Categories: Blog

California-bound

I have been asked to be one of the 16 Irish writers to travel to Los Gatos in California for the 2017 Irish Writers' Festival. I will be taking part in two readings/discussions. The first is centred around the touring of the Representation of Jews in Irish Literature, which will be exhibited. The second is a reading for New Irish Poets. As one could imagine, I am very excited about this!
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Tears of Laughter – My great grandmother’s book

I was very grateful to be sent a copy of my great grandmother's book, Tears of Laughter. Esther Morris (née Cristol) was born in Cork and published three short plays. I mentioned this fact at the launch of the Representations of Jews in Irish Literature exhibition in Waterford to Barry Montgomery, one of the lead researchers. Lo and behold, he managed to find a copy of the book and sent it to me. Here are a few screenshots of the book, which I will treasure. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="2045,2046,2047,2048"]
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Poetry Ireland Review

I received my copy of Poetry Ireland Review today and was pleased to see a poem by Thomas McCarthy about the closing of the Cork Synagogue. I was also happy to see the review of Jewtown by Dawn Woods, which was very complimentary.
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Ó’Bhéal Reading

I'll be reading in Cork on Bank Holiday Monday as part of the Ó'Bhéal series. I'm looking forward to reading with Stephanie Conn again and taking part in the various parts of the night. It sounds like a fun evening.
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Interview on Southside Radio

I was delighted to be interviewed on Southside Radio in Dundrum recently on their religious affairs programme, Vision. Their programme was focused loosely on the Passover festival but I was in to read some of my poems from Jewtown and discuss what it was like to be raised Jewish in Ireland. I read 3 poems from Jewtown. I also was asked to pick 3 songs that meant something to my life. When I was asked, I hadn't realised that the programme was a religious affairs one so I just picked 3 songs that I liked. As Jarvis Cocker and Common People was much more of an influence on my life than the doctrine of schools, I'm happy with my choices! Click on the link below to download/listen to the...
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Strokestown Poetry Festival 

I had a fantastic time at the Strokestown International Poetry Festival this year where my poem, Conception, was shortlisted in their competition. I didn't realise what a huge prize was up for grabs when I entered for whatever reason so not realising that I was in with a chance to win €2000 was good as they don't tell you who wins until the very end of the festival after everyone reads their poem. They used to do a countdown to the winner, which they've changed now, thankfully. Part of being shortlisted means that you become part of the festival programme and you get to do a reading. Mine was on the Saturday morning and I think it was well received. The weird thing though is that in the audience are really really big names in the world of poetry, some of who appeared in my Leaving Cert! I got to see two interviews. The first was with...
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Looking forward to Strokestown

I'm delighted to have been shortlisted for the Strokestown Poetry Competition and as part of this, I'm been given a 15 minute slot on Saturday to read some of my poetry. I'm going to read from Jewtown and might try out one or two that I don't usually read. My shortlisted poem is called Conception and I wrote it about a year ago after putting away some of Emrys' baby things into the attic. You can read it here. I'm also looking forward to seeing some poetry especially Doireann NíGríofa's interview with Paddy Bushe and I also hope to see James Harpur's talk on the history of poetry.
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Flare 02

I'm very much enjoying this "long sheet" of Flare which featured some fantastic poets from Ireland and beyond. 
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Poetry Month, Limerick

Have you ever wished you could read a poem while looking in the window of a shop selling blinds?   Thanks so much to Dominic Taylor for allowing me to be part of Limerick's Poetry Month, where poems about Limerick are put up around the city. My poem about Father Creagh, he of the Limerick Pogrom, is up at Russell...
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Upcoming Reading: Listeners

I'm delighted to be asked to read at the Listener's session and open mic as one of the two featured readers in March. I will be reading with Adam Wyeth. Thanks to Paul Bregazzi and Daragh Bradish for the kind invitation. The event takes place near Marlay Park in the Eden House. If anyone is around the Dublin Mountains, feel free to drop by. This may be the closest reading I've had to my family house so I might make a night of it!
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