Bailieborough Poetry Festival 2018

Another very successful and well-attended poetry festival in Bailieborough, the sixth consecutive celebration of poetry here which opened opened with a collaboration between artist Ruth McDonnell and LitLab writing group. The exhibition and festival were officially opened by Iggy McGovern.

Poets Brendan McCann and Enda Wyley read on Friday night and enthralled the audience. An open mic  followed.

Saturday morning had workshops by Enda Wyley and AnneMarie Ní Churreáin.

The afternoon saw the Irish Writers Centre launch their Poetry master class series. The launch included a reading by Noel Monahan who is one of the tutors.

Then Noel, the Bailieborough Poetry Competition judge, announced the result. Winners were:
1st ‘Shannon of the Eye’ Jane Burn, Co. Durham; 2nd ‘Illuminated Manuscript Trinity College Library 2016’ Glen Wilson, Co. Armagh; 3rd ‘Gently Pulling Two Pieces of Poorly Glued Paper Apart’ Jamie Stedmond, Co Dublin.

The festival concluded on Saturday evening with readings by PJ Kennedy and Annemarie Ní Churreáin which were enjoyed by the large audience in Murtagh's lounge.

Fifth Anniversary Celebration of iYeats Poetry Competition

The Hawk's Well Theatre Sligo, has organised a 5th anniversary celebration of the iYeats Poetry Competition in the theatre on 3 August, at 8pm. This event, entitled ALOUD  will also include the announcement of this year's winners.

The celebration will include readings from Mary Branley, Gerald Dawe, Katie Donovan, James Harpur, Paula Meehan, Niall McMonagle and Enda Wyley all distinguished poets and past judges of the iYeats online international poetry competition.

The readings will be complemented by invited musicians including American Kyle Alden, a San Francisco based singer/songwriter best known for his award winning folk music settings of W.B. Yeats' poetry.

This is a Tread Softly Yeats Festival Season event. Tickets can be booked on the website.

As a commended poet in the iYeats Competition in 2010 I was invited to attend but unfortunately cannot as I will be attending the Fermoy Poetry Festival at that time. I will be attending the Poets Parlour event in the Yeats Memorial Building later that week on the Friday 9 August, at 1pm.