with out a bone, sorry book, woof, woof!

Tony is off to Australia

I’m am off to Australia this week. A small tour: I am reading in Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. I will ask Malaysian and Australian children to add their thoughts to Rex’s blog.

Book has gone to print

Hi all, Rex’s book has gone to the printers. We should have it next week. Wow! Can't wait for Rex and Tony to see it.