The poetry journal Almatroz
The poetry journal Almatroz, whose objective is to promote and discuss contemporary poetry written or translated from/ into English invites critics, poets …
The Oul’ Triangle
It costs €90,000 a year to keep a prisoner in jail. The Old Triangle is a fund-raising event for the Irish Penal …
Ich am of Irlonde
Ich am of Irlonde, And of the holy londe Of Irlonde. Goode sire, praye ich thee, For of sainte charitee, Com and …
Pollack, O’Hara, Kahlo: Waking to the Plain
I became interested in the painter Jackson Pollock through a poet, Frank O’Hara. They were both Americans, and oddly enough, both died …
Bella Akhmadulina
The Russian poet Bella Akhmadulina has died. I saw her read once, in the old Project Theatre in Dublin, and was so …
One Hundred and Thirty Nine Years of Solitude
Photo owned by Dan4th (cc) Back in 1992 or 93, I was asked to write a poem to commemorate 139 years of …
Early versions of Irish Writers Online and Irish Culture Guide
Recently I was asked by an MA research student to give some background about Irish Writers Online. A most gratifying request, of …
The Book-Thief’s Heartbeat
Photo owned by Dan Strange (cc) Yeats’ writings are now in the public domain, it now being seventy years from the end …
Alliouagana Festival of the Word
I’ve never been to Alliouagana, but it has a special place in my heart, and indeed, in Irish history. Alliouagana is the …
All Ireland Poetry Day
Along with Rita Kelly, I’ll be reading in John Mc Evoy’s Crannog Bookshop in Cavan, All Ireland Poetry Day, Oct 1st, 1pm
Towards a Poetics of Anger
How should we describe the extraordinary consensus that existed in this country — a consensus that united us all around core concepts …
Poet of exile and return
In the week of John Montague’s 80th birthday, fellow poet Thomas McCarthy looks at the career and life of a man who …
The Toughest, Bravest Man Who Ever Lived
IT ALL begins with words. Words that teem and toss about, they stream and eddy. They’re torrential and pressing and insistent. They …
Paula Meehan et Les Poètes de Philippe Noireaut
I was looking forward to Paula Meehan’s reading in the National Gallery here in Dublin today at 1pm, but I just couldn’t …
James Liddy Funeral Arrangements
Irish Times Family Notices LIDDY, James Daniel – November 5, 2008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, late of Coolgreaney, Gorey and 8, Mary Street, …
James Liddy RIP
…The sad, baffling news of James Liddy’s death, the mentor of my youthful verse and friend of almost 40 years. I always …