During the 30 days of April, with over 20 events and over 30 performers, Limerick’s annual poetry festival April is Poetry Month in Limerick returns. After a two year gap due to the pandemic, the organisers wish to remind the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters.
Once again poetry will fill the streets and intimate venues of this historic city of Limerick. Long associated with poetry and literature the Limerick Writers’ Centre inaugurated the festival in 2013. For the month of April Limerick will showcase the best from the world of poetry, including local and national and international guest readers!
On Thursday 10th March Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler officially proclaimed April as Poetry Month in Limerick by signing the proclamation and conferring on the festival’s Ollamh/Poet Laureate, poet Kieran Beville, his scroll of office.
Limerick’s poetry scene will be celebrated at this year’s festival with readings and pairings of poets including poet Tim Cunningham and Paris based Richard W Halperin, who will read alongside poet AM Cousins at 7pm on Wednesday 6th April at The People’s Museum of Limerick.
On the 9th April between 10am and 1pm in Central Buildings, 51 O’Connell Street the Limerick Writers’ Centre present I Am in Need of Music, a music inspired creative writing workshop with poet and author Jessica Brown.
A memorial reading honouring the late Limerick poet Desmond O’Grady will take place on Thurs 13th April at 7pm in The People’s Museum of Limerick with poets Adam Wyeth, Kieran Beville and Vivienne McKechnie. Adam Wyeth is the judge of the Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition for this year and he will announce the winner of this year’s competition after the reading.
On Sat 16th April, Quay Books and the Limerick Writers’ Centre present a lunchtime reading celebrating the poetry of James Joyce by having a recital of Joyce’s poems from his two books of ‘Chamber Music’ and ‘Pennyeach’.
UL Poet in Residence Emily Cullen and Limerick poet Eoin Devereux will read on Wed 27th April at Sexton’s Bar, Henry Street and they will be joined by Limerick poet Michael Durack.
Four programmed readings from Lime Square Poets will take place online 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th April. Guests are MK Chavez, Kevin Higgins, Maeve McKenna and Emily Cullen plus open-mic after the readings.
The festival will also revive one of Limerick’s iconic reading series the White House Poetry Revival in the White House bar, 52 O’Connell Street, Wed 20th April 7pm to 9pm. The series was founded in 2003 by the late, legendary Barney Sheehan and for one night only all past readers and supporters are invited to relive those days of past glories and take part in the open-mic. The special guest poet for this unique event will be senior Limerick poet John Liddy and master of ceremonies will be the festival’s Ollamh/Poet Laureate poet Kieran Beville. Also includes is a tribute to the recently deceased Limerick poet Mark Whelan.
An exciting lunchtime lecture series is also planned for the Limerick City Library (now located at Barrow House, Michael Street) with topics Surrealism in Poetry, the Transformational Power of Confessional Poetry, a lecture on Irish poet Sean O'Riordain and his work and Fiona Clark Echlin will give a lecture on Poetry, Symbolism and the Sea.
New books of poetry from Revival Press will be published in the Limerick City Gallery of Art from poets Kieran Beville, Imelda Maguire and an tAthair Micheál de Liostún, poet and priest plus a new Limerick Broadsheet, edited by poet and author Eoin Devereux will be published by Limerick Writers’ Centre.
On Thurs 21st April the Limerick Writers’ Centre presents a ticketed event with singer songwriter Sarah McQuaid in The Record Room, Catherine St., Limerick at 9pm
The festival is also taking a look back at one of Limerick’s most famous poet sons Michael Hogan, the Bard of Thomond. Local legend Mae Leonard will join Patrick Power and others for a celebration of his work in The Marquee @ Bake House 22, Nicholas St from 7pm on Friday 29th April.
There is also a special celebration for UNESCO World Book Day on Saturday 23rd April at 1pm at Quay Books, Sarsfield Street, Limerick.
Tour guide and author Joe Coleman, in association with Limerick Writers’ Centre, will inaugurate a Limerick Literary Trail. The tour will take place on two dates during the month Sunday 10th April and Saturday 30th April.
Again this year all events (except workshops and concerts) are free and open to the public.
So go and join the fun, they are looking forward to welcoming you!
The 7th annual festival will take place in various venues around Limerick. For further details check out their Facebook page.
