Boyne Berries 20

My poem 'Rosa' has been published in Boyne Berries 20.  I attended the launch on 29th September 2016 and read 'Rosa' alongside other contributors.  We had a lovely evening celebrating the launch with members of the Boyne Berries Writing Group and other writers.

Thanks to Orla Fay for taking this photo of me reading 'Rosa'.

Purchase Boyne Berries

Stanzas - Ekphrasia August Chapbook MMXVI

I am delighted to have 2 poems in the Stanzas August chapbook - Ekphrasia.

The chapbook was launched by Stanzas at the 'Hook & Ladder' in Limerick on Fri 19th Aug 2016.  The theme for the event was ‘Collaboration’.  The poets read their poems accompanied by two singers who were commissioned specially for the event.

Esther Conry and I collaborated in responding to one another's work - me in words and Esther in images.

Esther responded to my poem 'Seeds' and I in turn responded to a new image by Esther which turned into the poem 'Doorway'.

Stanzas have provided a live video of the event (best viewed on a mobile phone as it appears sideways and you need to switch off auto-rotate to view properly!).  My reading starts about 3 minutes in....  or view a separate video recording of these two poems.

Thanks to Shane Vaughan and the team at Stanzas.

The chapbook, hand made by Stanzas, contains work from 8 poets an 8 artists.

'Young Urchins' published in Picaroon Poetry Issue 3

I am very pleased to have my ‪poem'Young Urchins' included in Picaroon Poetry Issue #3. Thank you to editor Kate Garrett Writes.

Poetry Reading - 9th July in Books Upstairs, Dublin

I organised a poetry reading for 9th July in Books Upstairs, Dublin .

Special guest Alvy Carragher, followed by readings from myself and six other poets - Audrey Molloy, Bobbie Sparrow, Dick Edelstein, Frances Browner, Iseult Healy, Leslie Thomas.

Ó Bhéal

Since my first visit in February I have attended Ó Bhéal three times. Each occasion was equally excellent.

The guest poet on 9th May was Nuala Ní Dhomnaill. She read from her Mermaid series, with the English translation first followed by the original in Irish. It was a privilege to hear Nuala speak openly and read her wonderful poems.

Alvy Carragher was the guest poet on 2nd May. Alvy was the editor at HeadStuff.org when she selected the first of my poem's to be published online as poem of the week. Not having met Alvy before I was delighted to meet her at Ó Bhéal. She gave a brilliant performance. Check out her videos on alvycarragher.blogspot.ie.

On 11th April Ó Bhéal: Cork's Weekly Poetry Event, celebrated it's ninth year, all of 453 events. Volume IX Five Words was also launched. It isn't possible to relive the magic of the evening but you can listen back to a recording of the event at http://www.obheal.ie/blog/. The Open Mic event involved reading a poem by someone else. I read a poem by Tim Dwyer - First Martyr, 1916- Francis Sheehy Skeffington. Richard Pierce read my poem 'Shades'. Both of these poems were published in Boyne Berries 1916.

According to Mary O'Donnell Ó Bhéal is "The best poetry event in the whole country".

Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust’s fourth Poetry Competition

I am delighted to be included in the shortlist for the Galway University Arts Trust poetry competition.


Congratulations to the winner Rachel Coventry, and to Christine Valters Paintner and Rachel Davies 2nd and 3rd respectively and to the other poets on the shortlist.

Boyne Berries 1916 - launched 31st March 2016

It was with great pleasure that I read my poem 'Shades' at the launch of the Boyne Berries Spring 2016 literary journal - Boyne Berries 19, a special issue commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

This is the first of my poems to be published in print and as a result this event has a special significance for me.

Thanks to Orla Fay and all at the Boyne Berries. We had a wonderful night at the launch with a most interesting introduction by Tom French reading one of his own poems and giving an insight into the writing within the journal being launched. This was followed by readings of a good proportion of the published works.

This journal may be purchased online at boyneberries.blogspot.ie or through your local library.  

Ó Bhéal: Cork's Weekly Poetry Event

My first time at Ó Bhéal: Cork's Weekly Poetry Event was Monday 29th February 2016. It was a wonderful night. A rolling film of poetry moved gently into a random 5 word challenge.

As Sean Ruane proved he had an attentive audience which was easily achieved as he, followed by Anne Marie Kennedy, each produced a spell binding performance.

This was followed by an open mic session where I had the opportunity to read one of my poems.

I am full of admiration for Paul Casey and the team responsible for this amazing weekly event.

Anchored Terset - a little bit of fun on a Friday

The Anchored Terset is a new, short poetic form consisting of three words, one per line, with a full-stop on a fourth line anchoring the three above it - See more at: http://northernpoetrylibrary.org.uk/anchored-tersets.html#sthash.gjky7msl.dpuf

Here is my offering.

Poem accepted for publication in ROPES 2016 literary journal

I am delighted that one of my poems has been accepted for publication in ROPES 2016 literary journal.

Poem to be published in Boyne Berries 19

I am delighted that one of my poems has been accepted for publication in the next edition of Boyne Berries during March 2016.  Thanks to Orla Fay, editor of Boyne Berries.

Cork Coffee Weekend 16

To commemorate the first Cork Coffee Weekend I wrote this poem having spent a few enjoyable hours listening, chatting, eating and drinking not just coffee......

Happy Little Women's Christmas

Haiku to Christmas