Muldoon’s Picnic 17 May 2024

Very excited to be among the performers at Muldoon’s Picnic in The Pavillion in Dún Laoghaire on Friday 17 May, alongside Paul Muldoon, Roddy Doyle, Liz Nugent, and Hugh Buckley.

Here’s how Poetry Ireland describes the show:

Devised and developed by the acclaimed Irish poet Paul Muldoon, the show is hosted by Muldoon and house band Rogue Oliphant – a collective of musicians and composers including Chris Harford (Three Colors, Band of Changes), Cáit O’Riordan (The Pogues), David Mansfield (Bob Dylan, The Alpha Band), Ray Kubian (Electric Six, Chris Forsyth) and Warren Zanes (Del Fuegos). 

The title Muldoon’s Picnic refers to a popular 19th-century New York vaudeville act, which inspired the New York based Paul Muldoon to begin hosting these carefully blended evenings of literature and music back in 2014.  Paul Muldoon describes Muldoon’s Picnic as a direct response to that ancient impulse to perform, to share, to make one’s own amusement:

“It’s one of our most basic instincts; to listen to a song, listen to a poem. Even in this era when people have their noses stuck in their tablets, it still works.” 

Produced by Poetry Ireland and supported by an Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Arts Council of Northern Ireland Touring Grant.

Radio Series: Ómós Áite

Last year, I presented a ten-part radio series on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta called ‘Ómós Áite.’ Along with the series producer, Emma Ní Chearúil, we traveled the length and breadth of Ireland interviewing writers about their connection to place. Among the participants were Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Jackie Mac Donncha, Caitríona Ní Chléirchín, Máire Dinny Wren, Seán Ó Muireagáin, Pauline Nic Chonaonaigh, Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Siobhán Ní Mhuimhneacháin, agus Simon Ó Faoláin. You can listen back to all episodes at this link.