Strokestown International Poetry Festival
Thursday, 27th – Sunday, 30th April 2023
Thursday 27th Poetry Day Ireland
7pm – Premiere of Bealach an Fhéir Ghortaigh/Hunger’s Way
with Edwina Guckian & Vincent Woods
Friday 28th April
1pm Arlen House Debut Book(s) Launch:
new collections & readings by Úna Ní Cheallaigh, Margaret Nohilly & Breda Spaight.
3.30 pm Poetry Reading with Gerry Boland & Nessa O’Mahony
5pm Dedalus Press Book launch: The Book of Life, poems to tide you over, edited by Grace Wells with readings by contributors.
7.30pm An Over the Edge reading curated by the late Kevin Higgins and now held to honour his work and memory, featuring new & emerged talent from the west: Rachel Coventry, Bernie Crawford, Cormac Culkeen, Anne Donnellan & Leah Keane.
9.15 pm Absent Friend (Harvest Press) John MacKenna accompanied by musician Katie Jacques who will perform some of Leonard Cohen’s songs.
Saturday 29th April
11 – 1.30 Adult Poetry Workshop – Writing the Landscape –
11am Children’s Event (ages 7-12) Alan Nolan’s Uncanny Ireland
1.30 -2.30 Lunchtime Poetry Reading with Noelle Lynskey & Grace Wells
3pm Panel discussion on Editing Poetry by assembled poetry editors; Alan Hayes, Joan McBreen, ko ko thett, Grace Wells & Joseph Woods, chaired by Nessa O’Mahony
4.30pm Arlen House Book Launch: presents Washing Windows III
featuring new and emerging women writers.
7pm Dedalus Press Book Launch, Romance Options: Love Poems for Today, edited by Leeanne Quinn & Joseph Woods and with readings by contributors.
8pm Burmese poet, writer, editor and translator ko ko thett will read.
9.15pm A reading by John F. Deane & James Harpur from their joint book, Darkness Between Stars, published by Irish Pages Press.
Sunday 30th April
11 am A screening of some short films associated with the late Macdara Woods
12.00 Launch of Cyphers 95 and featuring contributors
1.30 -2.30 Lunchtime Poetry Reading with Amy Abdullah Barry & Leeanne Quinn
3pm Inaugural Joan McBreen lecture/talk on poetry, Ailbhe Smyth
7pm A celebration reading for Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin
8.30 pm A reading by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin accompanied by cellist Eimear Reidy.
Onsite Festival Bookseller Alan Hayes, Arlen House