Barbara Smith Launches The Angels' Share

Barbara Smith's second poetry collection, The Angels' Share, was launched last night by poet Enda Coyle-Greene in the Basement Gallery, Dundalk. Another very successful, enjoyable event in an impressive setting completely different to the hotel function rooms of the previous two night. So unlike the previous two night there were no weight loss classes next door.

Enda Coyle-Greene (below) gave a very detailed, insightful introduction to Barbara's work stressing her great facility with language, her imagination and her attention to detail.

Barbara read a selection of her poetry, making a journey from Antarctica and Shackleton's Portable Homeland, by Mount Everest and the wonderful series of Mallory sonnets, through the Sistine Chapel, to end up back home with a selection of poems for her own children and her very clever and hilarious Pair Bond dedicated to Dolly Parton.

Top: Barbara reads in the Basement Gallery. The sculpture is by John Behan.

Three of Barbara's poems included in this collection are online here.
Interview with Barbara here.

All of the books launched this week by Doghouse can be purchased on the publisher's website.
The following bookshops also stock Doghouse books:
Dublin: Books Upstairs, College Greeen & The Winding Stair Bookshop.
Galway: Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop. Cork: Russell’s Bookshop.
Listowel:Seanchai Literary Centre & Woulfe’s Bookshop.
Killarney: The Killarney Bookshop.
Tralee: O’Mahony’s, Polymath & The Kerry Bookshop.
Kenmare: The Kenmare Bookshop.

And my book, Asking for Directions, is also available in Liber Bookshop, Sligo; Spar, Trim and the Navan Bookshop.