Four poetry collections launched at Charlie Byrne's Bookshop by Over The Edge

Photos by Jessie Lendennie

Dave Lordan reads from The Boy In The Ring

Billy Ramsell reads from Complicated Pleasures

Alan Jude Moore

Alan Jude Moore reading from Mike Begnal's Ancestor Worship

Professor Brian Arkins introducing Knute Skinner

Knute Skinner reading from Fifty Years: Poem 1957-2007

Billy Ramsell

Dave Lordan relaxes

Susan Millar DuMars

Charlie Byrne and bookshop manager, Vinny Browne

Kevin Higgins with the Salmon anthology

Over The Edge facilitated the Galway launch of Ancestor Worship by Michael S. Begnal (Salmon Poetry); Fifty Years: Poems 1957-2007 Poems by Knute Skinner (Salmon Poetry);The Boy in the Ring by Dave Lordan (Salmon Poetry) & Complicated Pleasures by Billy Ramsell (Dedalus Press) http://www.dedaluspress.com/poets/ramsell.html

at Charlie Byrne's Bookshop Middle Street, Galway

on Friday 12th October.

Dave Lordan, Billy Ramsell & Knute Skinner read from their collections.

Mike Begnal was sadly unable to attend due to plane delays which left him stranded in the US.

Mike's good friend and fellow Salmon poet, Alan Jude Moore, stepped in to read a selection of poems from Ancestor Worship.

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

Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year': Winning Entry Published in West 47 Online

Kevin Lavelle from Barna in County Galway is the 2007 Over The Edge New Writer Of The Year.


'Bury Me In The Garden', the story which won Kevin Lavelle the competition is published in the latest issue of Galway Arts Centre's online literary quarterly West 47 online. It can be read at http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/review.html

Over The Edge would like to thank Galway Arts Centre and especially Maura Kennedy for their support in publishing Kevin's winning story.

Australian Poet Earl Livings at City Museum Lunchtime Reading & North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights and The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum present Earl Livings (Australia) on Thursday Oct. 11th in BK's Winebar, Spanish Arch at 9 pm and Friday Oct. 12th in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Earl Livings was born and educated in Melbourne. He is a poet, creative writing teacher and editor of Divan, Australia's first online poetry journal. His poetry, fiction and non-fiction have been published widely in Australia. He is also a frequent reader on radio. He currently teaches Creative Writing at Box Hill Institute, Northcote,Victoria. His latest collection is Further Than Nights.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar. Two finalists this

month automatically go forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Thursday 11 October 9 pm Friday 12 Oct. 1 pm
BK's Winebar Galway City Museum
Spanish Parade, Galway

Check out the NEW!!! North Beach Poetry Nights MySpace for all the news.
You might be there! www.myspace.com/northbeachpoetrynights

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Greek Poet For September Over The Edge: Open Reading

The September ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 27th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Greek poet and playwright Dimitris Lyacos and Galway-based poets Rita O’Donoghue & Geraldine Keane.

Rita O’Donoghue is originally from County Mayo and lived for many years in the UK, where she won an Eastern Arts Award for Poetry in 1993. She has now settled in Galway where she works at NUIG. Rita has previously read her work at Galway Arts Centre’s Nuns Island Studio, the Westside Library Summer Open-mic and the Over The Edge open-mic. She has taken part in the Advanced Poetry workshops at Galway Arts Centre.

Geraldine Keane is a Galway native and received her M.A. in Writing from NUI Galway in 2005. She has published several non-fiction pieces in the U.S. and Ireland, including travelogues in New York’s The Irish Letter. She performed in last year’s BAFFLE festival and was published earlier this year in ROPES. She is currently working on her first book.

Dimitris Lyacos was born in Athens in 1966. He is both a poet and a playwright. His trilogy Poena Damni has been translated into English, Spanish, Italian and German and has been performed extensively across Europe and the USA. A sound and sculpture installation based on his poetry collection Nyctivoe opened in London and toured Europe in 2004-2005. Lyacos’ work has been the subject of lectures and research at various universities, including Amsterdam, Trieste and Oxford.

There will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

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

POSTCRIPT: There is a short review of the September Over The Edge: Open Reading on the website of one audience member, Maura McHugh. You can read it at http://splinister.com/blog/?postid=410

BACK WITH A SLAM!

GALWAY ARTS CENTRE’S POETRY SLAM! RETURNS

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
7-8pm, The Ruby Room, The King’s Head

Take to the stage with your own 3-minute poem on any subject.

Need inspiration? See if you can write an ode (or haiku, sonnet, sestina…) to cryptosporidium. The best Crypto-poem will be published online on GalwayArts Centre’s website.

The overall winner goes forward to Cúirt FestivalGrand Slam (April 2008). If the muse doesn’t strike, come along and listen to the eight performers strut their poetic stuff - you may even be picked as one of our audience judges!

Resident MC Pete Mullineaux will keep order, admission is free andall are welcome.

For further information, please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway 091-565886 or info@galwayartscentre.ie

Lucy English at North Beach Poetry Nights and The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum

North Beach Poetry Nights
and
The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
present
LUCY ENGLISH
on Thursday Sep. 20th in BK's Winebar, Spanish Arch at 9 pm
and on Friday Sep. 21 in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Contribution to each event: 5 Euro

Lucy English is a novelist and performance poet.

She has three novels published by Fourth Estate. As a poet she has toured Holland, Denmark, India, Sri Lanka and the U.S . She appeared with Big Word at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1999-2002 where she was titled, 'the hippy chick love mother sex goddess'. She was a member of the acclaimed 'Temptation' poetry tour in 2005 and artistic director for the 'Exposed' tour in 2006.She was a guest poet at the Calgary Litfest in 2006 and a finalist in the BBC radio Four poetry slam in Sept 2007. She is a senior lecturer in creative studies at Bath Spa University and runs the only UK module in performance poetry.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each.

The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's poetry. Thursday 20 September 9 pm Friday 21 Sep. 1 pm BK's Winebar Galway City Museum Spanish Parade, Galway

Check out the NEW!!! North Beach Poetry Nights MySpace for all the news.
You might be there! www.myspace.com/northbeachpoetrynights

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Large crowd at Sheridan's Wine Bar for Galway launch of 'Revival' magazine and reading by Sara Byrne, Ed Boyne & Matthew Sweeney

To view a full slideshow of the Revival magazine launch click on http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com/2007/09/launch-of-revival-4-at-over-edge-galway.html

Matthew Sweeney to read at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Matthew Sweeney, Sara Byrne & Edward Boyne, plus the Galway launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine Revival at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, September 14th, 8pm.


Sara Byrne was born in 1980 in Dublin, where she survived for 18 years before escaping, relatively unharmed to Galway. In 2003 she started to publish some of her poetry. In 2004 she co-founded the North Beach Nights Poetry Slam, which she hosted until relocating to London to pursue a glittering career in sandwich making. In this she has been very successful. In London she continues to read her work to whoever will listen. She is currently completing a BA in Creative Writing.

Edward Boyne is a poet and fiction writer. He has been short-listed for the Hennessy award in both poetry and fiction and for the Francis McManus short story competition. His work has been published in a variety of journals and anthologies. He read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. He lives in Galway.

Matthew Sweeney was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1952. He moved to London in 1973 and studied at the Polytechnic of North London and the University of Freiburg. His poetry collections include A Dream of Maps (1981), Blue Shoes (1989), Cacti (1992), and A Smell of Fish (2000). Selected Poems, representing the best of 10 books and 20 years' work, was published in 2002. He won a Cholmondeley Award in 1987 and an Arts Council Writers' Award in 1999. He has also published poetry for children. Matthew Sweeney has held residencies at the University of East Anglia and the South Bank Centre in London, and was Poet in Residence at the National Library for the Blind as part of the ‘Poetry Places’ scheme run by the Poetry Society in London. His latest poetry collections are Sanctuary (2004) and Black Moon (2007).

This reading will be preceded by the Galway-launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine ‘Revival’.

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

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

Brendan Murphy in final of BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam

Brendan Murphy is second from right. Also pictured are Denise Heneghan, Steve Murray and Micéal Kearney.

2006 Cúirt Grand Slam Winner, Brendan Murphy, recently took part in the Semi-final of the BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam in Manchester. Brendan is representing Ireland, having won the Irish heat which took place in Belfast back in May. With some ease Brendan qualified for the Final which will take place in Bristol on Saturday, September 8th, when there will be five other finalists.

Brendan's winning semi-final performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, September 6th at 11pm. To listen to it click on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/poetry_slam.shtml

Sheila Phelan launches poetry collection

'Washington, D.C.', a first collection of poems by Shela Phelan, published by Lapwing, will be launched on Wednesday 26th September at 6.30pm in the Galway City Library.

The speaker will be Michael O'Loughlin, Galway City Council's Writer in Residence.

All are welcome.



Sheila Phelan was born in Dublin in 1971 and now lives in Galway. She has worked with the Baboro Childrens Festival and with Galway Civic Trust. She was awarded an Arts Council Bursary in 2002 and was runner up inthe Patrick Kavanagh Competition in 2005. She is a graduate of the NUI, Galway MA in Writing. Sheila read at the inaugural Over The Edge/Cúirt Festival showcase reading in April 2006.

Lapwing is an independent publisher based in Belfast. In Irish folklore the lapwing is a bird that symbolises hope. Excerpts from 'Washington, D.C.' can be viewed on Google Booksearch

Galway City Museum Lunchtime Reading

Colette Nic Aodha's most recent poetry collections,
'Sundial' and 'Between Curses / Bainne Géar'
are published by Arlen House.



Her work is included in the Field Day Anthology
of Irish Writing and The White Page /
An Bhileog Bhán, among other anthologies.
She is a member of the Board of Directors
of Poetry Ireland and of the Irish Language
Festival, IMRAM. She works in the National
University of Ireland, Galway.

The Galway City Museum Poetry Reading
takes place on the special date
Sept. 07 / 07 at 1 pm.

A contribution of 5 Euro is welcomed.

For more information contact John Walsh
on 091 593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie

Winner of Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' competition

Kevin Lavelle Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' 2007

Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition sponsored by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop



The winner of the inaugural Over the Edge New Writer of the Year competition is Kevin Lavelle, from Barna, County Galway, for his story Bury Me In The Garden. The winning story will appear in the Oct.-Dec. issue of the Galway Arts Centre's journal, West 47 online. Kevin will be a featured reader at the November 22nd, all-fiction Over the Edge: Open Reading.

Second place was taken by poet Cate Huguelet, while joint third place went to fiction writers Aidan Hynes and Claire Anderson-Wheeler.

A short-list of eight was chosen from the long-list of sixteen.

The short-listed writers were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Kevin Lavelle, Galway County
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
Grace Wells, County Tipperary


The writers who made the long-list were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Evan Costigan, Co. Kildare
Philip Crymble, County Dublin
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Vincent Flannery, County Galway
Aideen Henry, Galway City
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Maureen Kelly, County Galway
Miceál Kearney, County Galway
Kevin Lavelle, County Galway
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
J.K. Morrissey, Dun Laoghaire
Neil Ward, Dublin
Grace Wells, County Tipperary

The winner was announced at the first Over The Edge: Open Reading after the Summer break in Galway City Library this Thursday, August 30th, 6.30pm.

The competition judge was Alan Jude Moore, a Featured Reader at the reading on Thursday. His reading was sponsored by Poetry Ireland. The other Featured Readers were Margaret Faherty and Tom Lavelle.

The competition was a great success, yielding 116 submissions. We're very grateful to the contestants, our judge and Charlie Byrne's bookshop for their sponsorship.

Micéal Kearney to read at Vilenica Festival, Slovenia

Miceál Kearney, winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam is off this week to read at Slovenia’s 22nd Vilenica International Literary Festival on September 8th, 11am at the Štanjel Literary.








Micéal also won the inaugural Cuisle Festival Poetry Slam in Limerick last October. Poems of his have recently been accepted for publication in The Shop and The Cork Literary Review. He will also feature in a forthcoming anthology from Cinnamon Press.

Australian Poet at Galway City Museum

Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
August 31st at 1pm.
Miceál Kearney (Winner Cúirt Grand Slam '07)
and Mark O'Flynn (Australia).

Miceál Kearney, poet and performer,takes to the road in September for Brighton,Chicago and Slovenia.He is taking this opportunity to give us a preview of the set he will be performing at the Green Mill in Chicago and at the Literary Festival in Slovenia.

Mark O'Flynn, is a poet, novelist and playwright from Australia.He has had 7 plays produced back home in Australia and his third collection of poetry is due out this year. At present he is at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre working on his third novel and is coming to Galway especially for his reading in the Galway City Museum.

Contribution: 5 Euro
Info: John Walsh @ 593290

Poetry workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

Galway Arts Centre is offering a choice of three poetry workshops, facilitated by Kevin Higgins, whose first collection of poems, ‘The Boy With No Face’, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award. ‘The Boy With No Face’ was Salmon Poetry’s bestselling book of 2005 and has recently been reprinted.


Kevin Higgins is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success. He is also co-organiser of the popular Over The Edge literary events.

Each workshop will run for ten weeks.They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; Wednesday afternoons, 2-3.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm. The Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon workshops are open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. These workshops commence the week of September 17th. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. It commences on Thursday, September 27th.

The cost to participants is €100, with an €90 concession rate.Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Victoria at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

The popular ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ series returns to Galway City Library after the Summer break on Thursday, August 30th 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Tom Lavelle, Margaret Faherty & Alan Jude Moore. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.


Tom Lavelle lives in Galway and works as the finance director of a manufacturing company. He began writing poetry quite recently, having attended workshops in the Galway Arts Centre. His work has appeared in West 47 online and The Cuirt Annual. He lives in Galway.

Margaret Faherty has published short stories in literary journals and magazines; she was an award winner for both short fiction and poetry at the Moore Literary Festival. Her work has featured on BBC Radio 4 and on RTE’s Sunday Miscellany and Living Word. She has also been published in the DIVAS! anthology. She lives in Galway.

Alan Jude Moore’s poetry has been widely published in Ireland, Europe and the USA. His fiction has twice been short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Award. His first collection of poetry, Black State Cars, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2004. A selection of poems from Black State Cars was published last year in translation by the Moscow literary journal, Novaya Junost. He currently lives in Dublin.

There will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always welcome.

The evening will also see the announcement of the winner of the Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition.

The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Creative Writing for Beginners at GMIT

The course is facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. She will give support, instruction and feedback to students who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The first part of each class is devoted to instruction. In the second part, students read their homework assignments aloud and receive feedback from the instructor and the class. An atmosphere of trust and mutual encouragement is built during these workshop sessions.

The eight sessions will cover

*Techniques for forming ideas and getting started

*Creating characters

*The importance of sound in poetry

*Engaging the reader's five senses

*Stream of consciousness writing

*Using figures of speech

*Learning through imitating published writers

*How to edit and present your writing

The course runs one evening per week (Wednesday) for 8 weeks from 7.30 p.m.- 9.30 p.m and commences on Wednesday, September 26th.

The course fee is €120. To register contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Tel: 091 753 161 or see http://www.gmit.ie/lifelong-learning/lifelong-learning-programmes/lifelonglearning-general/creative-writing-beginners.html

Creative Writing for Beginners at Galway Arts Centre

Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

This September Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner writers out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, ‘American Girls’, was published by Lapwing Press in April; her first collection of poetry, ‘The Wellspring Wife’, is forthcoming in 2008 from Salmon Poetry. Susan is a renowned creative writing teacher, and with her husband Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library.

The class runs for ten weeks, commencing on Monday September 17th, 2-3.30pm. It will be a gentle introduction to fiction, poetry and autobiographical writing. Through in-class exercises, homework assignments and work-shopping of pieces, participants will be encouraged to discover and refine their own voices and material. An atmosphere of mutual support and fun will be encouraged.

Places cost €110 and must be paid for in advance. There is a concession price. For booking please contact Vicky at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone Vicky on 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Dates for Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams

The dates for the autumn/winter Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams in The Ruby Room at The Kings Head, High Street, Galway are

Tues 25 Sept

Tues 30 Oct

Tues 27 Nov

Tues 11 Dec

All 7-8pm

Each month's winner qualifies for the 2008 Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam.

For further details contact Maura Kennedy at 091-565886 or call in to Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway.

The winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam was Micéal Kearney, the joint runners-up Gary King and Katie Lawless. Previous winners are Brendan Murphy, Steve Murray, Trish Casey & Kevin Higgins.

Upcoming Lunchtime Readings at Galway City Museum

Upcoming North Beach Poetry Nights - SLAMS

Aoife Casby to read at Westport Arts Festival

*Voices of the West*:
Poetry and short story reading
An eclectic mix of poetry and prose
read by Ger Reidy, Paddy Guthrie and Aoife Casby.
At The Westport Arts Festival 2007
In The Sea Sky Shore Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo
On Sunday 2nd September At 6pm
Wine and cheese will be provided.
Sponsored by Andrew Carney Construction.

Perciphone Petticoat at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights
presents
Perciphone Petticoat
Thursday 23rd August at 9pm
BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway





Perciphone Petticoat theatrical poetry performer, writer, singer songwriter, musician, is a fresh and entertaining face in the world of performance poetry and entertainment.

Perciphone uses enchanting lines, beguiling and palatable - weaving their way in and out of the cold hard truths being projected. From surrealism to social dysfunction - sexuality to empathy, fairytales to self-harm, Perciphone Petticoat often flirts on a rather risqué edge. However, pertinent subjects delivered graphically, are skillfully tempered, allowing ideas that would otherwise be unpalatable to be considered.

Her performance sites can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphonepetticoat2.

Her music can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphone.

Also The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam
Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Admission 5 Euro

Information: John Walsh @ 091-593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie

OPEN-AIR CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD MUSIC IN GALWAY

OPEN-AIR CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD MUSIC IN GALWAY

Sean Agus Nua concerts scheduled for Galway City: August 18th and August 25th, 2007

Following the recent release of the excellent CD, Éagsúlacht!, the Sean Agus Nua initiative has now scheduled two free open-air concerts to take place in August. These events will feature prominent ethnic musicians from diverse regions of the world now based in Galway, and establishing names for themselves locally, in a rousing celebration of the city’s newfound multicultural identity.

The first of these is to take place in the courtyard of Galway City Museum on Saturday, August 18th, between 12am and 4pm. The line-up for this event is as follows:
· Os Immigrantes (Brazilian Samba)

· Night Elvs (Filipino Rock)

· Dusty Banjos (Irish trad)

· Silnamandla (South African female vocal group)

· Granam (eclectic folk combo, featuring musicians of Poland, France and elsewhere).

Then, on Saturday August 25th from 2pm, a further concert of multicultural celebration is to be held in Eyre Square. The line-up for this event is as follows:

Natty Wailer and his band (authentic Jamaican Reggae outfit fronted by former member of the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers)

The Rye (high-octane fusion of Irish trad, blues and rock, featuring quality musicians from Germany and Ireland)

Vesuwave (Funky Latin Rock, fronted by highly-regarded Italian guitarist / vocalist, Vincenzo Donnarumma)

Cafe Minor (successful Scandinavian quartet, well-known throughout the West of Ireand, who specialise mainly in Gypsy and Klezmer).

Baslowa (very popular and long-established local Congolese Rhumba outfit)

Contact: Brian MacNamara
Mobile: 087 7954940
Email: buttermilklane@yahoo.co.uk

These events are being supported by Ireland West, Towards A City of Equals, Galway Arts Office, and local businesses.

Lunchtime with the Poetry Chicks at Galway City Museum

Friday 17th August

Lunchtime Reading in Galway City Museum
with The Poetry Chicks at 1 pm.

Contribution: 5 Euro

The Poetry Chicks:

Pamela Brown
Pamela is a published poet and creative writing facilitator who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced; one was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 1993. Collaborating with photographer Jan Voster, her work has also been exhibited in Holland. Pamela helped establish The Poets' Corner, a wall in the Gasyard area of Derry displaying poems from local teenagers and primary school children. She received a commendation in Community Drama at the University of Ulster, Magee and has participated in workshops by Augusto Boal - Theatre of the Oppressed, and Barney Simon - The Market Theatre, Johannesburg. A creative writing facilitator, Pamela also practices Bio-energy, Reiki and Tai Chi.

Jenni Doherty
Donegal-born, Jenni has worked in bookshops, with local publishing houses and as an arts & book reviewer for the local press. In 2006 she directed a multi-creative discipline project called EVE... a Celebration of Creative Women, published with Guildhall Press, Derry and is about to publish another anthology, Wonderful World of Worders involving over 70 international writers. Co-author of local folklore book, That Land Beyond, she has also toured Australia with the Belfast Poets Tour Group in 2006 and was a finalist in the Queensland SLAM. She works in Waterside Library and for Guildhall Press as well as co-facilitates youth creative writing workshops and runs the monthly BBC RaW Poetry Place in Derry's Central Library.

Abby Oliveira
Abby has lived in Northern Ireland since 1994. She was the winner of the Belfast Poetry Performance Cup 2006 and Cúirt SLAM Finalist 2007. Literary Festival Facilitator for the Gasyard Féile 2005, Abby also has a strong background in the Performing Arts. She has facilitated poetry workshops in Toronto, Canada, and performs regularly with In Your Space theatre company. Abby has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster, Coleraine and she was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and the Dean's Prize, 2005. She also conducts art and craft workshops with groups of all ages and is a Bio-energy and Reiki practitioner.

For more information contact John Walsh on 091-593290

Poetry Chicks at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights presents
Abby Oliveira, Pamela Brown, Jenni Doherty



The Poetry Chicks from Derry
Thursday 16th August 9pm
BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway

also the return of the North Beach Poetry Nights' Slam

and INTRODUCING the NORTH BEACH POETRY PUBLICATION PRIZE for the Winner of the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam to be held on Saturday 22 December in the Bank of Ireland Theatre, NUIG.

The Poetry Chicks:

Pamela Brown
Pamela is a published poet and creative writing facilitator who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced; one was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 1993. Collaborating with photographer Jan Voster, her work has also been exhibited in Holland. Pamela helped establish The Poets' Corner, a wall in the Gasyard area of Derry displaying poems from local teenagers and primary school children. She received a commendation in Community Drama at the University of Ulster, Magee and has participated in workshops by Augusto Boal - Theatre of the Oppressed, and Barney Simon - The Market Theatre, Johannesburg. A creative writing facilitator, Pamela also practices Bio-energy, Reiki and Tai Chi.

Jenni Doherty
Donegal-born, Jenni has worked in bookshops, with local publishing houses and as an arts & book reviewer for the local press. In 2006 she directed a multi-creative discipline project called EVE... a Celebration of Creative Women, published with Guildhall Press, Derry and is about to publish another anthology, Wonderful World of Worders involving over 70 international writers. Co-author of local folklore book, That Land Beyond, she has also toured Australia with the Belfast Poets Tour Group in 2006 and was a finalist in the Queensland SLAM. She works in Waterside Library and for Guildhall Press as well as co-facilitates youth creative writing workshops and runs the monthly BBC RaW Poetry Place in Derry's Central Library.

Abby Oliveira
Abby has lived in Northern Ireland since 1994. She was the winner of the Belfast Poetry Performance Cup 2006 and Cúirt SLAM Finalist 2007. Literary Festival Facilitator for the Gasyard Féile 2005, Abby also has a strong background in the Performing Arts. She has facilitated poetry workshops in Toronto, Canada, and performs regularly with In Your Space theatre company. Abby has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster, Coleraine and she was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and the Dean's Prize, 2005. She also conducts art and craft workshops with groups of all ages and is a Bio-energy and Reiki practitioner.

THE NORTH BEACH POETRY NIGHTS' GRAND SLAM and PUBLICATION PRIZE: The winner of each of the 10 North Beach Poetry Nights' Slams from August until 20 December will go through automatically to the Grand Slam on Saturday 22 December.

Another 10 entrants will be selected by submission of written and recorded material. Submission fee: 10 Euro.

The winner of the North Beach Nights' Grand Slam will be chosen by a team of experienced poetry performance judges.

The prize is publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Information: John Walsh 091-593290

19 readers at Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic

Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic: ALL WELCOME!

The Westside Arts Festival
presents
the 2007 Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic



Readings by Margaret Cullagh, Susan Millar DuMars & Kevin Higgins will open the Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mike on Wednesday 25th July at 7pm. Susan Millar DuMars will MC the event. Anyone who has a poem or story they want to share is welcome to take part. Each reader will have a three minute slot; but there is no limit on the number of readers. If you come along and sign up for the open-mike, you will definitely get to read.

Venue: Westside Library, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway

Date/Time: Wednesday 25th July, 7pm

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

Friday Lunchtime Readings in Galway City Museum

Friday July 20th at 1pm.
with Poet and Performer Tamsin Kendrick from London.

Tamsin made a brief appearance at Over the Edge in November '06 and then went on to blow every one away at The Voice and Verse evening in the Crane. This is your chance to catch up with her and see for yourself.

With your support we aim to make this another special Galway poetry event, with a magic of its own.

Contribution: 5 Euro
Info: John Walsh @ 593290

Tamsin will also be the guest poet at
North Beach Poetry Nights in BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade on Wednesday 18th July at 9pm.

"One of the hot new stars of the London poetry scene, intelligent, fierce, honest and delivered with a unique stage presence." Shortfuse

Tamsin Kendrick at North Beach Poetry Nights

Tamsin Kendrick returns to Galway
at the invitation of North Beach Poetry Nights
on Wednesday 18th July at 9pm

Also: Last Open-Mic before the Slam returns in August!

BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway

Admission: 5 Euro

Poet and Performer Tamsin Kendrick from London made a brief appearance at Over the Edge in November '06 and then went on to blow every one away at The Voice and Verse evening in the Crane. This is your chance to catch up with her and see for yourself.

Tamsin will also be the guest poet at
Friday Lunchtime Readings in Galway City Museum
on Friday 20th July at 1pm.

Info: John Walsh @091-593290

About Tamsin:

Tamsin Kendrick is a vivid veteran of the London poetry scene and has performed internationally in places such as Ireland, New Zealand and New York. She uses intelligent, streetwise poetry (Saltmargins) with a dose of humour to talk about anything from the apocalypse to navigating south London estates. "Sometimes," she says of them, "they feel like the same thing". Tamsin is a freelance writer, editor and chancer.In 2000 Tamsin Kendrick lost her poetry virginity through a loudspeaker on Clapham Common to a homeless man and his dog. She has been performing in some of the most prestigious poetry nights and venues ever since. Whilst studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford she hosted an open-mike night called Poetry Unhinged on The High.Tamsin has performed at many places including Shortfuse's Poetry Idol, the Latitude Festival, New Blood, Heartbeats (Liverpool), Voice & Verse (Galway Ireland), The Cellar, The Bricklane Festival, Elephest, Fruitstock and at Dodo modern poets. She has also done a mini New York tour where she featured at the Bowery Poetry Club and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.She has also been published in various poetry/magazines such the Wolf, the Delinquent, The Fix and Rising. She is currently working on her first collection.

People say things like:

"Just your average, giggly girl about town with an Oxford degree in philosophy. Muses on faith and the emotional grime of London life, the only poet I know of to be young yet experienced enough to feature in both eras of New Blood!" Niall O'Sullivan, host of New Blood and The Cellar

"One of the hot new stars of the London poetry scene, intelligent, fierce, honest and delivered with a unique stage presence." Shortfuse

Paddy Henry

Paddy Henry retired to Galway in 1998 having been a soft drinks manufacture in Charlestown, Co. Mayo. He continued his life long interest in drama through his involvement with Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society. He was a member of the Knocknaccarra Active Retirement Writers Group.


In May of this year he was a Featured Reader at the final Over The Edge: Open Reading before the Summer Break.

He passed away yesterday at UCHG. Our sympathy goes out to his wife, family and all who knew him. He will be missed.

Summer poetry extravaganza at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Eamonn Wall (left), Celeste Auge & Michael O’Loughlin, plus the Galway launch of Trio, a collection showcasing Limerick poets, Noel Harrington, Ger Sheehy and Edward O’Dwyer at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, July 13th, 8pm.

Eamonn Wall, born and raised in Co. Wexford, has lived in the US since 1982 and is now settled in Missouri. His poetry collections are Dyckman--200th Street (1994), Iron Mountain Road (1997), The Crosses (2000), and Refuge at Desoto Bend (2004) all published by Salmon. From the Sin-é Café to the Black Hills (2000), a volume of essays on the Irish Diaspora, received the Michael J. Durkan Prize from the American Conference for Irish Studies for excellence in scholarship. Eamonn Wall teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Celeste Auge was born in Canada, but moved to Ireland when she was twelve years old. She now lives in County Galway. Her poems have appeared in a wide variety of literary journals in Ireland and internationally. She has read her work at Poetry Ireland Introductions and also read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. In 2006 she was awarded the Assistance Towards Publication Grant by Galway County Council. Tornadoes For The Weathergirl, a chapbook of her poems, was published in November 2006. Celeste has new poems forthcoming in Poetry Ireland Review.

Michael O’Loughlin was born in Dublin in 1958. His poetry collections are Stalingrad: The Street Dictionary (1980); Atlantic Blues (1982); The Diary of a Silence (1985); and Another Nation, New & Selected Poems (New Island Books, 1994/UK Arc Publications, 1996). He published a collection of short stories, The Inside Story (Raven Arts Press, 1999). Michael is also a screenwriter, his most recent feature film is Snapshots (2002).He has lived for many years in continental Europe, mostly Amsterdam but recently returned to Ireland. He is Galway City Council’s Writer In Residence. He is currently completing a new collection of poems.

This reading will be preceded by the Galway-launch of the Revival 'Trio', a collection by Limerick-based poets Noel Harrington, Edward O’Dwyer and Gerard Sheehy
recently published by Revival Press, Limerick

Noel Harrington is from Tuamgraney in Co Clare. In his 20s he did the customary living abroad thing (Copenhagen, Munich, New York etc) and has washed more than his fair share of dishes. In his final year studying for a BA at Maynooth, he won the University's top award for literature, the Barbara Hayley Memorial Prize. Has had work published in Revival and will be appearing in a future issue of The Stinging Fly.

Gerard Sheehy was born in Limerick and has lived there for most of his life. He is a regular reader at the White House Poetry Revival nights. Previous work has been published in the Microphone On anthology and Revival.

Edward O Dwyer is 22 and from Limerick. He's been writing seriously since June 2006, which incidentally is the time he began going to the White House in Limerick. He holds a first class honours degree in English and Media & Communications (U.L.) and in September begins a H.Dip in secondary school teaching (N.U.I Cork). He has been previously published in Revival.

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

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

Poetry Workshop Participants Take First & Second Place

Aine Egan receives her prize from poet Ger Reidy





Two participants in Galway Arts Centre's current round of poetry workshops have taken first and second place in The 2007 Raftery International Poetry Competition.

Áine Egan's poem, The Tree Ceremony, won first place, while Moycullen-based poet Mary Madec came in second. Áine Egan is also a member of Mayo Writers Block; while Mary Madec was a featured reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading in November 2005. She also recently read at an Over The Edge event at Sheridan's Wine Bar.

Lunchtime readings at City Museum

North Beach Poetry Nights Introduces the New Series of Friday Lunchtime Readings in Galway City Museum at 1.30pm on Friday 22 June with Award winning Poet and Fiction-Writer Geraldine Mills.

Geraldine will read poetry and her prize-winning short story: "The Weight of Feathers" With your support we want to make this another special Galway literary event. Admission 5 Euro

Geraldine Mills, a native of Galway, began her writing career in Dublin where she lived for twenty years before returning with her family to settle in Rosscahill Co. Galway in 1995. She has been published widely in both poetry and fiction. Bradshaw Books Cork has published her two collections of poetry, Unearthing your Own(2001) and Toil the Dark Harvest (2004) She was the Millennium winner of the Hennessy/Tribune Emerging Fiction Award and the overall winner of the New Irish Writer Award for her story ‘Lick of the Lizard’. She has been short listed four times for the Francis McManus Short Story Award taking 2nd prize in 2004 and 2006. Her first short story collection titled The Lick of the Lizard was published by Arlen House in 2005 and her second collection The Weight of Feathers for which she received an Arts Council Bursary and Galway County Council Publication Assistance Award is forthcoming from Arlen House. Her Monologue ‘This is From the Woman who Does’ was premiered at the Provincetown Theatre Playwrights Festival, Cape Cod Mass. USA in October 2004. She is a regular contributor to RTÉ’s Living Word and Lyric FM’s Quiet Quarter. She tutors with the Galway Arts Centre.


For further information contace John Walsh on 091- 593290

North Beach Poetry Nights with Michael O'Loughlin & Johnny Duhan

BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade,

Thursday 21 June at 9pm

North Beach Poetry Nights presents

Poet Michael O'Loughlin, Galway City Writer in Residence

and Singer-songwriter, Folk-poet Johnny Duhan

and Open Mic, for all of YOU who wish to read your own poem.

Admission 5 Euro

Los Angeles poet at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Los Angeles poet joins Galway writers at Sheridan’s Wine Bar
Over The Edge presents a reading by John Menaghan, Mary Madec, Gary King & Mags Treanor at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, June 15th, 8pm.







John Menaghan was born in New Jersey to Irish-American parents. He teaches literature and creative writing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he also serves as Director of both the Irish Studies and Summer in Ireland programs and runs the annual Irish Cultural Festival. His most recent collection of poems, ‘She Alone’ - a book-length poetic sequence, which traces the life of an imaginary woman from birth to death and beyond – was published last year by Salmon Poetry. It has been described by the prestigous Hudson Review as “one of the best books of 2006.”

Mary Madec is from Mayo but has lived in Philadelphia, Dublin and now Galway. She started writing seriously in 2004. Since then her poems have appeared in Crannog, West 47, The Cuirt Annual and The Shop. She was a Featured Reader at the November 2005 Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library. Mary was shortlisted for the Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in both 2006 & 2007. She was chosen to take part in this year’s Poetry Ireland Introductions readings.

Gary King was the joint runner-up in this year’s Cuirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam. He has read his poems at the popular White House reading series in Limerick, and was a Featured Reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading in February 2003. He was short-listed for the 2006 Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading. Gary’s poems have been published widely in magazines such as Poetry Nottingham, Criterion, West 47 & The Burning Bush. A chapbook of his poems, Ambiguous Lights, was published by Over The Edge in 2004.

Mags Treanor was born in Dublin in 1965. She now lives in Galway where she writes both fiction and poetry. She is currently working on her novel, ‘Girl Racer’. Her work has been anthologised by New Island Press, West47 online, the Harrington Lesbian Fiction Quarterly, the Cuirt Annual and also broadcast on RTE Radio One. She was a Featured Reader at the May 2006 Over The Edge: Open Reading and was shortlisted for the 2007 Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading. Maverick Press recently published her collection of poems and short-stories, ‘Two Night Stand’.

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

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

Final 'Over The Edge: Open Reading' before Summer break

After the success of the Over The Edge showcase reading at the Cúirt Festival in April, the May ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ will take place on Thursday, May 31st, 6.30-8pm in Galway City Library. This month’s Featured Readers are Maria McManus,
Paddy Henry & Fergal McNally.





Maria McManus is a poet and playwright from Strangford near Belfast. Her collection ‘Reading the Dog’ was published in 2006 and was runner for this year’s Strong Award. In 2005 she was awarded the Bedell Scholarship of Literature by the Aspen Writers Foundation, Colorado. Her plays include His n‘Hers, The Black Out Show and Nowhere Harder. She is currently writer-on-attachment to Tinderbox Theatre Company.

Paddy Henry writes both fiction and non-fiction. He retired to Galway in 1998 having been a soft drinks manufacture in Charlestown, Co. Mayo. He continues his life long interest in drama through his involvement with Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society. He is a member of the Knocknaccarra Active Retirement Writers Group facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars.

Fergal McNally moved to Galway in 2003 to study Arts. He is currently enrolled on the M.A. in Writing program at N.U.I.G. He has had poetry published in Ropes magazine and Writers Seeking Lovers, a collection put out by the M.A. in writing poetry workshop. His one act play Spilt Milk won best production at this year’s Muscailt arts festival.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details contact 087-6431748.

The first Over The Edge: Open Reading after the Summer break will take place at Galway City Library on Thursday, August 30th.

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

All-Ireland Poetry Slam Champion

Galway Performance Poet, Brendan Murphy,
has become All-Ireland Poetry Slam Champion
after his successful participation in the Ireland
heat of the BBC Radio 4 Slam Competition
last Friday in Belfast.


Brendan will now represent Ireland in the BBC Radio 4 UK and Ireland
Slam Finals in Bristol in July. Brendan won the 2006 Cúirt Poetry Slam and performed at the Green Mill in Chicago last September. Over the last two years he has come up through the ranks of the North Beach Poetry Nights event in BK's Winebar and the Galway Arts Centre Cúirt Ruby Room Slam in the King's Head. He was a featured reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library last October.

Packed house at Sheridan's Wine Bar for reading by Lorna Shaughnessy, Dave Lordan, Susan Millar DuMars & Mark Granier

Mark Granier shares a post-reading drink with audience members, including Rita Ann Higgins

Bruce Barnes at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights BK's Winebar, Thursday, May 24th at 9pm

Special Guest: BRUCE BARNES Visiting UK Poet from Bradford

+ Micéal Kearney (Cúirt Grand Slam Winner '07)

+ Gary King + Katie Lawless (Joint Second Place at Cúirt Grand Slam 07)

+ Open Mic

Bruce Barnes was born in 1948, a Cockney. He has worked as a smallholder, a law lecturer, a legal advice worker, and currently in a mental health advocacy project, which includes supporting service user writing groups in hospital and community settings. In Bradford, he is a member of the Interchange performance poetry troupe, co-ordinates Bradford Poetry workshop, and organizes poetry events. His poems have appeared in many magazines including Braquemard, Poetry Wales, the Bound Spiral, Poetry London Newsletter, Poems on the Buses 1995, 1996, 1997, Krax, Pennine Platform, Island, Manifold. He has read and performed his poetry throughout Britain, and in Canada and the States. He has published two collections of poetry: 'the lovelife of the absent-minded' ( Newbury:Phoenix Press 1993) 'Somewhere Else' (Bradford:Utistugu Press 2003)

P.S. Next month's guests are: Michael O'Loughlin, Galway Writer in Residence and Galway's singer-songwriter, folk-poet: Johnny Duhan

Four Salmon poets to read at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge in association with Poetry Ireland presents a reading by Mark Granier, Lorna Shaughnessy, Dave Lordan & Susan Millar DuMars at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, May 11th, 8pm.



Mark Granier lives in Dublin. His first collection, Airborne, was published by Salmon poetry in 2001. He was awarded an Arts Council Bursary in 2002 and won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize in 2004. His second collection, The Sky Road, will be published this month by Salmon.

Lorna Shaughnessy was born in Belfast, but has lived in Galway for many years, where she lectures in the Spanish Department. Her poems have been widely published in magazines. She read at the 2006 Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase. Her first collection, Torching The Brown River, will be published next year by Salmon.

Dave Lordan is originally from Cork but now lives in Dublin. He won the 2005 Patrick Kavanagh Award for Poetry. 'Indiscipline' a joint collection of work by Dave and Tuam-based poet, Elaine Feeney, was recently published by Maverick Press. He is a hugely charismatic reader of his work. His first full collection, The Boy In The Ring, will be published next month by Salmon.

Susan Millar DuMars is an American writer who has lived in Galway for several years. Her short-story collection, American Girls, was published by Lapwing in April. Her first full collection of poems, The Wellspring Wife, will be published next year by Salmon.

There will also be a special guest appearance by Miceál Kearney, winner of the 2007 Cuirt Poetry Grand Slam.

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

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council, Poetry Ireland and Galway City Council.

Flosca Short Story Competition & Irish Language Poetry Competition

INTRODUCING:
Flosca Short Story Competition
and
Flosca Irish Language Poetry Competition
29 April, Town Hall Bar and Studio, 7:30 pm

Attention, writers!

Join us for the launch of two new writing contests hosted by Flosca Teo.

The event will feature readings by poet Louis de Paor and novelist Mike McCormack, with an introduction by Caroline Walsh, Literary Editor of The Irish Times.

Flosca Teo is a new web-based publishing company, founded by writers, with the mission to provide outlets for new work by writers in Ireland and abroad. Our website, http://www.flosca.com

FLOSCA [fluh-ska] --noun: the Irish genetive singular for flux: a flowing or flow; the flowing in of the tide; continuous change, passage, or movement; the rate of flow of fluid, particles or energy; a quantity expressing the field of force in a given area


Flosca Short Story Competition

Deadline: 15 December, 2007.
Word Limit: 3500 words.
To enter: Visit http://www.flosca.com

Entry Fee: €12.50

1st Prize: €1000 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

2nd Prize: €250 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

3rd Prize: €50 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

Competition opens for entry 29 April, 2007.


Flosca Irish Language Poetry Competition

Deadline: 15 December, 2007.
Word Limit: 100 words.
To enter: Visit http://www.flosca.com

Entry Fee: €5.00

1st Prize: €500 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

2nd Prize: €200 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

3rd Prize: €50 + Publication in the Prize-winners’ Chapbook.

Competition opens for entry 29 April, 2007.

The judges for both competitions will be announced at the Flosca launch at the Cúirt Literature Festival this coming Sunday

Poetry Workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

In May Galway Arts Centre is offering aspiring poets a choice of three poetry workshops, all facilitated by poet Kevin Higgins, whose best-selling first collection, ‘The Boy With No Face’, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award for Best First Collection by an Irish poet. Kevin Higgins is an experienced workshop facilitator and co-organiser of the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library. Several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success.

Each workshop will run for eight weeks, commencing during the week of May 14th.They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; Wednesday afternoons, 2-3.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm.

The Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon workshops are open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. The cost to participants is €98, with an €88 concession rate.

Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominic Street, Galway; phone 091-565886; or e-mail victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Intensive Creative Writing Classes at GTI

Galway Technical Institute is offering an intensive course in Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins. The course takes place one evening per week (Wednesday) from 7.00-10pm for four weeks, commencing on Wednesday, 16th May. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €60. 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.

Also on offer is a course in Beginners Fiction Writing with Susan Millar DuMars. This takes place one evening per week (also Wednesday) from 7.00-10pm for four weeks. It commences on Wednesday, May 16th. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €60. The course is for those who have an interest in writing short stories or longer fiction, and want the guidance and discipline of a weekly class to help them get going. 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 way.

To book a place in either class contact GTI, Father Griffin Road, Galway, telephone 091-581342 or go to http://www.gti.ie/

Galway Heat of the BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam

The Galway heat of the BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam takes place this Thursday, May 3, in BK's Wine Bar, Spanish Parade at 9pm.Two poets will go forward from the heat on Thursday to represent Connacht in the All Ireland Poetry Slam at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast on Friday, May 11. Winners of the Belfast slam will represent Ireland at the final stage of the competitionto be held in England in September.The Galway heat will be hosted by Neil McCarthy and guest poet is Trish Casey. Admission is free. All are welcome.

Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

This May Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner writers out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, ‘American Girls’, was published by Lapwing Press in April; her first collection of poetry, ‘The Wellspring Wife’, is forthcoming in 2008 from Salmon Poetry. Susan is a renowned creative writing teacher, and with her husband Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library.

The class runs for eight weeks, commencing on Monday January 22nd, 2-3.30pm. It will be a gentle introduction to fiction, poetry and autobiographical writing. Through in-class exercises, homework assignments and work-shopping of pieces, participants will be encouraged to discover and refine their own voices and material. An atmosphere of mutual support and fun will be encouraged. The cost to participants is €98, with a concession rate of €88.

Booking is essential as places are limited. For booking please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Miceál Kearney wins Poetry Grand Slam at Cúirt International Festival of Literature

Miceál Kearney from Ballindereen in County Galway won the 2007 Poetry Grand Slam at The Cúirt International Festival of Literature on Saturday. In joint second place where Gary King & Katie Lawless. Miceál will now go to read at the Green Mill in Chicago, where the poetry slam was born, and at the Vilenica Festival in Slovenia.

Miceál was a Featured Reader at Over The Edge in Galway City Library last September. He will read his winning poem at the special Over The Edge/Salmon Poetry reading at Sheridan's Wine Bar on Friday May 11th, 8pm.

Miceál is on the far right of the photograph. Also pictured are Denise Heneghan, Stephen Murray & Brendan Murphy.

Mags Treanor launches website

Galway-based writer Mags Treanor has launched what promises to be a very lively website at http://www.magstreanor.com

Launch of 'Sean Agus Nua: Éagsúlacht', a CD of World Music from Galway

CD LAUNCH: MAY 10th, VICTORIA HOTEL
‘Sean Agus Nua: Éagsúlacht’
(an album that features 65 musicians from over 20 diverse ethnic groups in an electrifying celebration of the region's cultural diversity)

The much-awaited launch of ‘Sean Agus Nua: Éagsúlacht’, the CD that showcases the diversity and quality of World Music now to be found in Galway, takes place on May 10th in the Victoria Hotel.

This 16-track CD features a wide array of music from the four corners of the globe, performed mainly by Galway-based ethnic musicians who are well-known locally and, in certain cases, internationally. There are, in addition, some well-kept secrets to be uncovered within this CD, recorded at Shay’s Studio, Loughrea.

Musicians performing on the night include:

NATTY WAILER: REGGAE FROM JAMAICA
BASLOWA: CONGOLESE RUMBA
VESUWAVE: FUNKY ETHNIC ROCK (LATIN STYLE)
ANDILE MESHACK AND FRIENDS: SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP DANCE

THE RYE: IRISH TRAD-BASED ROCK
followed by World Music DJ. Late Bar.
CDs on sale inside launch at reduced rate.
Tickets: 14 euro. Available from Zhivago Records, Redlight Records, and Sheridans Bar on the Docks.
Doors open: 7pm.

Over The Edge in 2007 Cúirt Annual

There is a feature on Over The Edge in the 2007 Cúirt Annual
which has just gone online
at http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/over.html

It includes work by Neil McCarthy, Siobhan Shine,
Tom Duddy, Noel Duffy & Aoife Casby:
the five writers chosen to take part
in this year's Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading
this Thursday, April 26th 11am
Town Hall Theatre, Galway.

Entry is free all welcome.

Poet Moyra Donaldson wins 2007 Cúirt New Writing Prize

Moyra Donaldson reading at an Over The Edge event at Sheridan's Wine Bar this March.




Moyra Donaldon has won the 2007 Cúirt New Writing Prize
for her poem 'Nature Notes', which you can read at http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/west4716.html

Moyra will be reading at the Cúirt Debut reading
alongside Mia Gallagher & Mojca Kumerdej
on Saturday, April 28th at 10am
in the Town Hall Theatre, Galway