Programme of Events, 2023

Events Programme 2023

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Thursday, April 27

Hunger’s Way Premiere

Poetry Day Ireland

The sixty-minute-long film will be followed by a short reading and discussion with Edwina Guckian & Vincent Woods (Poet Laureate for Carrick on Shannon) followed by a reception to launch this year’s 25th Strokestown International Poetry Festival.

Featuring : Vincent Woods, Edwina Guckian
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 19:00
Friday, April 28

Arlen House Lunchtime Book Launch

Arlen House Lunchtime Book Launch presents new collections & readings by Úna Ní Cheallaigh, Margaret Nohilly & Breda Spaight.

Featuring : Breda Spaight, Margaret Nohilly, Úna Ní Cheallaigh
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 13:00
Friday, April 28

Reading by Gerry Boland & Nessa O’Mahony

Featuring : Nessa O’Mahony, Gerry Boland
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 15:30
Friday, April 28

The Book of Life Launch

Dedalus Press Book launch: The Book of Life: Poems to Tide You Over, edited by Grace Wells with readings by contributors.

Featuring : Grace Wells
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 17:00
Friday, April 28

Over the Edge

An Over the Edge reading curated by the late Kevin Higgins and now held to honour his work and memory, featuring new & emerging talent from the west.

Featuring : Leah Keane, Anne Donnellan, Cormac Culkeen, Bernie Crawford, Rachel Coventry
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 19:30
Friday, April 28

Absent Friend

Absent Friend (Harvest Press) is a meditation on a more than thirty-year friendship between poet and writer John MacKenna and Leonard Cohen.

Featuring : Katie Jacques, John MacKenna
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 21:15
Saturday, April 29

Adult Poetry Workshop

Adult Poetry Workshop – Writing the Landscape. Writers have a major role to play in raising awareness of our environmental crisis. Join poet and editor, Nessa O’Mahony for a poetry workshop that will guide you through the process of responding to the landscape and those spaces we hold dear.

Featuring : Nessa O’Mahony
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 10:00
Saturday, April 29

Children’s Event

Children’s Event (ages 7-12) Alan Nolan’s Uncanny Ireland.

Featuring : Alan Nolan
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 11:00
Saturday, April 29

Saturday Lunchtime Poetry Reading

Lunchtime Poetry Reading with Noelle Lynskey & Grace Wells. The Strokestown & Ennistymon poet laureates respectively.

Featuring : Noelle Lynskey, Grace Wells
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 13:30
Saturday, April 29

Editing Poetry – Panel Discussion

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.

Featuring : Joan McBreen, Grace Wells, ko ko thett, Nessa O’Mahony
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 15:00
Saturday, April 29

Washing Windows III Launch

Arlen House Book Launch: presents Washing Windows III, featuring new and emerging women writers.

Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 16:30
Saturday, April 29

Romance Options Launch

Dedalus Press Book Launch, Romance Options: Love Poems for Today, edited by Leeanne Quinn & Joseph Woods and with readings by contributors.

Featuring : Leeanne Quinn
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 19:00
Saturday, April 29

ko ko thett Reading

Renowned Burmese poet, writer, editor and translator Ko Ko Thett will read.

Featuring : ko ko thett
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 20:00
Saturday, April 29

Readings from Darkness Between Stars

A reading by John F. Deane & James Harpur from their joint book Darkness Between Stars, published by Irish Pages Press.

Featuring : James Harpur, John F. Deane
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 21:15
Sunday, April 30

Macdara Woods Film Screening

A screening of some short films associated with the late Macdara Woods.

Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 11:00
Sunday, April 30

Cyphers Launch

Launch of Cyphers 95 and featuring contributors.

Featuring : Cyphers Magazine
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 12:00
Sunday, April 30

Sunday Lunchtime Poetry Reading

Lunchtime Poetry Reading with Amy Abdullah Barry & Leeanne Quinn.

Featuring : Leeanne Quinn, Amy Abdullah Barry
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 13:30
Sunday, April 30

Inaugural Joan McBreen lecture

Inaugural Joan McBreen lecture/talk on poetry by Ailbhe Smyth, followed by questions from the floor.

Featuring : Ailbhe Smyth
Venue : Strokestown Park House
Time : 15:00