THIRST a poem by Mary Hanlon

Mary Hanlon lives in Claremorris, County Mayo. She is a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop facilitated at Galway Arts Centre by Kevin Higgins. Her poems have appeared in a variety of magazines, including West 47 online, The Cúirt Annual and Revival.

Thirst by Mary Hanlon

From an infancy cocooned by mud walls,
Marxism elevated Chavez to lead his people
for a decade that witnessed oil prices fall,
the land overgrazed, a shortage of food.
Red-shirted he stands now, sees the morning
sun glide over the Sky Islands,
sweep down to the broad eucalyptus tract
where Carib, Chibcha and Arawak tribes
once cultivated, and further west
skilfully stepped the Andes.
Violet crested hummingbirds flutter to the dawn.
Monkeys chatter from limb to limb.

The blue green leaves glisten.
Their oily scent carries on the breeze,
and roots with an insatiable thirst
bore deep into the earth, fast-growing
towards their cardboard destiny.

But the President has already decreed:
no infant’s body should shrink from hunger,
no man should have to beg on the pavement
tormented by disease-harbouring flies,
no capitalist should drain the llanos
with ‘water suckers’. The eucalyptus
he takes back will be used wisely,
replaced then by corn, cassava and yam.
Enough food for pabellon, cachapa, arepas.

2009 Cúírt Festival Poetry Grand Slam

Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam Saturday 25 April 3pm Roisin Dubh- Dominick St.

The year round activity of slamming culminates in the 7th Cúirt Poetry Grand Slam in which up to 20 performers have just three minutes to impress the judges under the gaze of MC Pete Mullineaux. All styles welcome, open to all (with the exception of past Grand Slam winners) Poems up to 3 minutes long. The overall winner goes on to perform in Slovenia. Guest performer this year is Andrej Khadovich from Belarus, known for his lively performances.

Submission Details:
Please send one poem( up to 3 minutes in length) with contact details to email: siobhan@galwayartscentre.ie (email submissions preferred) or by post; Siobhán Singleton, Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick St. Galway. Fee for entry €5. Please mark 'Poetry Grand Slam' on your submission. Enquiries 091-565886

Successful participants will be notified by April 17. The closing date for entries has been extended to THURSDAY, APRIL 9th

John Walsh to open Poetry Month at Galway City Library

Poet John Walsh to open Poetry Month 1.30pm, Wednesday April 1st Galway City Library



In a link up with the Academy of American Poets, Galway City Library is participating in a month long April-is-Poetry-Month project.

With the line 'Do I dare disturb the Universe,' from the famous T S Eliot poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock', being chosen as a theme for this year's celebration, the poet and poet-performer from Derry, John Walsh, will perform the poem in full in Galway City Library on Wednesday 1 April. The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock has entranced many people and is regarded one of the finest pieces of poetry ever written.

John's performance of the poem will commence at 1.30pm.

John Walsh has had two collections of poetry, Johnny Tell Them and Love's Enterprise Zone published by the Guildhall Press. He runs the successful performance poetry event North Beach Poetry Nights, which takes place monthly in The Crane Bar, and is he also the director of the new poetry press, Doire Press. His third collection of poetry is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry.

Poetry Reading by Olaf Tyaransen, Edward Lee & MA in Writing Poets at Sheridan’s Wine Bar

Olaf Tyaransen

Poetry by Olaf Tyaransen, Edward Lee and the poets of this year’s MA in Writing at NUI Galway at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, May 8th, 8pm.

Olaf Tyaransen was born in Dublin in 1971, but spent his formative years in the west of Ireland. His poetry collection, The Consequences of Slaughtering Butterflies, was published by Salmon in 1992. He has since written an autobiography, The Story of O (2000) and two bestselling collections of journalism, Sex Lines (2002) and Palace of Wisdom (2004). Described by the Sunday Times as “the enfant terrible of Irish journalism,” Tyaransen hit the headlines in 1997 when he stood as a ‘Cannabis Legalisation’ candidate in the general election. A regular columnist with the Evening Herald, his journalism has also appeared in Rolling Stone, Mojo, Penthouse and The Sunday Independent. Tyaransen also holds the position of ‘Writer At Large’ with Hot Press and has written more than 50 cover stories for the magazine over the years – including notorious interviews with Allen Ginsberg, Nick Cave, Hugh Hefner, Larry Flynt, Bono, Dolly Parton, Will Self, Gerry Adams & Candace Bushnell.

Edward Lee is originally from Dublin, but now lives in Galway. His poems, short stories and photography have been published in a wide variety of prestigious magazines in Ireland, England, America and Canada. He is also a visual artist and has had several exhibitions in various venues in Dublin and Galway. He has just finished his first novel and looking for a publisher for it. This reading will mark the launch of Edward’s first poetry collection Playing PoohSticks On Ha'Penny Bridge.

The poets of this year’s MA in Writing at NUI Galway, Jonathan Farrar, Erin Buttner, Michael Halloran, Nicki Griffin, Cristina Galvin, Paige Morgan & Tristan Burke will be reading from their recently published anthology, Ink For Air.

Over The Edge is in support of Love Poetry Hate Racism 2009.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

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

Salmon Poetry Launches Poetry Collections by Celeste Augé & Gerry Hanberry

Celeste Augé

Gerry Hanberry

Salmon Poetry
invites you to celebrate the publication of two new poetry collections

Venue:
The City Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway
Date/Time:
Saturday 9th May, 1pm
Salmon Poetry, Knockeven, Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland

http://www.salmonpoetry.com/

The Essential
Guide to Flight
by
Celeste Augé
Launch introduction by
Michael O’Loughlin

At Grattan Road
by
Gerard Hanberry
Launch introduction by
Michael Gorman

Church of Ireland Priest reads at March 'Over The Edge: Open Reading'

Arkansas poet, Marck Beggs

The March ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, March 26th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Maureen Ryan, Dave Rock & Marck Beggs.

Maureen Ryan has lived most of her adult life in Galway. She has published two novels and over 400 academic papers, essays, sermons, meditations and reflections. She is a psychologist, a Priest in the Church of Ireland and a Canon in the National Cathedral of St. Patrick’s, Dublin. She recently gave up a well paid job as a religious columnist to make her fortune writing poetry. To that end she is taking classes with Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins. She is preparing a book for Columba Press and a collection of short stories titled 'Marchpane Smiles'.

Dave Rock is a Scottish-Lithuanian-Irish-English something or other. He has been writing since he was seven years old. His work has been published in journals such as The Shop, Revival, Faoiseach and The Old Yellow Lantern. He won the GYT/Bank of Ireland One Act Play Festival Best New Writing Award. He has been a featured reader at many different venues, the Whitehouse, the Electric Picnic and Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures. He is a former auditor of the Writers Society of NUIG. His first collection of poetry is published soon by Maverick Press.

Marck Beggs is a professor and graduate dean at Henderson State University, Arkansas. When he is not writing poems or singing his quasi-folk songs, he can sometimes be found watching the weeds proliferate in his garden as he daydreams of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and butternut squash. Needless to say, he cites Whitman as a major influence. He is the author of Catastrophic Chords (Salmon, 2008), Libido Café (Salmon, 2004) and Godworm (1995). His folk-rock band, dog gods, released their debut CD in 2008 (www.cdbaby.com/doggodsmusic).

As usual there will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always most welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council & The Arts Council.

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology presents new course in Creative Writing for Beginners

Susan Millar DuMars will give support, instruction and feedback to those who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The course takes place one evening per week (Wednesday) for 6 weeks from 7.30–9.30 p.m. It commences on Wednesday, April 29th at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Susan’s debut poetry collection, Big Pink Umbrella, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2008. A mini-collection of her short stories, American Girls was brought out by Lapwing Press in 2007. Susan has read from her work in Ireland, Britain, the US and Greece. She and her husband organise the Over the Edge readings series in Galway.

Advance booking is essential. Places cost €100.00. For further details or to book a place contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Telephone 091 742145 or see http://www.gmit.ie

Poetry, Dance and Visual Art: WASTE BEAUTY an exhibition by Harriet Leander

I N V I T A T I O N

WASTE BEAUTY an exhibition by Harriet Leander

A performance by Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble

Poetry reading by Steve Murray

Galway City Museum

Opening Saturday April 4th 2009 at 3.00 pm

Extra performance Sunday April 5th 2009 at 3.00 pm

Spring Creative Writing Classes - Beginners & Intermediate at Galway Technical Institute

Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins takes place one evening per week (Monday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Monday, 23rd March, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. Kevin Higgins will provide writing exercises for, and give gentle critical feedback to, those interested in trying their hand at writing poems, stories or memoir.

Intermediate Creative Writing with Susan Millar DuMars takes place one evening per week (Tuesday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Tuesday, 24th March, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. This class is suitable for those who’ve participated in creative writing classes before or begun to have work published in magazines. Flexible exercises and work-shopping of assignments, together with the study of the works of published writers, will help each class member to find their own writing voice.

To book a place in either class contact GTI, Father Griffin Road, Galway Telephone 091-581342, e-mail adultedinfo@cgvec.ie or see www.gti.ie

Two Salmon Books To Be Launched At Sheridan's Gala Literary Evening

Over The Edge and Salmon Poetry present the launch of Seaway: New and Selected Poems by Todd Swift & Poetry: Reading It, Writing It, Publishing It (Edited by Jessie Lendennie) plus readings by Patrick Chapman, Edward Boyne & Megan Buckley at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, March 13th, 8pm.

Todd Swift is one of the leading Canadian poets and poetry activists of his generation. The collection of essays about Anglo-Quebec poetry, Language Acts (which he co-edited with Jason Camlot), was a finalist for the 2007 Gabrielle Roy Prize. He has had four previous collections of poems published by DC Books in Montreal, Canada. He lives in London, England, with his Irish wife, where he works as a lecturer in creative writing, editor, and writer. SEAWAY: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS, with an introduction by Kevin Higgins, gathers together 80 poems and is the first full retrospective of a poetry career that spans over two decades.

POETRY: READING IT, WRITING IT, PUBLISHING IT is edited and compiled by Salmon Poetry managing editor Jessie Lendennie and offers frank and carefully considered information for poets, and others who are interested in knowing more about how the poetry world “works”. As well as exploring basic tenets for aspiring writers, the book contains personal essays by Irish, British, US, Canadian and Australian poets and publishers: Rita Ann Higgins, James Harrold, J.P Dancing Bear, Celia de Fréine, Michael Heffernan, Kevin Higgins, Seamus Cashman, Nessa O’Mahony, Maurice Harmon, Joan McBreen, Lex Runciman, Joseph Woods, Eamonn Wall, Susan Millar DuMars, Emily Wall, John Hildebidle, Caroline Lynch, Jean O’Brien, Chris Mansell, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, John FitzGerald, Noel King, Philip Fried, Todd Swift, Primrose Dzenga, Simmons B. Buntin, Janice Fitzpatrick-Simmons, David Gardiner, Anne Fitzgerald and Stephanie McKenzie.

Edward Boyne is a poet and fiction writer. He has had rare distinction of being short-listed for The Sunday Tribune Hennessy Awards For New Irish Writing in both poetry and fiction and for the Francis McManus short story competition. His work has been published in a wide variety of journals and anthologies. He was selected to read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. He lives in Galway and is a member of the Writers’ Keep group.

Patrick Chapman is a poet, fiction-writer and screenwriter. His poetry collections are Jazztown, (Raven Arts Press, 1991), The New Pornography (Salmon, 1996), Breaking Hearts and Traffic Lights (Salmon, 2007) and A Shopping Mall on Mars (BlazeVOX, 2008). His fifth collection will appear from Salmon in 2010. He has also written a collection of stories, The Wow Signal (Bluechrome, 2007); Burning the Bed (2003), a multi-award-winning film starring Gina McKee and Aidan Gillen; and an audio play, Doctor Who: Fear of the Daleks (Big Finish, 2007). He won first prize for a story in the 2003 Cinescape Genre Literary Awards in Los Angeles. He lives in Dublin.

Megan Buckley presented her work at the Over The Edge Showcase at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature in April 2008. Her poems have been published in the US, the UK, and Ireland, in publications such as The Ledge (US), The Pedestal (US), eclectica.org (US); the 'Dazzle and Attract' Project in Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK, in which one of her poems was projected onto the wall of a building (UK); Crannog (IRL), and others. She was shortlisted for the Over The Edge Writer of the Year Award in 2007 and 2008. Megan is a Doctoral Teaching Fellow in the English Department at NUI, Galway, where she is a PhD candidate and teaches seminars on nineteenth-century poetry by women.

There is no entrance fee. All are welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

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

http://www.salmonpoetry.com

Louis de Paor for March North Beach Poetry Nights Slam

Monday, March 23rd, 9 pm, The Crane Bar, Sea Road, the North Beach Poetry Nights' Slam with guest Louis de Paor.

Born in Cork in 1961, Louis de Paor has been involved with the contemporary renaissance of poetry in Irish since 1980 when he was first published in the poetry journal Innti which he subsequently edited for a time. A four times winner of the Seán Ó Ríordáin/Oireachtas Award, the premier award for a new collection of poems in Irish, he lived in Australia from 1987 to 1996. He is the recipient of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award 2000, the first poet in Irish to achieve that distinction. A bilingual collection Ag greadadh bas sa reilig/Clapping in the cemetery was published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta in November 2005 and reprinted in March 2006. His latest collection is Cúpla Siamach an Ama (The Siamese Twins of Time) published by Coiscéim in December 2006. A second bilingual volume agus rud eile de/and another thing will be published in 2009.

Poets wishing to take part in the 2-Round Slam please bring along two three-minute poems, preferably memorized. The winner of each month's Slam goes forward to the 2009 North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam in December 2009. The prize for the Grand Slam winner is publication of a collection of her/his work.

("Inheritance" debut collection by 2007 winner Miceál Kearney available in
Charlie Byrne's bookshop and from http:///)

Next month's North Beach Poetry Night: April 20th.
Guest Poet: Eamon Carr (ex-Horslips, ex-Tara Telephone)


We look forward to seeing you at The Crane Bar on Monday March 23rd. Admission 5/ 3 Euro.

North Beach Poetry Nights gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council Arts Office.

info: john walsh @ 091-593290

Theo Dorgan to launch 2009 Cúirt Festival programme

The programme for the 2009 Cúirt International Festival of Literature will be launched by poet, writer and broadcaster Theo Dorgan at Bar No. 8, The Docks, Galway on Wednesday 18 March at 6pm.

This year's programme will include the fourth annual Cúirt/Over The Edge showcase reading featuring five emerging writers selected from a shortlist of those who've been Featured Readers at the Over The Edge: Open Readings in Galway City Library.

Patrick Kavanagh Award Winner for February Over The Edge: Open Reading

2008 Patrick Kavanagh Award Winner Geraldine Mitchell

The February ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, February 26th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Hajo Quade, Marie Cadden & Geraldine Mitchell.



Hajo Quade was born in Germany but has lived in Galway since 1989. He took up writing in 2007 when he did a number of creative writing classes with Susan Millar DuMars. He was runner-up in the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition. Hajo works as a freelance translator and teaches survival techniques for those unfortunate enough to have to battle personal computers on a regular basis.

Marie Cadden was reared in Dublin and the North of England. She has lived in Spiddal, Co. Galway since 1977. She was a teacher of deaf children and children with autism, retiring last year. She is a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop at Galway Arts Centre. Her poems have been accepted for publication by Revival and THE SHOp. Marie was longlisted for Over the Edge New Writer of the Year 2008. She has read her poems at Westside Arts Festival & The White House. She was recently a featured poet on Flirt fm radio.

Geraldine Mitchell was born in Dublin and lives near Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. In between she has lived in France, Algeria, Spain and England where she taught English and worked as a freelance journalist. Her previous publications include two novels for young people and a biography. Her poems have been widely published in Irish journals and in the Oxfam Calendar 2009. She is the winner of the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award 2008. In their comments the judges, Moya Cannon and Theo Dorgan, said that Geraldine’s poems display: “a clear-eyed sensibility that considers, but does not judge human fragility”.

As usual there will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always most welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council & The Arts Council.

Launch of 'Away With Words'

BEAT THE RECESSION WITH NORTH BEACH POETRY NIGHTS

BEAT THE RECESSION ONCE-OFF ADMISSION FREE GIG!

North Beach Poetry Nights presents

on Monday February 16th at 9 pm

in The Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway

The North Beach Poetry Nights' February 2009 Slam with guest poet Donal O'Siadhachain(Kerry), 2008 All Ireland Slam Winner.

and Special Guest MC: The 2008 Cúirt Grand Slam winner, Elaine Feeney.

Poets wishing to take part in the 2-Round Slam please bring along two three-minute poems, preferrably memorized. The winner of each month's Slam goes forward to the 2009 North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam in December 2009.The prize for the Grand Slam winner is publication of a collection of her/his work.

("Inheritance" debut collection by 2007 winner Miceál Kearney available in Charlie Byrne's bookshop and from http://www.doirepress.com/)

Next month's North Beach Poetry Night: March 23rd.
Guest Poet: Louis de Paor

We look forward to seeing you at The Crane Bar on
Monday February 16th.

North Beach Poetry Nights gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council Arts Office.

info: john walsh @ 091-593290

Traditional Arts Night at NUIG

Traditional Arts Night at NUI Galway for Muscailt 2009 on Feb 12th(Thursday). It is mostly a musical event however the event features Professor Louis De Paor performing his poetry accompanied by Ronan Browne on the Uilleann Pipes. For further details contact Maria Gillen at mialorgil@gmail.com

2009 Over The Edge Poetry Book Showcase Reading

The 2009 Over The Edge Poetry Book Showcase reading featuring Maureen Gallagher, Lorna Shaughnessy, Caroline Lynch, Aoife Casby, Celeste Augé, Susan Millar DuMars, Colette NicAodha, Miceál Kearney, Patricia Burke Brogan, Quincy Lehr, Kevin Higgins, Alan McMonagle & Pete Mullineaux will take place at Sheridan's Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, February, 6th at 8pm.

In this annual retrospective of the year just past, every Galway-based poet who published a new collection of poems during 2008 will read three poems from the collection in question.

All welcome. For further details phone 087-6431748

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

Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slam

GALWAY ARTS CENTRE’S
Slamtastic
TUESDAY 27th January 2009
7-8 pm, the Ruby Room, The King’s Head

Kick-start your New Year! Galway Arts Centre’s 2009 Poetry Slams start Tuesday 27th January at 7pm in The Ruby Room.
What’s a Poetry Slam? Its live poetry with attitude: eight performers have three minutes each to wow the audience with their own original poetic creation. All subjects, styles and struts welcome. If the muse doesn’t strike, come along and listen to the eight performers strut their poetic stuff ¾ you may even be picked as one of our audience judges!

There are two more dates for your slam diary Feb 24th and March the 31st before the Grand slam. The winner of the Grand Slam will travel to perform in the Vilenica Festival (Slovenia) and the Green Mill (Chicago)!

Resident MC Pete Mullineaux sets the pace and the guest performer is Eddie Mucha, winner of the November Slam. Admission is free and all are welcome ¾ thanks to everyone who has read/listened/adjudicated/MCd at the Slams last year and we look forward to seeing you all, and all newcomers, in 2009.

For further information, please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway 091-565886 or info@galwayartscentre.ie

Over The Edge Celebrates Sixth Birthday with Reading by Tom French

The first Over The Edge: Open Reading of 2009 takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, January 22nd, 6.30-8.00pm.

The Featured Readers are Lisa Frank, Áine Tierney & Tom French. This is a very special occasion as it is now exactly six years since Over The Edge was born in Galway City Library in January 2003.

Lisa Frank was born and raised in Los Angeles, but spent most of the past ten years in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Ireland in December, 2006. In 2005 she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University. She has had work published in American literary journals, as well as an essay published in a university textbook on writing, and was awarded 2nd and 3rd place in Bad Kitty Films 2000 Short Screenplay competition. She currently works as a freelance editor.

Áine Tierney is from Rosmore, Co. Tipperary. She is a secondary school English teacher and has an MA in Writing from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Her writing has appeared in various magazines and newspapers. She recently had a short story published in the Silverfish anthology, which was funded by South Tipperary County Council’s Per Cent for Art Scheme. She is currently redrafting her first novel.

Tom French is a graduate of NUI Galway and the University of Limerick. His first collection of poems Touching the Bones (Gallery Press) was awarded a Forward Prize for Best First collection in 2002. In 2001 he read at the Cúirt Literature Festival. Recent poems of his have been published in http://www.themanchesterreview.co.uk/ . His second collection The Blood Line is nearing completion. He lives with his family in county Meath where he works for the library service.

As usual there will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always most welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council & The Arts Council.

Increased Funding for Over The Edge in 2009

Over The Edge has recently been informed that it is to receive a 30% increase in its funding from Galway City Council for 2009 and will keep the same level of Arts Council funding for 2009 as it received in 2008. This will enable Over The Edge to sustain and further expand its events through 2009. In the current financial context this is a very good result indeed. 2008 has been another successful year, during which we further expanded our audiences. We are confident that 2009 will bring more of the same, only better. We have also been delighted to learn that the other Galway City based literary events organisation, North Beach Poetry Nights, with whom we work very closely, has also received similarly increased funding.