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Derrynoose was the place to be last Friday night when over 100 people turned out to celebrate the launch of a new book of poetry from Newry resident Peter Makem. A native of the village, Peter recited poems from his new collection 'The Tribe of Earth'. Another well known Newry man, Aidan O'Rourke was MC on the night hosted by Derrynoose Community Centre.
O'Rourke a former English and sports teacher at the Abbey CBS, launched the book at what was a magic night of recitation, music and song. He gave a background to the work and described the poems as being of superior quality by the highest standards. Last weekend's Irish Mail on Sunday gave a whole page to Makem's new collection 'The Tribe of Earth' in an article by Colm Mc Guirk.
Previous collections from Makem include 'The Cursing Stone', 'The Point of Ripeness', 'Lunar Craving' and 'The Pronouncements of Mochua'.
MC AIdan O Rourke raised over £1m for local charities at the famous Thursday night quiz in the Canal Court Hotel. O'Rourke also instigated the now famous quiz that raised a huge sum of £45,000 toward bringing home the remains of the late Kevin Bell from New York in 2013 and which led to the formation of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. Relations of over two thousand Irish individuals from all over the world who have died suddenly abroad have availed of this Trust over the last ten years. O'Rourke also won the Corn Na nOg cup with the Abbey and led his school to two Mc Rory Cup finals.
Newry.ie has published several of the poems from The Tribe of Earth collection. You can read more at petermakem.co.uk
