From a greenway trail to radio readings, Mayo celebrates Poetry Day Ireland 2022

EACH year Poetry Day Ireland invites everyone to experience, share and enjoy poetry in all its forms. Whether you share a poem, read a poem, or programme your own event on the day, everyone is invited to join in and celebrate in your own way.

This day-long celebration of the crafted word, spoken and written, is presented by Poetry Ireland in partnership with poetry enthusiasts the length and breadth of Ireland.

This year's Poetry Day Ireland takes place on Thursday, April 28, and the theme is ‘Written in the Stars’.

Do the stars determine our destiny? Or are they indifferent observers as we attempt to navigate our place in the cosmos by their ancient light? On Poetry Day Ireland, share your poems of prophecy and prediction or, in contrast, your poems questioning the idea that we can ever know what’s coming down the line.

There will be a number of exciting events taking place across Mayo, including:

Poetry Trail, curated by Culture Works, Thursday, April 28, 6.30 - 8 p.m., Great Western Greenway. Tickets: Free.

The trail starts at the greenway on the grounds of the National Museum of Ireland (Country Life).

Inspired by Mayo’s own Antaine O Raftearaí’s 'Cill Aodain', regarded by many as the national poem of spring, hear some new starry poems of spring and hopefulness, along with songs and music and all Faoin Spéir.

Experience the work of poets Terry McDonagh, Ger Reidy, Geraldine Mitchell, Sasha Terfous and Nithy Kasa as they pop up along the greenway.

Accompanying the poets along the way will be piper Diarmuid Moynihan, singer/songwriter Tony Reidy, harpist Laoise Kelly and drummer Robbie Harris.

Take the walk, stop along the way and return to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life for complimentary hot drinks and a poetic grand finale.

FOLKLIFE, curated by Culture Works, is an outdoor multi-disciplinary and artist residency programme of inclusive and engaging arts events/interventions. FOLKLIFE is funded by the Arts Council through the Faoin Spéir/In the Open 2021 - 2022 nationwide programme and locally by Mayo County Council Arts Service, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, The Linenhall Arts Centre and Mayo Artsquad.

Poetry reading on Midwest Radio, Thursday, April 28, 9.15 a.m.

Tune in to the Tommy Marren Show for Mayo County Council Arts Service’s celebration of Poetry Day Ireland 2022 with poets Edel Burke and Nithy Kasa who will read some of their poetry on the show.

Edel Burke lives in Castlebar and is the recipient of the Words Ireland/Mayo County Council National Mentorship Programme 2021 and winner of the Dromineer Poetry Competition 2017 and the highly commended iYeats Poetry Competition 2017. She has been published in a number of journals, including Crannóg, Banshee Literary Journal and Boyne Berries. Edel is working towards a first collection of poetry.

Nithy Kasa is an Ireland based poet of Congolese origin. Her poems have been published in Poetry Ireland Review, Trumpet Magazine, SAH Journal, Flare, A New Ulster, Dedalus Press’s Writing Home: The New Irish Poets and the commemorative anthology from The Ireland Chair of Poetry and UCD Press: Hold Open the Door. Nithy's debut collection of poetry is due to be published by Doire Press in May 2022.

Poetry in Mayo, presented by Castlebar Writers, Thursday, April 28, 4 p.m., online/radio.

Join this community radio presentation with Aidan Crowley (formerly of Radio Éireann) on his afternoon show on CRC, celebrating poetry in Mayo with three guests who will discuss their favorite poets, at home and abroad, and why. They will be asked to read their work and to justify it to the rapier witted compere and their fellow poets. No shrinking violets on this show.

Tune in to CRC Community Radio or join via the website, www.crcfm.ie.

See www.poetryday.ie for further events taking place across the country, from workshops and musical performances to poetry trails and tarot readings.