Internationally acclaimed and award winning author Colum McCann will join Donal Ryan, Rita Ann Higgins and Mike Mac Domhnaill and a host of other established Irish writers, musicians and artists at Éigse Michael Hartnett 2016 taking place in Newcastle West, County Limerick, from Thursday April 14th through Saturday 16th April.
Hundreds of literary enthusiasts from all over Ireland will descend on the town to attend the three-day event in the very streets which shaped Hartnett's poetry.
This year's festival, which is an initiative of Limerick Arts Office and supported by The Arts Council, once again offers a mix of poetry and music, literature and drama, visual arts and dance.
Éigse Michael Hartnett was officially opened yesteday evening (Thursday 14th April) at 8pm by the Mayor of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Liam Galvin, and will feature a keynote address by Rita Ann Higgins on "Wasp in a Mug, or why is it some poems unsettle us."
The free event also will feature the presentation of the Michael Hartnett Poetry Award 2016, which is this year being shared by John McAuliffe from Listowel, County Kerry for his collection 'The Way In' and to Doireann Ní Ghríofa from Kilnamona, Co Clare, for her collection 'Clasp'.
Gerard Smyth, Poetry Editor of The Irish Times, was, along with Rita Ann Higgins, one of the judges of this year’s Michael Hartnett Poetry Award and he will deliver the citations to this year’s joint winners. The Limerick Arts Office and The Arts Council jointly fund the €4,000 annual prize to honour the poetic legacy of the late Michael Hartnett (1941-1999).
Friday offers a chance to see some innovative dance films along with some integrated dance performances, choreographed by Mary Hartney, inspired by a Michael Hartnett poem. There will also be a chance, over morning coffee, to hear local award-winning author Mike Mac Domhnaill read from his short story collection, 'Sifting'. Poet and artist Jo Slade will open an exhibition of paintings by students at Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West, which have been inspired by Hartnett poems.
Friday also will see a Story Exchange where students will have the experience of stepping into another’s shoes through the telling of their stories. Éigse teamed up with Narrative 4 to bring this to Newcastle West as part of Narrative 4’s mission to develop empathy and leadership in young people through the powerful medium of storytelling. Narrative 4 is an international foundation, co-founded by writer Colum McCann and other writers and artists. Poet Michael Coady will team up with emerging poet Jane Clarke on Friday night for readings.
On Saturday, award-winning novelist and short story writer Donal Ryan will deliver this year’s Michael Hartnett Memorial Lecture. His talk, called “Saving Words” will look at language and how we use it and also how we have subverted the English language imposed on us and elevated it to an art. Saturday afternoon’s walkabout will be led by Des Healy, a close friend of Hartnett from the time they went to school together. It will take people to the places important to Hartnett and will be a mix of anecdote, poetry and song.
The Poetry Slam is an important element of Éigse and starts as always with a Hartnett ballad. The prize money for an original poem is €300 while there is also a €100 prize for best recited Hartnett poem.
The big headline act of Éigse Michael Hartnett 2016 is the reading by internationally acclaimed and award winning author Colum McCann on Saturday night. He will be joined on stage by singer/musician Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Throughout the weekend meanwhile, an exhibition of photographs inspired by Hartnett’s Inchicore Haikus will take place in Newcastle West Library.
Visit www.eigsemichaelhartnett.ie for more details.
