Cork group celebrates 50 years of stories with book

Fifty years ago, a shorthand typist at Midleton Community College (now St Colman’s College), Noreen Wrenne started Midleton Writers’ Group, a new concept then unknown in Ireland.

Noreen’s vision took hold and half a century later, coinciding with their 50th anniversary, the Midleton Writers’ Group have celebrated their golden anniversary with their second book.

The collaborative work, Midleton Golden Miscellany, was one of six books, shortlisted for the Anthologies category at the 2025 CAP Independent Book Awards.

Midleton Golden Miscellany, celebrating 50 years of the group, is dedicated to their most esteemed and valued member and President, the late Helena Kelleher Kahn.

“We sadly lost Helena this year,” says Anne F. Healy, originally from Blackrock, now living in Midleton.

“Helena, a wonderful storyteller, author and poet, published her last book, The Silver Cage, a fine work recalling her time as a social worker in one of London’s poorest districts in the 1960s.

“Midleton Golden Miscellany was launched in December, 2024, in honour of Helena’s vital support and kindness with the love of each and every member of Midleton Writers Group.”

Fresh from being shortlisted for best Irish independent book anthology, the Midleton Writers’ Group has launched a new website to showcase the talent within its community.

In addition, members have produced many of their own books, including group secretary Anne F. Healy, who published her first book of short stories, My Own Place, this year. Anne discovered the Midleton Writers Group when she moved to the town almost 20 years ago and has never looked back.

One of her contributions in Midleton Golden Miscellany, entitled A Trip To Youghal On The Steam Train, evokes the sense of excitement and expectation that many will remember so well. “The huge train was on the track. Its shining green engine puffing out smoke in a steady stream. It was almost too exciting to bear.”

“The Writers Group provides a wonderful outlet for writing,” says Christopher McCarthy, whose short story, Capacocha, in Midleton Golden Miscellany, is a riveting read.

It is about a significant sacrificial rite in the Inca Empire, and Christopher writes: “The blessed Intip Churin has been ill for a long time and the Capacocha rite is necessary so that he can be healthy again. It was an honour for me to be chosen.”

Why is he chosen and taken from his village?

The plot thickens...

Capacocha is but one of the short stories in the book published by The Midleton Writers Group that could send shivers down your spine in the dark of cold winter nights.

Others, like Ronnie McGinn’s Doing The Dog On It, will make you laugh aloud to take the chill out of those dark winter nights.

Ronnie was instrumental in getting poems by the Midleton Writers Group published in The Echo. A poet and writer, he was manager of the well-known Dixies Showband back in the day.

Ronnie then took up journalism and created The Douglas Post magazine and other journals. Today he concentrates on writing poems and short stories, which was his dream since he was a small boy.

In existence now for more than 50 years, and with the publication of Midleton Golden Miscellany, the East Cork writers’ star is in the ascendancy.

“Writers get confidence and encouragement when they learn from each other. Otherwise, we’d all be in our own bubble,” explains Christopher, who is also the author of Dark Omens And Halos.

Christopher, using another of his talents, took the photographs for the covers of Midleton Golden Miscellany. The beauty of nature is his inspiration.

Jim Tait, author of A Farmer’s Poetry: Fields Of Verse, and The Ballad Of Midleton Mart, joined Midleton Writers Group at the age of 62, 23 years ago.

“There were some upheavals happening in my life at the time,” says Jim. “I found writing about those upheavals therapeutic.

“I found joining the Midleton Writers Group offered me support in every way. And of course I love poetry. The group is a wonderful showcase for writers.”

Jim confesses: “It is unusual for a farmer to write poetry!”

His poem, Wool Gathering, that appears in Midleton Golden Miscellany, captures the halcyon days of yore when his dad “would load his trailer right and hard, and we’d go off to Midleton to Potter Cogan’s Yard”.

Midleton Golden Miscellany brings together the works of the present keepers of the writers’ group, poets and short story writers, joined by the student artists from Midleton College who illustrated the Miscellany.

There are also memoirs from the older generation at Midleton Hospital.

Impressed readers of the literary works by members of Midleton Writers Group include our out-going President Michael D. Higgins, who praised the poems and short stories “which exemplify the richness of our cultural heritage, highlighting the depth of talent within our esteemed community of writers, and are proof of the creativity that thrives within Ireland”.

Former Amazon editor, Amy Vickers, who is a member of Midleton Writers Group, worked as a journalist in London before coming to Cork, and is the new chairperson of the group.

“I am in the process of writing a trilogy called Divine Bubbles,” says Amy, whose vision is to create a community collective for writers and to host writing workshops.

“The creative culture here in East Cork is amazing,” says Amy. “The talent here is huge.”

The talents of Anthony Wade, who edited the book Midleton Golden Miscellany, are well documented throughout the book.

His poem, Before The Crawford Art Gallery, brings the well-known Cork establishment to life. He writes:

‘We stand on what had been the old King’s Quay

Then busy with the painted masts of Cork’s John Butt

But Emmet’s Place now carries the sounds of persons passing

Not the sweating of cargoes on and off ships restlessly moored.’

The biographies of the 12 contributors appear at the end of Midleton Golden Miscellany. These are unique stories in themselves.

The last word goes to Jim Tait. “I am still trying to get it ‘write’, a book is ‘down the road’, and I am enjoying every minute.”

Publications by members include (available in Midleton Books):

Jim Tait, Poet: A Farmer’s Poetry: Fields of Verse.

Christopher McCarthy: Short Story Collection; Capacocha. Christopher also produced the photography for the cover and inside cover of the Miscellany.

Lorna Mulvany: Short Story, The Shandon Clock Tower Strikes a New Hour in The Four Faced Liar.

Paudrig Lee, Poetry Collection Smoking Bees. (www.paudriglee.com)

Deirdre Sparrow, Children’s Stories: Jack The Reindeer Saves the Day and Abigail’s Royal Trip to London.

Anne F. Healy, Short Story Collection: My Own Place and Other Stories

Emma Clohessy, Poetry Collection, Poems Lost and Found.

Anthony Wade and Marian Stout also had their poetry printed in Shine On, a Youghal-based publication for charity.

Midleton Golden Miscellany by Midleton Writers’ Group is available at Midleton Books, price €15.

The group meet at My Place Midleton on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30pm to 10pm. All are welcome.

Email: writersgroupmidleton@gmail.com

Website: http//midletonwritersgroup.substack.com