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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

THIRST a poem by Mary Hanlon

Mary Hanlon lives in Claremorris, County Mayo. She is a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop facilitated at Galway Arts Centre by Kevin Higgins. Her poems have appeared in a variety of magazines, including West 47 online, The Cúirt Annual and Revival.

Thirst by Mary Hanlon

From an infancy cocooned by mud walls,
Marxism elevated Chavez to lead his people
for a decade that witnessed oil prices fall,
the land overgrazed, a shortage of food.
Red-shirted he stands now, sees the morning
sun glide over the Sky Islands,
sweep down to the broad eucalyptus tract
where Carib, Chibcha and Arawak tribes
once cultivated, and further west
skilfully stepped the Andes.
Violet crested hummingbirds flutter to the dawn.
Monkeys chatter from limb to limb.

The blue green leaves glisten.
Their oily scent carries on the breeze,
and roots with an insatiable thirst
bore deep into the earth, fast-growing
towards their cardboard destiny.

But the President has already decreed:
no infant’s body should shrink from hunger,
no man should have to beg on the pavement
tormented by disease-harbouring flies,
no capitalist should drain the llanos
with ‘water suckers’. The eucalyptus
he takes back will be used wisely,
replaced then by corn, cassava and yam.
Enough food for pabellon, cachapa, arepas.

Monday, March 30, 2009

2009 Cúírt Festival Poetry Grand Slam

Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam Saturday 25 April 3pm Roisin Dubh- Dominick St.

The year round activity of slamming culminates in the 7th Cúirt Poetry Grand Slam in which up to 20 performers have just three minutes to impress the judges under the gaze of MC Pete Mullineaux. All styles welcome, open to all (with the exception of past Grand Slam winners) Poems up to 3 minutes long. The overall winner goes on to perform in Slovenia. Guest performer this year is Andrej Khadovich from Belarus, known for his lively performances.

Submission Details:
Please send one poem( up to 3 minutes in length) with contact details to email: siobhan@galwayartscentre.ie (email submissions preferred) or by post; Siobhán Singleton, Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick St. Galway. Fee for entry €5. Please mark 'Poetry Grand Slam' on your submission. Enquiries 091-565886


Successful participants will be notified by April 17. The closing date for entries has been extended to THURSDAY, APRIL 9th

Sunday, March 29, 2009

John Walsh to open Poetry Month at Galway City Library

Poet John Walsh to open Poetry Month 1.30pm, Wednesday April 1st Galway City Library



In a link up with the Academy of American Poets, Galway City Library is participating in a month long April-is-Poetry-Month project.

With the line 'Do I dare disturb the Universe,' from the famous T S Eliot poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock', being chosen as a theme for this year's celebration, the poet and poet-performer from Derry, John Walsh, will perform the poem in full in Galway City Library on Wednesday 1 April. The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock has entranced many people and is regarded one of the finest pieces of poetry ever written.

John's performance of the poem will commence at 1.30pm.

John Walsh has had two collections of poetry, Johnny Tell Them and Love's Enterprise Zone published by the Guildhall Press. He runs the successful performance poetry event North Beach Poetry Nights, which takes place monthly in The Crane Bar, and is he also the director of the new poetry press, Doire Press. His third collection of poetry is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Poetry Reading by Olaf Tyaransen, Edward Lee & MA in Writing Poets at Sheridan’s Wine Bar

Olaf Tyaransen

Poetry by Olaf Tyaransen, Edward Lee and the poets of this year’s MA in Writing at NUI Galway at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, May 8th, 8pm.

Olaf Tyaransen was born in Dublin in 1971, but spent his formative years in the west of Ireland. His poetry collection, The Consequences of Slaughtering Butterflies, was published by Salmon in 1992. He has since written an autobiography, The Story of O (2000) and two bestselling collections of journalism, Sex Lines (2002) and Palace of Wisdom (2004). Described by the Sunday Times as “the enfant terrible of Irish journalism,” Tyaransen hit the headlines in 1997 when he stood as a ‘Cannabis Legalisation’ candidate in the general election. A regular columnist with the Evening Herald, his journalism has also appeared in Rolling Stone, Mojo, Penthouse and The Sunday Independent. Tyaransen also holds the position of ‘Writer At Large’ with Hot Press and has written more than 50 cover stories for the magazine over the years – including notorious interviews with Allen Ginsberg, Nick Cave, Hugh Hefner, Larry Flynt, Bono, Dolly Parton, Will Self, Gerry Adams & Candace Bushnell.

Edward Lee is originally from Dublin, but now lives in Galway. His poems, short stories and photography have been published in a wide variety of prestigious magazines in Ireland, England, America and Canada. He is also a visual artist and has had several exhibitions in various venues in Dublin and Galway. He has just finished his first novel and looking for a publisher for it. This reading will mark the launch of Edward’s first poetry collection Playing PoohSticks On Ha'Penny Bridge.

The poets of this year’s MA in Writing at NUI Galway, Jonathan Farrar, Erin Buttner, Michael Halloran, Nicki Griffin, Cristina Galvin, Paige Morgan & Tristan Burke will be reading from their recently published anthology, Ink For Air.

Over The Edge is in support of Love Poetry Hate Racism 2009.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council.

Salmon Poetry Launches Poetry Collections by Celeste Augé & Gerry Hanberry


Celeste Augé

Gerry Hanberry

Salmon Poetry
invites you to celebrate the publication of two new poetry collections

Venue:
The City Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway
Date/Time:
Saturday 9th May, 1pm
Salmon Poetry, Knockeven, Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland
http://www.salmonpoetry.com/

The Essential
Guide to Flight

by
Celeste Augé
Launch introduction by
Michael O’Loughlin

At Grattan Road
by
Gerard Hanberry
Launch introduction by
Michael Gorman

Friday, March 20, 2009

Church of Ireland Priest reads at March 'Over The Edge: Open Reading'

Arkansas poet, Marck Beggs

The March ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, March 26th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Maureen Ryan, Dave Rock & Marck Beggs.

Maureen Ryan has lived most of her adult life in Galway. She has published two novels and over 400 academic papers, essays, sermons, meditations and reflections. She is a psychologist, a Priest in the Church of Ireland and a Canon in the National Cathedral of St. Patrick’s, Dublin. She recently gave up a well paid job as a religious columnist to make her fortune writing poetry. To that end she is taking classes with Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins. She is preparing a book for Columba Press and a collection of short stories titled 'Marchpane Smiles'.

Dave Rock is a Scottish-Lithuanian-Irish-English something or other. He has been writing since he was seven years old. His work has been published in journals such as The Shop, Revival, Faoiseach and The Old Yellow Lantern. He won the GYT/Bank of Ireland One Act Play Festival Best New Writing Award. He has been a featured reader at many different venues, the Whitehouse, the Electric Picnic and Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures. He is a former auditor of the Writers Society of NUIG. His first collection of poetry is published soon by Maverick Press.

Marck Beggs is a professor and graduate dean at Henderson State University, Arkansas. When he is not writing poems or singing his quasi-folk songs, he can sometimes be found watching the weeds proliferate in his garden as he daydreams of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and butternut squash. Needless to say, he cites Whitman as a major influence. He is the author of Catastrophic Chords (Salmon, 2008), Libido Café (Salmon, 2004) and Godworm (1995). His folk-rock band, dog gods, released their debut CD in 2008 (www.cdbaby.com/doggodsmusic).

As usual there will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always most welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.
Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council & The Arts Council.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology presents new course in Creative Writing for Beginners














Susan Millar DuMars will give support, instruction and feedback to those who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The course takes place one evening per week (Wednesday) for 6 weeks from 7.30–9.30 p.m. It commences on Wednesday, April 29th at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Susan’s debut poetry collection, Big Pink Umbrella, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2008. A mini-collection of her short stories, American Girls was brought out by Lapwing Press in 2007. Susan has read from her work in Ireland, Britain, the US and Greece. She and her husband organise the Over the Edge readings series in Galway.

Advance booking is essential. Places cost €100.00. For further details or to book a place contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Telephone 091 742145 or see http://www.gmit.ie

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Poetry, Dance and Visual Art: WASTE BEAUTY an exhibition by Harriet Leander

I N V I T A T I O N

WASTE BEAUTY an exhibition by Harriet Leander

A performance by Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble

Poetry reading by Steve Murray

Galway City Museum

Opening Saturday April 4th 2009 at 3.00 pm

Extra performance Sunday April 5th 2009 at 3.00 pm

Spring Creative Writing Classes - Beginners & Intermediate at Galway Technical Institute




Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins takes place one evening per week (Monday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Monday, 23rd March, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. Kevin Higgins will provide writing exercises for, and give gentle critical feedback to, those interested in trying their hand at writing poems, stories or memoir.

Intermediate Creative Writing with Susan Millar DuMars takes place one evening per week (Tuesday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Tuesday, 24th March, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. This class is suitable for those who’ve participated in creative writing classes before or begun to have work published in magazines. Flexible exercises and work-shopping of assignments, together with the study of the works of published writers, will help each class member to find their own writing voice.

To book a place in either class contact GTI, Father Griffin Road, Galway Telephone 091-581342, e-mail adultedinfo@cgvec.ie or see www.gti.ie