Jimmy Rafferty became Bard of Armagh for an unprecedented fourth time at a packed Armagh City Hotel last night 19 November 2010. He narrowly pipped fierce rival Liam McNally in the closest contest for years. Even before Jimmy took to the lecturn he had the audience in stitches with his regal attire to suit his poem, ‘Her Majesty’s Pleasure’. A chorus of ‘Good Queen Bess’ resounded in the background.
Jimmy Goes Loco
Jimmy has just released his latest poem "Locomotion" - his observations of the typical inhabitants of an NIR train.
If you regularly travel from the sticks (i.e. Portydown) into Belfast on the choo-choo (that's a train for non-Portydown people) you might happen upon a wee wrinkled bloke with his head stuck in a book - that could be our hero. Watch out or he might write about you too.
Jimmy comes 2nd
The Bard of Armagh 2008 competition was held at the Armagh City Hotel on Friday 28th November.
This years winner was Liam McNally, with Jimmy in the number 2 slot(!)
Jimmy's lovely wife, Tina, was heard to say "Jimmy coming 2nd, that's a first"
Jimmy has a new CD available called "A Bloke on HRT", recorded live at the Lodge in Castlewellan. Contact Jimmy if you want to get your hands on a copy.
Technical hitch
Due to a technical hitch, the online shop is not currently open. If you would like to purchase a CD please contact Jimmy directly using the contact form and he will sort it out.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Once, Twice, Three Times a Winner
Jimmy made it 3 out of 4 as he brought the house down again at the 2007 Bard of Armagh competition at the Armagh City Hotel. Nobody can hold a candle to Jimmy when he gets into his (admittedly short) stride. Indeed, if you did hold a candle to him he would probably melt!
This years winning entry was about the trials and tribulations of a Farmer who took a fistful of HRT tablets by mistake.
Well, I woke up feeling brilliant, and I couldn’t tell the reason, I knew at once I wasn’t dead, because my feet were bloody freezing! I found the empty bottle of pills, and got my glasses out to see, And realized I’d swallowed three months supply of HRT!
The audience were in fits of laughter as Jimmy explained the drastic impact of this unfortunate mistake. Read the poem here.
We have added an mp3 player to the site to allow you to hear first hand a few samples of Jimmy's poems. Click on the links on the right hand side menu to hear the tracks. If you like them, why not try Jimmy's CD which can be found in the online shop.
