Poetry from the horsebox

Poetry from the horsebox
Originally uploaded by Colm Byrne

Found a photo of the Poetry Diva Collective at the Flat Lake Festival. Thanks Colm Byrne

Flat Lake Festival 2009

Small technical problem with the slideshow above apparently fixed now. Normal service resumed.

Yes. The Poetry Divas stormed through the green fields of Monaghan and on to the back of a horsebox stage at The Flat Lake Festival. We were fabulous. Barbara Boobs Smith, Maeve Callas O'Sullivan and Kate Cow's Arse Dempsey. We had a lovely, attentive audience sitting on haybales and even standing to hear us. Thanks to Pat McCabe for making us welcome and featuring us on Radio Butty. 106.0 FM. (Does anyone have any photos of us?)

The sun shone, which was unexpected. So everyone was extra happy. The lovely organisers even put our tent up for us.

Also appearing were the Prufrocks - Liz Gallagher, Jaki McCarrick, Mary Mullen, Nuala Ni Chonchuir, Barbara Smith (also a Diva) in the theatre tent. The audience gradually swelled to scarily large numbers and I caught a piccie of a totally engrossed famous audience member. We met him after and he said he found the poetry reading very relaxing and would we please go to watch him spinning disks at 11 pm in the Butty Barn, so we did. Can I mention those cheekbones?

We also met the lovely Poetry Chicks. I was a bit scared of them beforehand having seen them on Youtube, but they are as nice as they are tough. And they're pretty tough.

The highlight for me was Jinx Lennon. A revelation and a complete Dundalk original. I also greatly enjoyed Donal O'Kelly's one man show about Rossport Shell security man and what I caught of the lovely Dermot Bolger. All in all an eclectic mix of fun and skewness.

I'll be back (if they'll have me)

Poetry Divas II

The Poetry Divas return in a blaze of glory (no rain please) at the Flat Lake Festival,

Where: Hilton Park, Clones, Monaghan.

This eclectic festival covers Arts and Literature (isn't Literature an Art?)

When: August 14th, 15th, 16th

Who: The Poetry Divas Collective.
Supporting acts include: Pat McCabe, Cillian Murphy, Dermot Bolger, Matthew Sweeney, Eoin McNamee, Show Jump Poetry, The Poetry Chicks (google them, very different to the Divas; we may have to challenge them to some kind of face off - suggestions? They look quite tough), The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, many many more

It will include film screenings, theatrical debuts, literary and historical talks, heated debates, sculptural exhibitions, poetry recitals, eccentric discourse, children’s entertainment, sticks of rock, campfire camaraderie and some delicious food 'n drink that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Tickets still available. They're looking for volunteers if anyone's interested.

More on Festivals

An article on creative writing breaks in Friday's Irish Times highlighted these festivals, some of which are new to me.

The Flat Lake Literary and Arts Festival. Aug 23-24th.
This new festival apparently has a good vibe. Clones, Co Monaghan.
High art meets popular culture. Seamus Heaney, Paul Moldoon, Edna O'Brien and Ciaran Carson.

49th Yeats International Summer School. July 26th to August 8th.
An international and academic flavour. Sligo.
Poetry Readings, Plays, Outings and visits to places of Yeatsian interest, etc.

Kinsale Arts Week. July 12th-20th.
What more excuse do you need to visit Kinsale, Co Cork?
Theatre, Workshops, Visual Arts, Literature, Comedy.

Gerard Manley Hopkins Literary Festival. July 19th to 25th.
I asked the organisers if I could read and they didn't even respond so I'd give this a miss, if I were you. Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

NUIG John McGahern International Summer Seminar 24th-26th July and School 27th July to 2nd August.
Aimed at the US market I think. Co Leitrim.

West Cork Literary Festival. 6th-12th July 2008
Bantry, Co Cork.
Oisin McGann, Joseph O'Connor, Paul Durcan, Colum McCann, Colin Dexter, Arthur Mathews, Sally Elsbury, Matthew Sweeney, John Waters, Dog Tail Soup, Selma Dabbagh, Eoghan Harris, Jennifer Johnston, Peter Fallon, Kate O'Riordan, Rowan Gillespie, Vanessa Gebbie, Monica Boyle, Kenneth Irvine, Colm O'Riain & Pireeni Sundaralingam, Veronica Coburn, Colin Vearncombe, Mia Gallagher, Derek Mahon, Derek Landy, Deirdre Purcell, Dervla Murphy, Kevin Barry, Marita Conlon-McKenna, Ciaran Nagle & Tara Novak, Carlo Gebler, Susan O'Toole, Michael Collins, Sean Lusk, Bernard O'Donoghue, Christopher Fitz-Simon, Hazel Vickery, James Harpur, Joyce Russell, Michael McCarthy, John Draper, Kenneth Irvine, Chuck Kruger, David Bajo, David Mitchell, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Ann Kelley, Alannah Hopkin, Elise Blackwell, Michael Thorsnes, John Toomey.
Workshops and readings.

Kilkenny Arts Festival. 8th-17th August
Theatre, music, literature, visual arts, children's events and street performances, featuring International, Irish and local artists, in wonderful venues all over Kilkenny City and County.

Merriman Summer School. Sunday 17 to Saturday 23 August
Pays homage to the 18th century poet Brian Merriman. Ennis, County Clare