The full 2026 Festival Programme is presented below.
If you would prefer to download the Programme, click on this link and you can download in PDF format SIPF 2026 Programme.
Strokestown International Poetry Festival
Friday, 1– Sunday, 3 May 2026
Friday, May 1 (All Ireland Poetry Day)
7:00 PM | Café
Poetry Reading & Festival Launch
Moya Cannon, Louise G Cole & Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan
8:30 PM | Café
Traditional Quartet
Rithim
Admission: €15 inclusive
9:30 PM | Compton’s Central Bar
Strokestown Open Mic & Music Night
Admission: Free
– – –
Saturday, 2 May
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Attic
Helen Mort
Poetry Workshop: On good form – writing, freedom and constraint
Advance booking essential €60
11:30 PM | Stables
New Work from Lapwing, Macha & Revival Press
Patrick Dillon, Susanna Galbraith & Margaret O’Driscoll
Admission: €8
2.00 PM | Stables
Turlough Poetry collective presents
Edel Burke, Susie Fry, Peggy Gallagher, Winifred McNulty, Ger Reidy & Jean Tuomey
with Diarmaid Moynihan on the uilleann pipes.
Admission: €10
4:30 PM | Stables
Joan McBreen Lecture 2026
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin
On readers of poetry
Admission: Free
7:30 PM | Café:
Celebrating 45 years of Salmon Poetry
Rachael Hegarty, Joan McBreen, Jessamine O’Connor, Nessa O’Mahony & Adam Wyeth
Admission: €10
– – –
Sunday, 3 May
11:00 AM | Stables
Poetry Films Screening in association with the Adrian Brinkerhoff Foundation
& curated by Luke Morgan featuring contemporary Irish poets & performers.
Admission: Free
12:15 PM | Stables
Launch of the final issue of Cyphers 100
Celebrating 50 years of publication.
with special guests
Admission: Free
2:00 PM | Stables
Poetry Reading & Launch
Aifric Mac Aodha, Philip McDonagh & Michael O’Loughlin
Admission: €10
4:30 PM | Stables
Strokestown International Poetry Competition
Rachael Hegarty announces the winner, with readings
Admission: Free
7: 30 PM | Café
Festival Finale Poetry Reading
Dermot Bolger, Jaki McCarrick & Helen Mort
Admission: €10
Celebrating 45 years of Salmon Poetry
– – –
Onsite Festival Bookseller: The Salmon Bookshop
Festival Pub: Compton’s Central Bar, Bridge St., Strokestown
– – –
Weekend Ticket: €50
– – –
Workshop is limited to 12 persons & advance booking essential by Friday 24 April.
Following payment, €60 please send two poems (40 lines or less) to sipfestivaldirector@gmail.com for workshop.