Fingal Poetry Festival returns to Skerries on the 15-16th September 2023. This year we are thrilled to feature the always-popular Fingal Poetry Grand Slam and to launch The Big Poetry Day Out — a trail of events that showcase emerging and established poets from across the island. Our mission is to connect people with the written and spoken word in an inclusive and celebratory way. We believe that everyone has a story worth listening to. Tickets are now available to book at www.fingalpoetryfestival.com
The annual Fingal Poetry Grand Slam gathers new and familiar names onto one stage. On Friday September 15th, join host Sheila Ryder in Skerries Little Theatre for powerful performances from Stephen James Smith and the finalists of our regional community Slams. Music tells stories, just as poetry does. Over the festival weekend we will be joined by local musicians such as RVE, Naoise Mac Conghail, Lucy Killian, Lola Coady, Sarah May Rogers, and Oscar Churcher & Diarmuid Slattery.
On Saturday, follow The Big Poetry Day Out as it winds through Skerries from morning to nightfall. Join Enda Coyle-Greene for a seaside walk punctuated by poetry from featured poets Maeve O’Sullivan, Victoria Melkovska and Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin. If you like, why not bring along a poem of your own to share? Then drop into Joe May’s pub for some lunch — listen to the work of Anne Tannam and Marcus Mac Conghaíl while you have a bite to eat! From 2-4pm, Floraville Park will transform into a hub of family-friendly fun. There will be something for all ages with featured poet Lucinda Jacob, art activities, games, and even an open mic for children and young adults. Local author Jane Landy will read from ‘Claus Clamhsánaí’, the new translation into Irish (by Gabriel Rosenstock) of her successful children’s book ‘Gringer the Whinger’. As the evening approaches, the Bridge Club will see readings by Jessica Traynor and Paddy Bushe, judges of the 2023 Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh, and the unveiling of the winning poems. If you would rather spend an hour or two chatting away, come along to The Gladstone Inn for Craic agus Comhrá, a casual Irish language conversation group that takes the old saying “is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste” to heart. Finally, we will bring our festival home to Skerries Mills — the place where it all began four short years ago. This is set to be one of our most special Poetry at the Mills events to date, with featured poets Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Harry Clifton, and Caitríona Ní Chléirchín.
We are guided by a strong-held belief in inclusivity. Everyone is welcome at Fingal Poetry Festival. A limited number of assisted listening audio sets will be available for our Poetry Walk by the Sea. Some events include ISL interpretation.
Fingal Poetry Festival is supported by Fingal County Council, Fingal Libraries, Poetry Ireland and DHL Global Forwarding.
Fingal Poetry Festival 