Padhraig Nolan's Blog

Scalderville Rendezvous





















Photo: Pat Maddock and Eamon Wall at Scaldy Detail 2007 Launch



An enjoyable night was had last Thursday night, December 6th, at the launch of the 2007 edition of The Scaldy Detail, a journal of Wexford writing.

The launch was held in Enniscorthy's 1798 Centre and Editor Eamon Wall was back on home turf from his post at the University of Missouri to meet, greet and chat with contributors and friends of the journal. Renowned Wexford playwright Billy Roche did the honours, launching the publication with enthusiasm for the quality or work contained within.

The Scaldy Detail is published by Scallta Media, an artist-orientated publishing house who are keen to form further collaborative partnerships - why not drop them a line? Niall Wall and Paul O'Reilly of Scallta were on hand, both extremely modest about their respective roles in this excellent journal coming to fruition. Watch this space folks, there's an exciting energy in the Wexford air these days!

For my part, it was a pleasure to finally meet up with Norman Darlington in person. A regular on the Stinging Fly discussion forum, Norman read a Renku 'She Brings Me Smoke' (Renku being a traditional japanese form, written in collaboration). Mogue Doyle read his new story 'Fruits for the Widow Flynn' in that distinctive voice of his. Pat Maddock and Betty Thompson also read; two fine poets whose work I wasn't familiar with before this, but whom I greatly look forward to reading more of in the future. The poems of John Kelly were also striking, particularly the bittersweet tone of 'Whispering In The Bebo Dorm'.

So much good work! Overall, the event was a wonderful opportunity to put names to faces, meet and hear some of Wexford's established writers as well as up-and-coming talents associated with the county. The Scaldy Detail is filled with wonderful prose and poetry (although there's a couple of mine in there too, I'm afraid). You can buy it here and it would make an excellent Christmas present for anybody with an interest in (a) writing, (b) Wexford, or (c) both of the above!

Well done to all concerned, and best wishes for the future!