Here is a link to an article I wrote for The Irish Times about how Roland Barthes and the WWF (circa early 1990s).
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/treibh/sa-chró-le-barthes-1.2292245
Barthes wrote about (French) wrestling in the 1950s and it reminded me a lot of my own fascination with the WWF when I was 8 or 9. It was great to reflect on some of the characters of the time like these guys:
and 
and my personal favourite:
Barthes makes it all seem so profound….
Bass + Poetry = Dordfhilíocht.
I was involved in an event curated by Liam Carson as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin on 21st May. He paired poetry with the bass (fretted, fretless, double… even a saw produced music!) I was accompanied by Nev Lloyd on fretless bass. He also played double bass for Liam O Muirthile. Marcus Mac Conghail and Eoin O’Brien produced an avant garde collaboration (we need more of this stuff as Gaeilge!) and Séamas Barra O Súilleabháin and Martin Brunsden riffed off each other in what was a really special performance. Martin even got out the aforementioned saw for SB’s haiku.
Here are some photographs by Jim Berkeley
Here are some photographs by Fiona Morgan (www.fionamorgan.ie) of Féile na Bealtaine. She really captures the lovely vibe of the festival. I did a reading in An Café Liteartha with Gabriel Rosenstock and Simon O Faoláin. Tunes were courtesy of Maurice McKenna & Mark Crickard.
I was chuffed to participate in the legendary Poetry Morning @Dick Mac’s on Saturday morning with Conal Creedon and Sara Baume. The inimitable Diarmuid de Faoite was MC and he steered us through a morning of poetry, songs, fiction and anecdotes with great verve.
All in all, a great festival – will be certainly be returning next year. Mo bhuíochas le lucht eagraithe na Féile as tús spleodrach a chur leis an samhradh.
I’m very grateful to Kerry County Council for a bursary to spend almost two weeks in the blissful Annaghmakerrig. It’s my third visit here, and the most productive stint yet. The day is your own to work or walk or talk with the other artists. Breakfast and lunch are whatever time you choose, and everyone gets together for dinner at 7pm. The staff here are warm and welcoming, and Lavina, the chef, deserves a special mention for the creativity she brings to evening meals. It will be hard to go back to reality!
I hope to publish my next collection, Tost agus Allagar, in the autumn.
I wrote an article about Brett Morgan’s film/documentary, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. You can read about it (as Gaeilge) here:
http://tuairisc.ie/leirmheas-manglam-mearai-montage-of-heck/
I’m really looking forward to reading at this year’s Féile na Bealtaine in Dingle. I’ll be reading at An Caife Liteartha on Friday 1st May (Lá Bealtaine) at 3pm. It’s always a pleasure to read with Simon O Faoláin and Gabriel Rosenstock, and we’ll be joined by musicians Maurice McKenna and Mark Crickard. More information about this (free!) event here.
Once my duty is done, I’ll be going to as many as the other events as I can – like Ré in St James’ Church.
It’s a great programme – check it out here: http://feilenabealtaine.ie/home/
There’s nowhere like Daingean Uí Chúis on a Bank Holiday weekend!
There was a nice piece in The New York Times yesterday about ‘A Poem for Ireland’. I particularly like that the journalist, Douglas Dalby, acknowledges the dual literary tradition (Irish and English) in this country. What an honour to have been on the shortlist.
A few years ago I went along to Éigse an Spidéil to hear Biddy Jenkinson and to participate in the open mic (maidhc oscailte) afterwards. It was a great evening of poetry, music and banter. I’m delighted to be the guest poet this year, joined by the very fine musician Saileog Ní Cheannabháin. There is a fantastic line-up at this year’s Éigse; check it out at this link:
I’ll be giving a talk at Galway City Museum on Saturday afternoon from 2pm-3pm. It’ll be an informal sweep through ‘A Brief History of the Irish language’ and entry is free, though booking is advisable. Details at the link:
http://www.galwaycitymuseum.ie/calendar-of-events/
On Sunday night I’ll be reading at an IMRAM event to celebrate International Women’s Day. There’ll be a bevy of women including Celia de Fréine, Biddy Jenkinson, Aifric Mac Aodha, Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Caitríona Ní Chléirchín, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and traditional singers Síle Denvir, Máire Ní Choilm and Máiréad Ní Oistín.
McGrattan’s 76 Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin 2 @8.00pm
Cead isteach/Admission €10
http://imram.ie/?event=night-of-poetry-and-music-for-international-womens-day
Here is a piece I wrote for the Irish Times about the extraordinary Máire Mhac an tSaoi:
Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh 
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