White House Poets to launch Anthology at North Beach Nights Poetry Slam

The hugely popular North Beach Nights Poetry Slam is back this Thursday, December 8th at Biquets Wine Bar on Spanish Parade. Last month's opening night at the new venue was a resounding triumph, with a full house packed in to this charming Gallic venue to watch 12 poets compete for the coveted bottle of wine. The MC for the night will be Stephen Murray, the 2005 Cuirt Grand Slam Champion, who will represent Ireland in February at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships 2006 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.The guests for the evening will be Limericks' White House Poets who will be launching their anthology 'Microphone On'. The White House Poetry sessions in Limerick represent the longest running and most successful weekly open-mic poetry events in the country attracting some of the biggest names in poetry from Ireland, Britain and the USA. They will be represented by Barney Sheehan, Dominic Taylor, Tom McCarthy and Galway's Kevin Higgins.

Galway has Ireland's largest and most vibrant poetry slam scene. Anyone who has yet to witness it first hand really should check it out. The slam is open to anyone who wishes to perform, Participants should arrive between 8.30pm and 9pm to sign up as the slam starts at 9pm. The winner is chosen by a five judges picked from the audience. There is an optional 3 Euro charge to contribute towards the cost of the evening. A full menu, cheese plates, olives, fresh bread and the best selection of French wine in Galway is also available.

Poem Of The Week 'Homage' by Grant D McLeman

HOMAGE

She is
the first candle
and
the last candle
she is
as feminine as April
and she cancels time
with one look

With her
all my future somethings
become
my present all things
all my acts of faith
become acts of worship
all my days of grey
become
lands of rainbow

As she lives
so shall I die

Grant D Mc leman
was born in Glasgow, 1952, and now lives in Clyde Coast town of Largs. He is a Social Studies graduate currently working in a jobcentre (!). Has been writing poetry for some time. In early days won 3 diplomas in Scottish Open Poetry Competition and then didn't write for some time. On resumption of writing, was published once or twice by Forward Press and then in 2003 collaborated with internationally renowned U.S. photographer Martin Lueders in producing 3 pieces that were broadcast on U.S. cable T.V. programme 'Coffee House'. Currently looking for publisher.

White House Poetry Revival Wed 30th Nov. 2005

White House Poetry Revival Wed 30th Nov 2005 9.00pm

This weeks guest poet is Susan Millar DuMars.

Susan Millar DuMars is an American writer living in Galway. Her first collection of poetry, "Everyone Loves Me", was published by Lapwing Publications in October. Her fiction was shortlisted in the START/South Tipperary Arts Centre Chapbook Competition this year. Susan's first collection of short stories, "Stupid Slim Neck Audrey Hepburn Dreams", received an Arts Council Bursary for 2005. She and her husband, Kevin Higgins, organise the Over the Edge readings series in Galway.

As usual the reading is preceded by an open mic session in which anyone who wishes to read is invited to do so. Complementary finger food is provided and proceeding commence at 9.00 pm.


For further information contact Barney Sheehan at 086 8657494 or Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 email whitehousepoets@eircom.net
Website http://www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Blog http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com/

Dominic reading at the White House Poetry Revival 

A Brief History Of The White House Bar, Limerick

The White House was established in 1812 by Caffrey Moses as a grocery and wine store. The seawards William White and Bell Hayes and his wife Miss English all contributed to the White House today. It was taken over by the Gleeson Family in 1920 and ran by Ita and her brother Eamonn, up to his retirement. Ita was the wife of the journalist Michael Fitzgibbon, editor of the Limerick Leader at the time. They both encouraged the ambiance that epitomises this oak walled and mirrored pub today. Their patrons included the actor Richard Harris, the artist Jack Donovan and the poet Desmond O'Grady. His father and his father before him, Tom Mulrooney fruit importer and raconteur and Tom Ryan the artist. There were many others; the poet Robert Graves, Jim Kemmy, Frank McCourt, Desmond O'Malley and Jack Charlton. In 2002 Barney Sheehan began the White House Poetry Revival restoring the literary tradition of this famous old world bar.

Poem Of The Week 'Ring Fort' by Gerard Sheehy

Ring Fort

The faintest whisper
from a shy sign
betrayed its location.
So we stopped ,
and down a path
bordered on both sides
by a wire fence
we made our way
until
away from the sound of cars
and draped deciduously
in the shadows of some arthritic trees

there it was

keeping company with
the passing Shannon.
Its green banks still
standing proud
facing the world and what it offers
but respectfully declining.
Gone are the Norman and the Gael
and in their place
pass badger , fox and crow
unburdened by thoughts of possession.

And we stayed
no longer than we should
so when it was time
we retreated back the way we came ,
back to the sound of cars
but lit by the smile
of an October morning

Gerard Sheehy

Gerard Sheehy was born and lives in Limerick. He rediscovered poetry a couple of years ago, and his influences are drawn from the everyday experiences that greet him and his four children. His work has recently being published in Microphone On (White House Press, 2005).
Contact: (email: ger1966@eircom.net)

White House Poetry Revival Wed 23rd. Nov 2005

This weeks guest poet is Billy Ramsell

Billy Ramsell was born in Cork in 1977 and educated at the North Monastery and UCC. He began writing seriously in 2000 upon moving to Barcelona. Since 2001 his poems have appeared in a variety of journals and magazines. In 2005 he was shortlisted for a Hennessy Literary Award and won the Cork Literary Review manuscript competition which was adjudicated by the poet Medh McGuckian. He lives in Cork where he co-runs a small educational publishing company.

As usual the reading is preceded by an open mic session in which anyone who wishes to read is invited to do so. Complementary finger food is provided and proceeding commence at 9.00 pm.


For further information contact Barney Sheehan at 086 8657494 or Dominic Taylor at 087 2996409 email http://www.blogger.com/ Website http://www.blogger.com/..