All-Ireland Poetry Day 2008 events in Mayo.
Mayo County Council Arts Office, Mayo County Library and Oifig na Gaeilge are delighted to present three poetry events.
Lunchtime Poetry Reading with Louis de Paor,Castlebar Library, Thursday October 2nd at 1pm
Renowned Irish Poet Louis de Paor will give an intimate lunchtime poetry reading in Mayo County Library on All Ireland Poetry Day. Known as 'Louis de Poet' by his great friend, John Spillane, Louis has published widely in Irish, his most recent collection was Ag Greadadh Bas sa Reilig - Clapping in the Cemetery. He was granted a Writer's Fellowship by the Australia Council in 1995. He is also the recipient of the Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award 2000, the first poet in Irish to achieve that distinction. He lives in Galway. So why not take the opportunity to relax and listen to this passionate reader during lunch-hour.
An Evening of Poetry. Castlebar Library, Thursday October 2nd at 7pm
Mayo County Arts Office presents a mouth-watering evening of readings hosted by Mayo County Library, gleaned from a wealth of local and national talent and featuring new and some familiar names from the literary community. The line-up complete will feature Kevin Higgins, Maighread Medbh, Noel Monaghan, Terry McDonagh, Ger Reidy and Aoife Casby.
About the poets:
Galway based Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge literary events. His collection of poems include The Boy With No Face, short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award for Best First Collection by an Irish Poet, and Time Gentlemen, Please. He won the 2003 Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam; and was awarded a literary bursary by the Arts Council in 2005.
Limerick born Máighréad Medbhs’ first collection of poetry ‘The Making of a Pagan’ was published in1990. She is widely known as a poet who commits a large amount of her creative energy to the performance of the work.
Based in Cavan, Noel Monaghan has four collections of poetry “Opposite Walls” (1991), “Snowfire” (1995), “Curse of the Birds” (2000) and “The Funeral Game” (2004). His poetry has been translated into Italian, Romanian, French and Russian and he has read his work and given workshops at numerous Summer Schools & Festivals throughout Ireland. He has been the recipient of many national awards.
Ger Reidy’s Pictures from a Reservation was published in1998. He was born near Westport in Co. Mayo, his poems have appeared in publications including The Healing Word, Breaking the Skin, Ambit, Poetry Ireland Review, Cyphers, Force 10, The Shop, and in 2003 in the Moscow poetry journal 'Modern Literature'. He has won many national poetry competitions.
Terry McDonagh is a poet and dramatist from Cill Aodain Co. Mayo. He has published four collections of poetry; a play, a book of letters, a novel and a book of poetry for children. His work has been translated into Indonesian and German, funded by Ireland Literature Exchange.
Aoife Casby is originally from Mayo and now lives in Carraroe, Co. Galway where she works as a writer and visual artist. Her work has been published in many literary journals. In 2008 Smoke & Skin was published. She was selected for Poetry Ireland's Introductions Series in 2007 and has been short listed for the START Chapbook Poetry Award and the Cúirt New Writing Prize.
Mayo’s favourite poem
“I will arise and go now…” “Stop all the clocks..” “I stepped from plank to plank…” What is your favourite poem? That is the question that Mayo Library is asking to celebrate Ireland’s first All-Ireland Poetry Day on October 2nd. The library wants you to say in not more than 100 word what is your favourite poem and why. Entries can be sent to any library branch or to Mayo Library HQ, The Mall, Castlebar. The library will also be asking well known people in the county for their favourite poem and some entries will be on display in local libraries. Mayo’s favourite poem will be announced at a poetry reading in Castlebar Library on All-Ireland Poetry Day. The winning entry will receive a beautiful bound volume of poetry. So will it be an Irish poet such as Yeats, or Kavanagh, or a classic such as Shakespeare or Keats or even a songwriter such as Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen? The choice is yours!
Please send entries to your local library branch or to Mayo Library HQ, The Mall, Castlebar, Mayo. Closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 26th September.
For more information please contact:
Oifigeach Gaeilge
Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo, Caisleán an Bharraigh, Maigh Eo.
E: gaeilge@mayococo.ie T: 094-9024444 Ext. 7541
Mayo Arts Office
Mayo County Council, Castlebar, Mayo.
E: mayoarts@mayococo.ie T: 094-9024444 Ext 7471, 7558 or 7560.
Austin Vaughan, County Librarian
Mayo County Library, The Mall, Castlebar, Mayo
E: avaughan@mayococo.ie T: 094 9047923
Posted: 18/09/2008