New Podcast Available - No 10 Hugh Mc Fadden

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A Podcast of the latest White House Poetry Revival (recorded June 28th) is now available by clicking on the link below.

This weeks guest was Derry born poet Hugh Mc Fadden.


http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

White House Poetry Revival Slide Show No.8

White House Poetry Revival Wed 28th June 2006

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White House Poetry Revival
Wed 28th. June 2006 9.00pm



This weeks guest poet is Hugh Mc Fadden.


Hugh McFadden was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, but has lived in Dublin since childhood. Has had poems published in a variety of literary magazines, including Aquarius, Belfast Review, Broadsheet (ed. Hayden Murphy), The Cork Review, Cyphers, The Great Book of Ireland, Irish University Review, and Poetry Ireland Review. His first collection, Cities of Mirrors, was published by Beaver Row Press. A second collection, Pieces of Time, was published in 2004 by Lapwing Press. His Selected Poems, subtitled Elegies & Epiphanies, were published in 2005 by Lagan Press, Belfast. He has worked as a Researcher/editor for The Irish Manuscripts Commission, and for many years worked as a staff journalist with The Irish Press Group of newspapers, for which he reviewed and wrote a literary column. He is the executor of the literary estate of the late Irish writer, John Jordan, the poet, short-story writer, critic, academic and founding editor of Poetry Ireland. He edited The Collected Poems of John Jordan (Dedalus Press, Dublin, 1991), The Collected Stories of John Jordan (Poolbeg Press, Dublin, 1991), and has edited Crystal Clear:The Selected Prose of John Jordan, which was published by Lilliput Press, Dublin, this month (May, 2006). He works as a freelance journalist in Dublin and as a lecturer in journalism at third level.

The White House Poetry Revival has being going now for three years. Every Wednesday the famous old world bar is transformed into a centre of culture as poets recite their latest work. Barney Sheehan, the man behind the revival of poetry at the White House, continues to attract the best of Irish and International poetry to Limerick.

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 www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Blog Http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com Podcast: http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/
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The White House Poets acknowledge the support of: the White House Pub, the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Poetry Ireland, Limerick City Council

Poem Of The Week 'Tell Them I've Had A Wonderful Life' by Paul O Mahony

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“Tell them I’ve had a wonderful life.”

Ludwig looked very closely for the differences
liked the quiet but feared the solitude.
Tossed round the bed
protesting against conversation
seeping up through floorboards
nightly.

The chatter of newly grown stubble
the scent of young girls giggling
filtering through damp dark
to where corners of sheets
froze his soles
and he was forced to bend back into himself.

This was the place he’d come -
a wild field of thought
the odd cow
milking the language
jumping from one full stop on the rocks
to a landscape drawn out from watershelves –
Wittgenstein in County Wicklow, remembering Little Killary Bay
and the gravel from Maumturk quarries.

An Austrian gentleman
huddled in Kilpatrick House
under Ballymoyle Hill
(Cnoc Bhaile an Mhaoil)
feeling better here than in Cambridge
finding rest difficult
as the cancer of his prostate
quietly released him from his investigations."


Paul O'Mahony grew up in Limerick . He left in 1968, and has recently returned to Cork after 30 years in UK. He began writing poetry in 1995. He's lived in Dublin, London, Bradford on Avon and Bath. He self-published his first collection "Vital Poems" in 2003 and has performed at many literature festivals with "Dandelion Poets". He is keen to make contact with other poets, especially in Munster, and his email address is paul.omahony@btinternet.com and his blog is "http://omaniblog.blogs.ie"

The White House Poets acknowledge the support of: the White House Pub, the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Poetry Ireland, Limerick City Council

White House Poetry Revival Podcast No.9

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A new Podcast of the latest White House Poetry Revival

can be heard by clicking on the link below:

http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

Special guest this week was Cork born bi-lingual poet Louis de Paor.

The White House Poets acknowledge the support of: the White House Pub, the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Poetry Ireland, Limerick City Council

White House Poetry Revival Slide Show No.7

White House Poetry Revival Wed 21st June 2006

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White House Poetry Revival
Wed 21st. June 2006 9.00pm

The White House Poets in association with Foras na Gaeilge continue their series of bi-lingual poetry readings this Wednesday 21st June at 9.00pm in the White House pub, O Connell Street , Limerick

This weeks guest poet is Louis De Paor.

Louis de Paor was born in Cork in 1961. He lived in Australia from 1987 to 1996 and his first bilingual collection, Aimsir Bhreicneach/Freckled Weather (Australia, The Leros Press, 1993), was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Award for Literary Translation. This was followed by Gobán Cré is Cloch / Sentences of Earth and Shore (Melbourne, Black Pepper Press, 1996 reprint 1997). Louis's most recent publication is Ag Greadadh Bas sa Reilig - Clapping in the Cemetery, published by Clo Iar-Chonnachta in 2005. He was granted a Writer's Fellowship by the Australia Council in 1995. He is also the recipient of the Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award 2000, the first poet in Irish to achieve that distinction. He lives in Galway.

Over the coming months many more bi lingual poets are booked to read in association with Foras na Gaeilge including Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Cathal O Searcaigh, Gabriel Rosenstock, Gearoid Mac Lochlainn, Cristoir O Flynn, Paddy Bushe, plus many others.

The White House Poetry Revival has being going now for three years. Every Wednesday the famous old world bar is transformed into a centre of culture as poets recite their latest work. Barney Sheehan, the man behind the revival of poetry at the White House, continues to attract the best of Irish and International poetry to Limerick. He sees the involvement of Foras na Gaeilge as a recognition of the work they have put in to making the White House one of the pre eminent venues for poetry in Ireland.

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/ Podcast: http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

Poetry On BBC Radio.

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Here is a list and link to some of my favourite BBC radio programmes which are about or contain poetry. If you can't receive these programmes live (if you have cable or satellite you should be able to get them) you can listen back to them on the internet for 7 days after they are broadcast - no excuse for missing them then.

First off is The Verb on BBC Radio 3 (currently on at 9.15 on a Saturday night but the time slot changes occasionally) - a language and literature programme but always at least 1 item of poetry every week . Brilliantly hosted by poet Ian Mc Millan.

Next up is Poetry Please on BBC Radio 4 (on at 4.30 Sunday afternoon) - usually runs in a series of 10 progammes then takes a break, the current series is at number 7 this week. Not always a lot of contemporary poetry on it but unmissable for the performance of the readers each week. Liverpool poet Roger Mc Gough hosts. Is repeated at 11.30pm on a Saturday.

My personal favourite radio programme Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2 Monday to Thursday 10.30 to 12.00 midnight. Great music, chat and great guests, every few weeks you can catch poets Simon Armitage and Ian Mc Millan. This week you can hear Ian on Monday night.

A programme always worth checking out is Front Row on BBC Radio 4 (7.15pm Monday to Friday) an arts magazine programme but you never know when a poet will turn up - a few weeks ago Billy Collins was interviewed about his new collection.

Also worth keeping an ear tuned for is Night Waves on BBC Radio 3 (Monday to Friday 9.30pm to 10.15pm) another arts magazine programme but again poets do turn up - Seamus Heaney was on a few weeks ago.

For those interested in Performance Poetry then the briliant Bespoken Word on BBC Radio 4 began a new series last Tuesday at 11.00pm.

As the published schedules in the media don't always contain information about who will be on you can subscibe to a weekly newsletter from BBC radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 which usually has accurate details.

To listen to any of the above programmes click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/i/ and follow the links.

Poem Of The Week 'William Blake In The Bridge Hotel' by Keith Armstrong

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WILLIAM BLAKE IN THE BRIDGE HOTEL

A few pints of Deuchars and my spirit is soaring.
The child dances out of me,
goes running down to the Tyne,
while the little man in me wrestles with a lass
and William Blake beams all his innocence in my glass.
And the old experience sweats from a castle’s bricks
as another local prophet takes a jump off the bridge.
It’s the spirit of Pat Foley and the ancient brigade
on the loose down the Quayside stairs
in a futile search,
just a step in the past,
for one last revolutionary song.
All the jars we have supped
in the hope of a change;
all the flirting and courting and chancing downstream;
all the words in the air and the luck pissed away.
It seems we oldies are running back
screaming to the Bewick days,
when a man could down a politicised quip
and craft a civilised chat
before he fed the birds
in the Churchyard.
The cultural ships are fair steaming in
but it’s all stripped of meaning -
the Councilors wade
in the shallow end.
O Blake! buy me a pint in the Bridge again,
let it shiver with sunlight
through all the stained windows,
make my wit sparkle
and my knees buckle.
Set me free of this stifling age
when the bland are back in charge.
Let us grow our golden hair wild once more
and roar like Tygers
down Dog Leap Stairs.

KEITH ARMSTRONG
Born in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, where he has worked as a community
development worker, poet, librarian and publisher, Keith Armstrong, now residing in
the seaside town of Whitley Bay, is coordinator of the Northern Voices creative writing and community publishing project which specialises in recording the
experiences of people in the North East of England. Keith will be reading in Limerick at the White House Poetry Revival on the 12th July 2006

White House Poetry Revival Podcast No.8

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A new Podcast of the latest White House Poetry Revival
can be heard by clicking on the link below:
http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/
Special guest this week was performance poet Brendan Murphy

White House Poetry Revival Slide Show No. 6

Save Rattlebag - Online Petition

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Plans are afoot to axe Rattlebag (and Mystery Train, too), from RTE Radio 1's schedule. There is an online petition appealing to have the plan reconsidered. If you would like to add your name, here is the link,

http://www.petitiononline.com/rattlebg/petition.html

White House Poetry Revival Wed 14th June 2006

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White House Poetry Revival
Wed 14th. June 2006 9.00pm

This weeks special guest poet is the winner of the 2006 Cuirt Poetry Grand Slam

Brendan Murphy.
Brendan Murphy was born in Liverpool to English parents and Irish grandparents. He is a graduate of Sheffield University, where he studied the History of Art, Film and Design. His first performance experience was a Saturday night slot with a friend at his local pub, where they developed an improvised repartee on the week’s events. Brendan has lived in Galway for the last eight years and considers Ireland his spiritual home. Although he has been writing since his early teens he only started to perform his work last December. Brendan is this year’s winner of the Cuirt Grand Slam.


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 www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Blog Http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com Podcast: http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

Poem Of The Week 'Munster v Biarritz 2006' by Gerard Nix

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Munster v Biarritz 2006

“They were there before the Huns”, George said,
In that Basque country between the sea and the Pyrenees.
The pride of French rugby,
Munster men, you’ll take your hat off to these!
He forgot to mention the ten million sum,
And that ours were the boys from down the road
And are they not the descendants of Brian Boru
And Art O’Leary too!
We had Clontarf, they had Waterloo.
Peter Stringer was our Patrick Sarsfield
Who stole a march behind enemy lines,
Only this time we had the power to see it through.
Ronan O’Gara was our Cuchulain,
Who silenced the hounds of prey.
This is ours
You out there can have another day.
The rest were Caesars in their own right
And like true Romans to a man
They can look at the Cup with pride and say
Veni Vidi Vichi...

Gerard Nix started writing poetry during a back illness in the early 1970’s.
Educated in Meelick National school and St. Munchins College, Corbally.
Received a diploma in Social Action from U.C.G. in 1974. He has being published in the White House Anthology 'Microphone On'.

New Collection From Sandra Bunting

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Sandra Bunting, who recently read at the White House Poetry Revival, and Marram Press cordially invites you to the Dublin launch of her new poetry
collection, Identified in Trees, on June 15 at 8pm in the United Arts Club, 3
Fitzwilliam St. Upper, Dublin 2.

Marram Press, 21 Munster Ave. Galway, 0868664819
marrampress@gmail.com Editor: Ciarán Parkes

New Podcast Of White House Poetry Revival

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A new Podcast of the latest White House Poetry Revival
can be heard by clicking on the link below:

http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

Special guest this week Kerry poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice.

White House Poetry Revival Slide Show No.5

White House Poetry Revival Wed. June 7th 2006

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White House Poetry Revival
Wed 7th. June 2006 9.00pm

The White House Poets in association with Foras na Gaeilge continue their series of bi-lingual poetry readings this Wednesday 7th June at 9.00pm in the White House pub, O Connell Street , Limerick


This weeks guest poet is Gabriel Fitzmaurice.

Gabriel Fitzmaurice, born in 1952 in the village of Moyvane, where he still lives and is principal of the local National School. He is author of more than thirty books in Irish and English and has been described as ‘one of Ireland’s favourite writers’. In Beat the Goatskin Fitzmaurice’s skilful storytelling and optimistic spirit give a charming account of Ireland, particularly rural Ireland with its customs, education, sport, literature, music and song.

Over the coming months many more bi lingual poets are booked to read including Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Louis De Paor, Cathal O Searcaigh, Gabriel Rosenstock, Gearoid Mac Lochlainn, Cristoir O Flynn, Paddy Bushe, plus many others.

The White House Poetry Revival has being going now for almost three years. Every Wednesday the famous old world bar is transformed into a centre of culture as poets recite their latest work. Barney Sheehan, the man behind the revival of poetry at the White House, continues to attract the best of Irish and International poetry to Limerick. He sees the involvement of Foras na Gaeilge as a recognition of the work they have put in to making the White House one of the pre eminent venues for poetry in Ireland.

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 www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Blog Http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com Podcast: http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com/

White House Poetry Revival Celebrates Three Years

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White House Poets Well Versed After Three Successful Years

Wednesday the 7th June 2006 will be an historic date in the lives of the White House Poets. It will be three years to the day the Barney Sheehan first began the now famous weekly poetry reading called the ‘White House Poetry Revival’ and although poetry has been well and truly revived in Limerick due to his efforts the name has taken on a new meaning over the past 156 weeks. From that first tentative effort to provide a platform for young (and not so young) poets to perform their work in public the ‘revival’ has become a by word for poetry with a bit of craic. Catering as it does for all strands of the poetic art from high academic to doggerel verse, to quote Barney Sheehan ‘ there are no hierarchies of talent or fame at the White House’. But the name, with its almost evangelical overtones, forges a path between the rock and roll of ‘slam’ poetry and a traditional reading. Here you will find in the front room of the busy White House pub an oasis of culture where poets ply their trade every Wednesday. Hosted over by the exuberant Barney Sheehan a heady mix of poetry and verse is served up to the always large crowd some of whom have come to take part in the proceedings while others just to listen, whichever, everyone is made very welcome.

Of course "they said it wouldn't last" according to Barney but single handily he has done what the doubters said could not be done and now three years down the road the event has gone from strength to strength and is the focal point for live poetry in Limerick.

The revival kicked off in dramatic fashion during the summer ofof 2003 with Limericks most famous living poet Desmond O'Grady. Desmond recalled the former great days and nights at the White House. He told the packed gathering tales of Richard Harris, Seamus O'Cinnede, the Poet Ryan, Kitty Bredin, Bernadette Mulrooney, the artist Raol Peter Jackson, politician and writer Jim Kemmy and the former proprietors of the White House Ita and Eamonn Gleeson.

The 60's and 70's were heady days at the White House. Now this great era is being re-created every Wednesday night through the energy and organisational ability of Barney Sheehan. Each week a featured poet is preceded by an open-mic session in which anyone and everyone are welcome to take part. The quality of the readings has been a particular feature, remarked upon by visitors from as far away as the US, Canada and Europe.

The featured poet each week has also been of a remarkably high standard. As well as Desmond O'Grady other headlining poets have included Knute Skinner, John Liddy, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Tim Cunningham, Cristoir O'Flynn, Conor O Callaghan, Gerard Hanberry, Paddy Bushe, Greg Delante, Mark Whelan and others. As well as the above a long list of regular open-mic poets have added handsomely to the proceedings each week.

In August of last year an anthology of 100 poets who have read at the White House Poetry Revival was published to much acclaim, called Microphone On it is now in its second printing. Other notable events in the life of the White House Poets has being their involvement in the annual Cuisle International Poetry Festival and the sponsoring, along with the local Arts Office, of the visit of internationally acclaimed Australian poet Les Murray.

Of course every event requires money and effort to keep going and keep the standards high. The whole show is put together on a voluntary basis by Barney, a few dedicated assistants and the good will of the guest poets. He would like more official bodies to recognise the tremendous benefits that can accrue from supporting such an event – benefits not just for the individual but the city as a whole. ‘the potential to make Limerick the spiritual home of poetry exists’ he said, ‘with a little investment and imagination not only could we have a thriving cultural event but the economic spin off would repay any investment ten fold’.

To mark the third anniversary of this unique event Barney promises lots of craic next Wednesday and the special guest poet is Gabriel Fitzmaurice from Kerry. Fitzmaurice is one of Irelands finest poets and a special friend of the White House, which he has supported since its beginnings. This reading takes place in association with Foras na Gaeilge.

Poem Of The Week 'Willmount' by Dominic Taylor

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Willmount

We stood opposite the great iron gates,
two pillars on either side like watchtowers
standing guard at the entrance to another world
display in white flaky paint the name Willmount.
Everyday we lingered by the entrance and longed
to know what lay at the end of that long winding
avenue.
Along the high walls on either side of the gates
you could catch a glimpse of apple and pear trees,
we longed to breach this fortress and skin its orchard
but this secret garden always lay just beyond our reach.
Slowly over the years cracks appeared in the walls
and eventually holes, which we scampered through
and took out what plunder we could.
As a tidalwave of change overtook the big house
what was left soon crumbled and fell in a cloud of dust
- when it settled our world was changed forever.

Dominic Taylor

Diary dates: Sun 4th June To Sat 10th June 2006

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EVENTS:Wednesday June 7th @ 9.00pm The White House Poets in association with Foras na Gaeilge continue their series of bi-lingual poetry readings this Wednesday 7th June at 9.00pm in the White House pub, O Connell Street , Limerick
This weeks guest poet is poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice.

Gabriel Fitzmaurice, born in 1952 in the village of Moyvane, where he still lives and is principal of the local National School. He is author of more than thirty books in Irish and English and has been described as ‘one of Ireland’s favourite writers’. In Beat the Goatskin Fitzmaurice’s skilful storytelling and optimistic spirit give a charming account of Ireland, particularly rural Ireland with its customs, education, sport, literature, music and song.

Over the coming months many more bi lingual poets are booked to read including Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Louis De Paor, Cathal O Searcaigh, Gabriel Rosenstock, Gearoid Mac Lochlainn, Cristoir O Flynn, Paddy Bushe, plus many others.

The White House Poetry Revival has being going now for almost three years. Every Wednesday the famous old world bar is transformed into a centre of culture as poets recite their latest work. Barney Sheehan, the man behind the revival of poetry at the White House, continues to attract the best of Irish and International poetry to Limerick. He sees the involvement of Foras na Gaeilge as a recognition of the work they have put in to making the White House one of the pre eminent venues for poetry in Ireland.

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 www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Blog Http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com Podcast: http://druidpaddy.blogmatrix.com
Wednesday 7 June 2.00pm INTRODUCTIONS Showcasing emerging talent Reading Jim Maguire
Celeste Augé Matt Kirkham Maria McManus Samantha McCaffrey
Saturday 10 June @ 8pm Poetry Ireland in association with Mayo County Council,
(as part of the force 12 Writers' Weekend) presents a reading by Harry Clifton
(Thomas Kinsella, winner of the Ted Mc Nulty Prize, will be presented with the award by Joseph Woods of Poetry Ireland)An Chéibh, Barrack Street, Belmullet
For further information T: 094 9047560 E: artsstaf@mayococo.ie

White House Poetry Revival Slide Show No.4

Grant Aid for Over The Edge, Galway.

Over The Edge, Galway is to receive Arts Council funding.
The Galway-based literary organisation Over The Edge has just been informed that they are to receive funding from the national Arts Council to support the literary events they organise in Galway City Library and at Sheridan's Wine Bar. In a joint statement Over The Edge organisers Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins said: "It's great to have the Arts Council acknowledge the work we do. We'd like to thank everyone who has participated in, or in any way supported Over The Edge during these past three years. There is a really vibrant literary scene in Galway right now, by far the best in the country. The Arts Council's decision to support Over The Edge will help us make it even better. We're delighted."