Posted on by mark

Cult of the Spiny Hog: November Challenge – “Old Photograph – Remembering Philomena O’Meara, Country Singer”

 

The November Cult Challenge

“Remembering Philomena O’Meara, Country Singer””

There has always been a deep and perhaps unexpected relationship between Ireland and Country and Weston Music. Some people think it is because of the fiddle, others have long stories of emigrants taking their tunes with them from one side of the Atlantic to the other.

Me? I’ve always put it down to Philomena O’Meara, the first Irish Country Singer.

Now you may not have heard of her, and the photo I use here most probably isn’t her at all, but Philomena lives on that fault line between legend and myth and whilst there are no known recordings of her voice or explosive mandolin playing, there are some that cling to the tales their own grandparents told them of her lilting voice and love of sour mash.

In fact so little is known, this month’s challenge is to imagine and invent a tale about this forgotten singer, in the form of a poem.

The Challenge:

Write a Poem that tells the tale of the latest and the greatest of imaginary country singers, Philomena O’Meara.

The Prize:

    1. The Shortlisted poets will be included in a Stickleback Anthology to be published during 2023

The Rules:

    1. Poets should:
      1. Write a poem that describes an event in the life of Philomena O’Meara, Irish Country Singer
    2. Poems must be received by Midnight on the 31st of November 2022
    3. Entry is restricted to members of the Hedgehog Poetry Cult of the Spiny Hog
    4. Send your poem to: competition@hedgehogpress.co.uk

 

If you aren’t a member of our wonderful Cult and are all kinds of curious, you can find out more HERE