Limerick once again takes its place as a beating heart of Irish literary culture as April Is Poetry Month returns for 2026 with an ambitious and wide-ranging programme of readings, book launches, installations, and special events running throughout the entire month of April.
From intimate readings and performances to milestone anniversaries and UNESCO celebrations, this year's programme offers something for every poetry lover – whether a lifelong devotee of verse or simply curious about what poetry has to offer.
The Programme
The month opens on Wednesday 1st April when poet John D Kelly reads at the beloved First Wednesday Series at The White House Bar, 52 O'Connell Street, followed by an open-mic session from 7.30pm – the perfect invitation to dive in.
On Tuesday 7th April, Quay Books on Sarsfield Street hosts A Garden From a Hundred Seeds, a poetry installation at 1.00pm drawing on the work of James Fenton in a reflective exploration of our relationship with the natural world, creativity, and simplicity.
Wednesday 8th April brings a reading with Eoin Devereux, Michael Dooley and Marie Studer to The People's Museum of Limerick, 2 Pery Square at 7.30pm, one of several events at this magnificent venue which serves as the programme's anchor throughout the month.
A major landmark arrives on Thursday 9th April when The Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street hosts Fifty Years Speaking at 6.30pm – a special gathering of poets published in the Stony Thursday Book over the past half-century, marking fifty years of one of Ireland's most treasured poetry publications.
The book launches begin in earnest on Friday 10th April with John Liddy's True to Form at The People's Museum at 7.30pm. Liddy returns on Tuesday 14th April for Bowing to the Moon at Quay Books at 6.30pm, a bilingual reading of Claribel Alegría's translations of the poems of Robert Graves – a rare and transporting literary occasion.
Wednesday 16th April sees the Desmond O'Grady Memorial Reading, presented in association with Poetry Ireland, featuring Sean Lysaght, Jamie O'Halloran and Jo Slade at The People's Museum at 7.30pm – a fitting tribute to one of Limerick's most celebrated poets. Plus the announcement of this years winner of the Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition by this year’s judge Sean Lysaght.
Friday 17th April brings the launch of Look In by Michael Durack at The People's Museum at 7.30pm, followed on Wednesday 22nd April by the launch of Unsinkable – Poetry Inspired by the Titanic, also at The People's Museum at 7.30pm.
Thursday 23rd April marks UNESCO World Book Day as Quay Books and LWC present Books & Roses at Quay Books, Sarsfield Street at 6.30pm – a celebration of the written word in all its forms.
On Friday 24th April, Vivienne McKechnie launches her new collection Shades of Red at The People's Museum at 7.30pm.
Sunday 26th April offers a compelling afternoon of literary scholarship as John W Sexton presents Resolving his Poetic Crisis: Michael Hartnett's Ritualistic Divorce from An Spéirbhean – a deep examination of Hartnett's remarkable poem A Falling Out – at The People's Museum at 3.00pm.
The month draws beautifully towards its close on Wednesday 29th April with A Trio of Cork Poets – Anne Rath, Margaret O'Driscoll and Catherine Ronan – at The People's Museum at 7.30pm, before the Lime Square Poets bring the curtain down on Thursday 30th April via Zoom with a reading by Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha (Lucy Costello) and an open-mic from 7.45pm, ensuring the final word of the month belongs to the community.
The Poetry Wall
Running throughout the entire month – 1st to 30th April – visitors to The People's Museum of Limerick, 2 Pery Square are invited to engage with The Poetry Wall, a daily, all-day installation celebrating the written word and the power of poetry in public life.
A City and its Poetry
April Is Poetry Month in Limerick 2026 is a testament to the enduring vitality of poetry in this city and to the poets, venues, publishers and organisations who sustain it. With fifteen events spread across iconic Limerick venues – The White House Bar, The Belltable, Quay Books, and The People's Museum of Limerick – the programme reflects a city that takes its literary heritage seriously while embracing new voices and new ideas.
All events are FREE and open to the public. Further information on individual events will be announced through participating venues.
