Wednesday, October 17, 2018

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.