Thursday, July 22, 2010

5 months on, either I'm getting better at this blog thing or my life has speeded up alarmingly (which it has). I'm back in Aarhus for a lengthy experiment at the synchrotron there - so lots of time for this sort of thing....

since February, I've been busy sorting out the "difficult second album"; it now has a publisher (the wonderful Dedalus Press) and a name "Safe House", and a very eye-catching cover (good man, Pat!). Still under wraps though as publication date is October. Feel rather nervous, much more than for the first collection; is that the sound of sharpening knives.....?

A most enjoyable weekend in Kanturk (County Cork) to read at the Arts Festival over St Paddy's Day. A cosy crowd in the library applauded local young poets; Other highlights were an art exhibition in a car showroom (ideal space), an exhibition of Patrick Casey's marvellous B&W photos (incl one of Brendan Kennelly and John B Keane) and a great concert by accordianist Liam O'Connor (fastest fingers in Guinness Book of Records!)

Upcoming gigs include The Yeats Summer School / Festival, a lunchtime reading on Friday 30th July and a National Poetry Day reading in Armagh on thurs 7th October (venue tba). Sandwiched between these two is a lengthy trip down under. First stop is Beijing for a physics conference and a couple of readings arranged by the good folk at ILE and local embassy staff. then on to Melbourne for a reading in Collected Works (the best wee poetry bookshop in the world!); then up to Sydney for the Australian Poetry Festival, hopping across the pond to Palmerston North to give a lunchtime lecture (Science and Poetry - not so different?) at the museum Te Manawa and a reading the same evening in Wellington. Next day the luxury of a ferry/train journey to Christchurch for the Writers Festival: 3 gigs here, a reading, an interview of Liam McIlvanney, author of a post-Troubles thriller "All The Colours Of The Town", and a Simon Cowell personation in the late-night Poetry Idol! Then down to Dunedin to repeat the lecture and back north to Palmerston North for a final reading. Grateful thanks to Culture Ireland for assistance with the international travel!!!

A final plug, this time a reading by visiting aussie poets that I am organising on Thurs 23rd Sept, 7.30 in the Irish Writers Centre; supported by The Australian Embassy and Poetry Ireland, it promises to be a great start to the new season!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Two years later....

Well, no one can accuse me of clogging up the internet, it being a fortnight short of two years since I last put middle finger to keyboard. Here is a brief summary of my life (in poetry) since:

First, 'The Irish Poem Is" didn't win the Strokestown Poetry Prize (sigh!). But the poem carried on regardless, being published in Southword 16, which is now an online journal. It also attracted at least one offspring, using the three-across-rhyme scheme.

Secondly, I read my sonnet 'To The Poet On His Birthday" live on the RTE Arts Show celebrations for 'himself'; it too attracted a degree of imitation,but of such a scurrilous nature that the item was removed from cyberspace (ah, the price of fame...)

Thirdly, last May I took part in the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival where I was interviewed on stage by Bill Manhire, New Zealand's top poet; I was also interviwed on Radio New Zealand by the fearsome Kim Hill who flumoxed me by asking if Barry's Amusements was still on the go in Portrush (it is, but not what it was). I also judged the Poetry Idol competition with Glen Colquhoun, a brilliant Kiwi poet, and Sonya Renee, the US Slam champion (whadda gal!). A most impressive festival (take a bow, Ms Rawnsley!) and great book-buying audiences!

More recently, I gave a lecture on 'Science and Poetry' to the Irish Literary & Historical Society of San Francisco and sneaked a visit (thanks Joyce!) to Djerassi Ranch, the Annamakerrig equivalent of SF (for lake, read Pacific Ocean). Wouldn't mind spending some time there....

Finally, closer to home, I read with Eileen Casey and Theo Dorgan at Tallaght Library in an event organised by Poetry Ireland and Trocaire to raise awareness of Climate Change. I was also the trail boss for the Stephens Green Writers Group benefit reading in aid of the Irish Writers Centre. No Arts Council money so time to rally round folks!

And finally, finally, a couple of pieces on recent Sunday Miscellany broadcasts (17th most listened-to programme apparently) "A Place in The Bronx" and "A Wee Girl's Bike", both available as podcasts.

Back soon!