Blog Archives
Poetry Day Ireland
Poetry Time with Alan Hanna’s Bookshop
30 April 2020
Check-in – for this virtual alternative to the planned event – where you’ll find links to a collection of poems, created in response to a line in a favourite book, from a variety of poets including:
Eileen Casey, David Grant, Vivienne Kearns, Michael J. Whelan, Doreen Duffy,
Susan Condon, Kevin Bateman, Eoin Flynn, Damien Donnelly, Eilín de Paor,
Joe Carthy, Diane Murphy, Helena McCanney, Theresa O’Leary, Holly Dignam
and Orla Grant-Donoghue.
Poetry Launch
I’m delighted to announce that two award-winning members of writing group, Platform One, launch their debut poetry collections this week!
Details below for these free events:
Peacekeeper by Michael J Whelan
Date: Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: County Library, Tallaght
And
In Praise of Small Things by Áine Lyons
Date: Thursday, 14 April 2016
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: County Library, Tallaght
INVITATION TO PEACEKEEPER COLLECTION – LAUNCH
Looking forward to getting my hands on a signed copy of Peacekeeper by Michael J Whelan at the launch on Wednesday, 13 April – will probably see many of you there!
Hi all, it’s getting very close now and this is the official invitation designed and sent out by the publishers Doire Press, so I would like to invite you to join me at the launch of my new collection PEACEKEEPER, if you are in the area, it would be really great if you could come along on the night.
You are more than welcome to bring some guests too.
Promises to be a great evening,
Michael
Invitation to launch of PEACEKEEPER poetry collection by Michael J. Whelan
Staccato
Delighted to be on the Staccato line-up along with
Louise Phillips, Carolann Copland, Michael J Whelan, Noel Duffy, Doreen Duffy, Eamon McGuinness and Keith Burke.
Then it’s over to YOU for the open mic!
STACCATO is Dublin’s latest Spoken Word event. The idea is to showcase both established and emerging talent in prose and poetry.
FREE admission to Toner’s, Baggot Street from 7.30pm tonight, Wednesday, 30 December 2015.
Look forward to catching up with you all.
Anthology: Circle & Square
CIRCLE & SQUARE is an anthology of prose, poetry and fiction, inspired by ‘shopping centre’ as a place brim full with dramatic possibility.
It includes work from a number of guest writers, including (in alphabetical order):
Dermot Bolger, Martin Dyar, Mia Gallagher, Mary Guckian, Ferdia McAnna, Paula Meehan, Geraldine Mills, Louise Phillips and Kevin Power.
As well as a number of Platform One writers, many of who have won or been shortlisted for writing awards including:
the Hennessy Literary Award, the Listowel Writers’ Week Short Fiction Award, the Cecil Day Lewis Award, the Jonathan Swift Short Story Award, the James Plunkett Short Story Award, the RTE/Penguin Short Story Competition, the Patrick Kavanagh International Poetry Award and many more …
Trish Best, Annette Bryan, Joan Power, Niamh Byrne, Eileen Casey, Susan Condon, Doreen Duffy, Gavan Duffy, Brigid Flynn, Marie Gahan, Sue Hassett, James Hyde, Vivienne Kearns, Brian Kirk, Aine Lyons, Mae Newman, Trish Nugent, Tony Shields and Michael J Whelan.
“To open Circle and Square is like entering the sort of fascinating cafe which every shopping centre should ideally possess: a cornucopia of engaging voices and fascinating stories that any reader would happily eavesdrop on. Eileen Casey has deftly knitted together a compelling ensemble of poets and prose writers whose stories complement each other, as they ripple outwards in increasingly imaginative circles to explore the multiudinous facets of everday living. This is an anthology where a shopping expedition or a Luas journey can also bring you on a succession of intriguing and inventive voyages into the past and future. Prepare to be entertained.”
– Dermot Bolger
There will be a sneak preview of Circle & Square at the RED LINE FESTIVAL
on Tuesday the 13th October, 2015
at RUA RED Arts Centre
from 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm.
Guest writers Joan Power and Kevin Power (Bad Day in Blackrock) along with Eileen Casey will be in company with representatives from local trader organisations. The evening will feature the lyrics of WB Yeats put to music by Tony Bardon together with brief readings from Circle & Square (Fiery Arrow Press).
Admission is FREE, but booking is required via (01) 451 5860 or by email, boxoffice@ruared.ie.
The official launch of Circle & Square is due to take place in November – details to follow soon!
Reality Blog Award: Susan Condon
I was delighted to be nominated by Michael J Whelan for the Reality Blog Award!
What a nice surprise and a much-needed boost for my writing ego – something, I’m sure most writers will agree, that is essential to keep us going.
And now to delve into the unknown and come up with answers to the following questions:
Q: If you could change one thing in your life what would it be?
That’s easy – I’d love to have my debut novel published and sitting on the bookshelves of all good bookstores – or better still in the arms of a welcoming reader.
Q: If you could repeat any age which would it be?
Every age brings different joys but I have to admit that I’m glad I was around for the music of the ’80’s – who could beat such great music; David Bowie, Gary Numan, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, The Smiths, U2 – the list goes on and on . . .
Q: What really scares you?
Nothing scares me more than a really great horror book or movie. Reading or watching one can keep me awake for hours – but can also be inspiration for a poem or a short story about fear. The Others was one of my favourite horror movies and The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert had me terrified while reading it, even in the middle of the afternoon – tap, tap, tap . . .
Q: If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?
Now that’s a hard question – but maybe for a day I could live in the 1800’s as Emily Dickinson – I love her dark poetry and her fascination with death.
Thanks again to Michael who nominated me for the award. You can find some of his award-winning poems and stories at www.michaeljwhelan.wordpress.com
Finally, I would like to nominate my fellow writers/bloggers for this award and I hope they will take up the gauntlet. Their blogs are inspiring, so enjoy your visit:
Red Line Writing
I was delighted when my short piece, Secret Librarian, was chosen by Sue Hassett to be included in the Red Line Writing as part of South Dublin Libraries Red Line Book Festival last year, along with fellow writers and poets.
This is a reading of new work by writers from South Dublin, presented in diverse voices by actors from Inchicore College, Carousel Theatre School and Clondalkin Youth Theatre. To have your work read by a professional actor, while you sit in the audience of The Civic Theatre, is, I can assure you, quite a thrill.
Curious Broadcast is a radio station and production company who work with people to exchange knowledge through audio and video productions.
Head over to Curious Broadcast and take a moment to listen to the diverse work delivered on the night. Secret Librarian can be found at 00:22:18 but if you have time, I’d encourage you to listen to them all – you won’t be disappointed.
TITLE | WRITER | ACTOR |
Artist’s Statement | Molly O’Dwyer | Rachael Dowling |
Lily Shepherd | Jen Donohoe | Hayley Roche |
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori | Michael J. Whelan | Asa Cuthbert |
Irish Batt | Michael J. Whelan | Vladic Gurdis |
Covenant Denied | Michael J. Whelan | Kenneth Hudson |
Secret Librarian | Susan Condon | Nicola Kirwan |
Sun God | Gavan Duffy | Kenny Stapleton |
Classmate | Gavan Duffy | Conor Kelly |
Border Shop | Mae Newman | Rachael Dowling |
The Mind Fisher | Doreen Duffy | Hayley Roche |
Tallaght Tardis | Áine Lyons | Nicola Kirwan |
2 extracts from Acquittances 123 | Sue Hassett | Rachael Dowling |