I was really excited to watch the Westport Drama Group, Fabulous Brown Feathers (love the name) perform ‘My Rings for a Cushion’, my 15 minute play, in the Claremorris Fringe Festival last night. The play has a cast of two and David Foley (“Robbie”) and Margaret Joyce (Maura) portrayed the characters superbly. The play is about an old lady who has a hip problem, falls and can’t move. “Robbie”, a young burglar enters the house, and the play reflects how the two deal with the situation. Both actors captured perfectly the difficult but charming relationship that develops. It was directed by Liz Browne who did a fabulous job. I often think my wacky sense of humour is lost on people so I was delighted with the laughs that the performance received.

 I would also like to thank in particular, John Corless, who organises the Claremorris Fringe Festival. The Fringe festival provides new writers with the opportunity to submit short plays. He also organised tea and sandwiches afterwards so we could all meet. Without John’s advice and enthusiasm, my play would never have been performed. So thank you to all in Claremorris and Mayo!

 We also went to see The Weir by Conor McPherson performed by the Kilmuckridge Drama Group. That too was a really great performance.

 So, now I’m back in Cavan baking for my poetry workshop tonight (banana and prune loaf ). Tonight we workshop our music poems and next week the assignment is In Praise. Maybe I will do a poem in praise of the wonderful amateur dramatists across the country who create such excellent entertainment with such commitment and energy.

 And, of course, I must mention my new pet project, At the Edge, Cavan. We start the new Cavan Literary Evening on Tuesday 6 May in the Johnston Library in Cavan Town at 6.30pm. We have a great line up for the first event. Cavan man, Shane Connaughton (play/film writer) launches the project, followed by June Caldwell, a fab story teller from Dublin and then Michael Farry, from Meath, who writes lovely poems. I am really looking forward to the Open Mic afterwards. We have such writing talent in Cavan. I hope everyone has the courage to register to read.

 Well, the loaf is out of the oven and Poppins, my new puppy, is looking at me with doleful eyes. I think it might be time for a walk.