Greek Poet For September Over The Edge: Open Reading

The September ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 27th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Greek poet and playwright Dimitris Lyacos and Galway-based poets Rita O’Donoghue & Geraldine Keane.

Rita O’Donoghue is originally from County Mayo and lived for many years in the UK, where she won an Eastern Arts Award for Poetry in 1993. She has now settled in Galway where she works at NUIG. Rita has previously read her work at Galway Arts Centre’s Nuns Island Studio, the Westside Library Summer Open-mic and the Over The Edge open-mic. She has taken part in the Advanced Poetry workshops at Galway Arts Centre.

Geraldine Keane is a Galway native and received her M.A. in Writing from NUI Galway in 2005. She has published several non-fiction pieces in the U.S. and Ireland, including travelogues in New York’s The Irish Letter. She performed in last year’s BAFFLE festival and was published earlier this year in ROPES. She is currently working on her first book.

Dimitris Lyacos was born in Athens in 1966. He is both a poet and a playwright. His trilogy Poena Damni has been translated into English, Spanish, Italian and German and has been performed extensively across Europe and the USA. A sound and sculpture installation based on his poetry collection Nyctivoe opened in London and toured Europe in 2004-2005. Lyacos’ work has been the subject of lectures and research at various universities, including Amsterdam, Trieste and Oxford.

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

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

POSTCRIPT: There is a short review of the September Over The Edge: Open Reading on the website of one audience member, Maura McHugh. You can read it at http://splinister.com/blog/?postid=410

BACK WITH A SLAM!

GALWAY ARTS CENTRE’S POETRY SLAM! RETURNS

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
7-8pm, The Ruby Room, The King’s Head

Take to the stage with your own 3-minute poem on any subject.

Need inspiration? See if you can write an ode (or haiku, sonnet, sestina…) to cryptosporidium. The best Crypto-poem will be published online on GalwayArts Centre’s website.

The overall winner goes forward to Cúirt FestivalGrand Slam (April 2008). If the muse doesn’t strike, come along and listen to the eight performers strut their poetic stuff - you may even be picked as one of our audience judges!

Resident MC Pete Mullineaux will keep order, admission is free andall are welcome.

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

Lucy English at North Beach Poetry Nights and The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum

North Beach Poetry Nights
and
The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
present
LUCY ENGLISH
on Thursday Sep. 20th in BK's Winebar, Spanish Arch at 9 pm
and on Friday Sep. 21 in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Contribution to each event: 5 Euro

Lucy English is a novelist and performance poet.

She has three novels published by Fourth Estate. As a poet she has toured Holland, Denmark, India, Sri Lanka and the U.S . She appeared with Big Word at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1999-2002 where she was titled, 'the hippy chick love mother sex goddess'. She was a member of the acclaimed 'Temptation' poetry tour in 2005 and artistic director for the 'Exposed' tour in 2006.She was a guest poet at the Calgary Litfest in 2006 and a finalist in the BBC radio Four poetry slam in Sept 2007. She is a senior lecturer in creative studies at Bath Spa University and runs the only UK module in performance poetry.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each.

The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's poetry. Thursday 20 September 9 pm Friday 21 Sep. 1 pm BK's Winebar Galway City Museum Spanish Parade, Galway

Check out the NEW!!! North Beach Poetry Nights MySpace for all the news.
You might be there! www.myspace.com/northbeachpoetrynights

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Large crowd at Sheridan's Wine Bar for Galway launch of 'Revival' magazine and reading by Sara Byrne, Ed Boyne & Matthew Sweeney

To view a full slideshow of the Revival magazine launch click on http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com/2007/09/launch-of-revival-4-at-over-edge-galway.html

Matthew Sweeney to read at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Matthew Sweeney, Sara Byrne & Edward Boyne, plus the Galway launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine Revival at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, September 14th, 8pm.


Sara Byrne was born in 1980 in Dublin, where she survived for 18 years before escaping, relatively unharmed to Galway. In 2003 she started to publish some of her poetry. In 2004 she co-founded the North Beach Nights Poetry Slam, which she hosted until relocating to London to pursue a glittering career in sandwich making. In this she has been very successful. In London she continues to read her work to whoever will listen. She is currently completing a BA in Creative Writing.

Edward Boyne is a poet and fiction writer. He has been short-listed for the Hennessy award in both poetry and fiction and for the Francis McManus short story competition. His work has been published in a variety of journals and anthologies. He read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. He lives in Galway.

Matthew Sweeney was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1952. He moved to London in 1973 and studied at the Polytechnic of North London and the University of Freiburg. His poetry collections include A Dream of Maps (1981), Blue Shoes (1989), Cacti (1992), and A Smell of Fish (2000). Selected Poems, representing the best of 10 books and 20 years' work, was published in 2002. He won a Cholmondeley Award in 1987 and an Arts Council Writers' Award in 1999. He has also published poetry for children. Matthew Sweeney has held residencies at the University of East Anglia and the South Bank Centre in London, and was Poet in Residence at the National Library for the Blind as part of the ‘Poetry Places’ scheme run by the Poetry Society in London. His latest poetry collections are Sanctuary (2004) and Black Moon (2007).

This reading will be preceded by the Galway-launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine ‘Revival’.

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

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

Brendan Murphy in final of BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam

Brendan Murphy is second from right. Also pictured are Denise Heneghan, Steve Murray and Micéal Kearney.

2006 Cúirt Grand Slam Winner, Brendan Murphy, recently took part in the Semi-final of the BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam in Manchester. Brendan is representing Ireland, having won the Irish heat which took place in Belfast back in May. With some ease Brendan qualified for the Final which will take place in Bristol on Saturday, September 8th, when there will be five other finalists.

Brendan's winning semi-final performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, September 6th at 11pm. To listen to it click on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/poetry_slam.shtml

Sheila Phelan launches poetry collection

'Washington, D.C.', a first collection of poems by Shela Phelan, published by Lapwing, will be launched on Wednesday 26th September at 6.30pm in the Galway City Library.

The speaker will be Michael O'Loughlin, Galway City Council's Writer in Residence.

All are welcome.



Sheila Phelan was born in Dublin in 1971 and now lives in Galway. She has worked with the Baboro Childrens Festival and with Galway Civic Trust. She was awarded an Arts Council Bursary in 2002 and was runner up inthe Patrick Kavanagh Competition in 2005. She is a graduate of the NUI, Galway MA in Writing. Sheila read at the inaugural Over The Edge/Cúirt Festival showcase reading in April 2006.

Lapwing is an independent publisher based in Belfast. In Irish folklore the lapwing is a bird that symbolises hope. Excerpts from 'Washington, D.C.' can be viewed on Google Booksearch

Galway City Museum Lunchtime Reading

Colette Nic Aodha's most recent poetry collections,
'Sundial' and 'Between Curses / Bainne Géar'
are published by Arlen House.



Her work is included in the Field Day Anthology
of Irish Writing and The White Page /
An Bhileog Bhán, among other anthologies.
She is a member of the Board of Directors
of Poetry Ireland and of the Irish Language
Festival, IMRAM. She works in the National
University of Ireland, Galway.

The Galway City Museum Poetry Reading
takes place on the special date
Sept. 07 / 07 at 1 pm.

A contribution of 5 Euro is welcomed.

For more information contact John Walsh
on 091 593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie

Winner of Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' competition

Kevin Lavelle Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' 2007

Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition sponsored by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop



The winner of the inaugural Over the Edge New Writer of the Year competition is Kevin Lavelle, from Barna, County Galway, for his story Bury Me In The Garden. The winning story will appear in the Oct.-Dec. issue of the Galway Arts Centre's journal, West 47 online. Kevin will be a featured reader at the November 22nd, all-fiction Over the Edge: Open Reading.

Second place was taken by poet Cate Huguelet, while joint third place went to fiction writers Aidan Hynes and Claire Anderson-Wheeler.

A short-list of eight was chosen from the long-list of sixteen.

The short-listed writers were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Kevin Lavelle, Galway County
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
Grace Wells, County Tipperary


The writers who made the long-list were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Evan Costigan, Co. Kildare
Philip Crymble, County Dublin
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Vincent Flannery, County Galway
Aideen Henry, Galway City
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Maureen Kelly, County Galway
Miceál Kearney, County Galway
Kevin Lavelle, County Galway
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
J.K. Morrissey, Dun Laoghaire
Neil Ward, Dublin
Grace Wells, County Tipperary

The winner was announced at the first Over The Edge: Open Reading after the Summer break in Galway City Library this Thursday, August 30th, 6.30pm.

The competition judge was Alan Jude Moore, a Featured Reader at the reading on Thursday. His reading was sponsored by Poetry Ireland. The other Featured Readers were Margaret Faherty and Tom Lavelle.

The competition was a great success, yielding 116 submissions. We're very grateful to the contestants, our judge and Charlie Byrne's bookshop for their sponsorship.

Micéal Kearney to read at Vilenica Festival, Slovenia

Miceál Kearney, winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam is off this week to read at Slovenia’s 22nd Vilenica International Literary Festival on September 8th, 11am at the Štanjel Literary.








Micéal also won the inaugural Cuisle Festival Poetry Slam in Limerick last October. Poems of his have recently been accepted for publication in The Shop and The Cork Literary Review. He will also feature in a forthcoming anthology from Cinnamon Press.

Australian Poet at Galway City Museum

Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
August 31st at 1pm.
Miceál Kearney (Winner Cúirt Grand Slam '07)
and Mark O'Flynn (Australia).

Miceál Kearney, poet and performer,takes to the road in September for Brighton,Chicago and Slovenia.He is taking this opportunity to give us a preview of the set he will be performing at the Green Mill in Chicago and at the Literary Festival in Slovenia.

Mark O'Flynn, is a poet, novelist and playwright from Australia.He has had 7 plays produced back home in Australia and his third collection of poetry is due out this year. At present he is at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre working on his third novel and is coming to Galway especially for his reading in the Galway City Museum.

Contribution: 5 Euro
Info: John Walsh @ 593290

Poetry workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

Galway Arts Centre is offering a choice of three poetry workshops, facilitated by Kevin Higgins, whose first collection of poems, ‘The Boy With No Face’, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award. ‘The Boy With No Face’ was Salmon Poetry’s bestselling book of 2005 and has recently been reprinted.


Kevin Higgins is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success. He is also co-organiser of the popular Over The Edge literary events.

Each workshop will run for ten weeks.They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; Wednesday afternoons, 2-3.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm. The Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon workshops are open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. These workshops commence the week of September 17th. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. It commences on Thursday, September 27th.

The cost to participants is €100, with an €90 concession rate.Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Victoria at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

The popular ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ series returns to Galway City Library after the Summer break on Thursday, August 30th 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Tom Lavelle, Margaret Faherty & Alan Jude Moore. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.


Tom Lavelle lives in Galway and works as the finance director of a manufacturing company. He began writing poetry quite recently, having attended workshops in the Galway Arts Centre. His work has appeared in West 47 online and The Cuirt Annual. He lives in Galway.

Margaret Faherty has published short stories in literary journals and magazines; she was an award winner for both short fiction and poetry at the Moore Literary Festival. Her work has featured on BBC Radio 4 and on RTE’s Sunday Miscellany and Living Word. She has also been published in the DIVAS! anthology. She lives in Galway.

Alan Jude Moore’s poetry has been widely published in Ireland, Europe and the USA. His fiction has twice been short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Award. His first collection of poetry, Black State Cars, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2004. A selection of poems from Black State Cars was published last year in translation by the Moscow literary journal, Novaya Junost. He currently lives in Dublin.

There will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always welcome.

The evening will also see the announcement of the winner of the Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition.

The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Creative Writing for Beginners at GMIT

The course is facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. She will give support, instruction and feedback to students who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The first part of each class is devoted to instruction. In the second part, students read their homework assignments aloud and receive feedback from the instructor and the class. An atmosphere of trust and mutual encouragement is built during these workshop sessions.

The eight sessions will cover

*Techniques for forming ideas and getting started

*Creating characters

*The importance of sound in poetry

*Engaging the reader's five senses

*Stream of consciousness writing

*Using figures of speech

*Learning through imitating published writers

*How to edit and present your writing

The course runs one evening per week (Wednesday) for 8 weeks from 7.30 p.m.- 9.30 p.m and commences on Wednesday, September 26th.

The course fee is €120. To register contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Tel: 091 753 161 or see http://www.gmit.ie/lifelong-learning/lifelong-learning-programmes/lifelonglearning-general/creative-writing-beginners.html

Creative Writing for Beginners at Galway Arts Centre

Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

This September Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner writers out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, ‘American Girls’, was published by Lapwing Press in April; her first collection of poetry, ‘The Wellspring Wife’, is forthcoming in 2008 from Salmon Poetry. Susan is a renowned creative writing teacher, and with her husband Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library.

The class runs for ten weeks, commencing on Monday September 17th, 2-3.30pm. It will be a gentle introduction to fiction, poetry and autobiographical writing. Through in-class exercises, homework assignments and work-shopping of pieces, participants will be encouraged to discover and refine their own voices and material. An atmosphere of mutual support and fun will be encouraged.

Places cost €110 and must be paid for in advance. There is a concession price. For booking please contact Vicky at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone Vicky on 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Dates for Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams

The dates for the autumn/winter Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams in The Ruby Room at The Kings Head, High Street, Galway are

Tues 25 Sept

Tues 30 Oct

Tues 27 Nov

Tues 11 Dec

All 7-8pm

Each month's winner qualifies for the 2008 Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam.

For further details contact Maura Kennedy at 091-565886 or call in to Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway.

The winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam was Micéal Kearney, the joint runners-up Gary King and Katie Lawless. Previous winners are Brendan Murphy, Steve Murray, Trish Casey & Kevin Higgins.

Upcoming Lunchtime Readings at Galway City Museum

Upcoming North Beach Poetry Nights - SLAMS

Aoife Casby to read at Westport Arts Festival

*Voices of the West*:
Poetry and short story reading
An eclectic mix of poetry and prose
read by Ger Reidy, Paddy Guthrie and Aoife Casby.
At The Westport Arts Festival 2007
In The Sea Sky Shore Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo
On Sunday 2nd September At 6pm
Wine and cheese will be provided.
Sponsored by Andrew Carney Construction.

Perciphone Petticoat at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights
presents
Perciphone Petticoat
Thursday 23rd August at 9pm
BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway





Perciphone Petticoat theatrical poetry performer, writer, singer songwriter, musician, is a fresh and entertaining face in the world of performance poetry and entertainment.

Perciphone uses enchanting lines, beguiling and palatable - weaving their way in and out of the cold hard truths being projected. From surrealism to social dysfunction - sexuality to empathy, fairytales to self-harm, Perciphone Petticoat often flirts on a rather risqué edge. However, pertinent subjects delivered graphically, are skillfully tempered, allowing ideas that would otherwise be unpalatable to be considered.

Her performance sites can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphonepetticoat2.

Her music can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphone.

Also The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam
Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Admission 5 Euro

Information: John Walsh @ 091-593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie