Galway poets selected for Poetry Ireland Introductions readings

Four Galway poets, Neil McCarthy, Mary Madec, Aoife Casby & Susan Millar DuMars, have been selected for this year’s Poetry Ireland Introductions Readings. All four are closely associated with the popular Over The Edge poetry events.

Neil McCarthy, Mary Madec & Aoife Casby have all been Featured Readers at Over The Edge: Open Readings in Galway City Library, while Susan Millar DuMars is co-organiser of the reading series.

Over The Edge co-organiser, Kevin Higgins, said: “It is heartening to see the outstanding poetry scene, which exists in Galway at the moment, being recognised in this way by Poetry Ireland. Galway is awash with talented new poets right now. In years to come we may well look back on this as a kind of golden age for literary Galway. Not since Mary O’Malley, Moya Cannon, Eva Bourke & Rita Ann Higgins began publishing in the late Eighties/early Nineties have there been so many talented writers coming through at the same time.”

Patrick Kavanagh Award Winner to read at Over The Edge

The next Over The Edge: Open Reading takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, March 1st, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Enda Coyle-Green, Alan McMonagle & Aideen Henry.

Enda Coyle-Green lives in County Dublin. Widely published in magazines and anthologies, her work has also been broadcast on RTE Radio 1 and Lyric FM. Prizes for poetry include a Hennessy Award nomination in 2002. Her first collection, Snow Negatives, received the Patrick Kavanagh Award in 2006.

Alan McMonagle lives in Galway. His work has appeared in Southword, The Cuirt Annual, west47online and Crannog. Last year he took second place in the Sean O'Faolain short story competition and was also short-listed for the Fish Story award. He is currently pursuing an MA in Writing at NUI Galway.

Aideen Henry lectures at NUI, Galway. She began writing poetry quite recently and has had poems published in West 47 and Crannog magazine. Aideen has taken part many times in the Over The Edge open-mic. She is currently attending a poetry workshop at Galway Arts Centre.

As usual there will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council