Many thanks to Aifric Mac Aodha for her review of the series ‘File ar Fhile’ which was published by Cois Life in May. The review is published in The Irish Times.
The series is also on the shortlist for Gradam de Bhaldraithe, a new Oireachtas literary award that recognises excellence in translation.
Buíochas ó chroí to Louis de Paor and Claire Cunningham for including me in the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘No Egos No Divas’ which was broadcast today. Great to hear the articulate voices of Doireann Ní Ghriofa, Aifric Mac Aodha, Simon Ó Faoláin, Marcus Mac Conghail, Seámus Barra Ó Súilleabháin and Caitlín Nic Íomhair in full flow. You can listen back to it here.
It was wonderful to visit Florence/Firenze recently to read with Billy Ramsell and his Italian translator, Lorenzo Mari. Very grateful to my friend Debora Biancheri who translated some of my poems to Italian some years ago. These translations were read on this occasion by writer Giovanni Agnoloni who hosted the event at the gorgeous L’Ora Blu bookshop. Grazie a tutti!
Here is a link to the podcast Words Lightly Spoken which was posted on the RTÉ website yesterday. With thanks to the producer, Claire Cunningham.
In this episode of the new Arts Council-funded podcast Words Lightly Spoken, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh reads her poem Filleadh ón Antartach, and the English translation, Return from Antarctica, by Billy Ramsell, from her collection The Coast Road, published by The Gallery Press.
It was lovely to read with Leanne O’Sullivan on Saturday afternoon at the Cork International Poetry Festival. John Fitzgerald introduced us and facilitated the Q&A afterwards. Really enjoyed the festival from start to finish. Kudos to Pat Cotter, James O’Leary and the Munster Literature Centre.
The Cork International Poetry Festival is kicking off today and will continue until Saturday night. It’s great to see so many Irish-language poets included on the programme – Caitríona Ní Chléirchín & Simon Ó Faoláin will read together in the City Library on Grand Parade on Friday at 4pm. Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill will read with David Harsent on Friday night at 10pm at Cork Arts Theatre. And I was chuffed to get the call-up to read alongside Leanne O’Sullivan on Saturday afternoon at 4pm at Cork Arts Theatre. This event is instead of a public interview with Marie Howe, whose book Magdalene I enjoyed reading late last year. So while it’s a pity we won’t get to hear from Marie Howe, I’m looking forward to sharing a stage with Leanne for the first time, a poet whose work I have admired since her first collection, Waiting for my Clothes.
