As the festival unfolds, we add photos to our 2024 Archives. Enjoy! With thanks to the Skerries Camera Club.
The 2024 Events
😍 Fingal Poetry Festival aims to be as inclusive as possible and to provide access to our events to all. There are many FREE events during the Festival. If you are on a low income or unwaged, please avail of the reduced ticket rate for ticketed events.
💚 There is ample bike parking at most venues, so why not cycle if you’re based in Skerries?
🚉 The festival events are timed so that you can come to Skerries by train or bus, spend the day enjoying the Fingal Poetry Festival events all over town and leave after the last event of a fun and refreshing day, enveloped in sea air, poetry, music and art…
Friday 6 September 2024
Dé hAoine 6ú Meán Fómhair 2024
Pre Festival Poetry Launch Party
Ceiliúradh Sheoladh na Féile – 2024
💥 More…
- Venue: Watermills Café, Skerries Mills
- Date and time: Friday / Dé hAoine 06/09/2024, 8 to 10 pm
- Light refreshments.
- Bilingual, live music.
- Free, but ticketed.
In advance of the festival weekend (Sept 13th – 15th) we’re starting as we mean to go on, kicking off this year’s festivities with our first-ever pre-festival Poetry Launch Party!
Featuring special guests, poets Tony Curtis and Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, with music provided by Mark Flynn, join us in the always atmospheric Skerries Mills for an evening of poetry in English and Irish, lively music and, of course, plenty of fun!
💥Pre Festival Poetry Launch Party 2024: Ceiliúradh Sheoladh na Féile More…
Friday 6 – Sunday 15 September 2024
Dé hAoine 6ú – Dé Domhnaigh 15ú Meán Fómhair 2024
Poetry Trail 2024
An Cosán Filíochta
💥 More…
- Venue: Shopwindows around Skerries
- Date and time: Poems will be on display from Friday / Dé hAoine 06/09/2024 until / go Sunday / Dé Domhnaigh 15/09/2024
- Bilingual
- Free event, just go to our online interactive quiz. Alternatively, download it here on our website, or pick it up at the Family Fest in St Patrick’s Junior School (K34 D799) from 2pm on Saturday 14 September 2024.
💥Poetry Trail 2024 An Cosán Filíochta: More…
Friday 13 September 2024
Dé hAoine 13ú Meán Fómhair 2024
Mandala Making 2024
Seal Cois Farraige
💥 More…
- Venue: Red Island Martello Tower.
Meet at Sailing Club, Harbour Road and walk to Red Island
The event will take place in Sailing Club if weather is inclement! - Date and time: Friday / Dé hAoine 13/09/2024, 1.30 to 3pm
- Tickets €5 on Eventbrite (fees apply). There will be some tickets available on the day, come early!
Join Mayumi, an amazing Japanese land artist, as she guides participants in co-creating a beautiful large-scale natural geometric shape using natural materials- flowers / leaves / shells / twigs, inspired by a poetry image.
A truly mindful, creative and uplifting experience.
All materials provided.
💥Mandala Making 2024 Seal Cois Farraige: More…
Skerries Grand Slam Final 2024
Na Slamfhilí + After Hours Craic
💥 More…
Sold out on Eventbrite – some tickets available at the event- come early!
- Venue: Little Theatre, Old School, Skerries Community Centre
- Date and time: Fri / Dé hAoine, 13/09/2024, 7 to 10 pm / After Hours: 10 to 11 pm
- Bilingual, live music.
- Join us for the After-Slam-Craic afterwards, until 11 pm. Light refreshments served.
- Tickets €10/€8 but SOLD OUT on Eventbrite. There will be some tickets available on the day, come early!
Spoken word poetry extravaganza at which this year’s Skerries Slam Champion will be crowned. Be part of it with host Sheila Ryder and guests Samuel Yakura, a multi-championship winning slam poet and music by Amano. Featuring the finalists of four regional Poetry Slams in Fingal libraries. The winner will perform in the WordTent at Electric Picnic 2025!
File, amhránaí, cumadóir ceoil, scríobhann Amano trasna seánraí éagsúla ag tabhairt draíochta & faobhair nua don traidisiún.
Always a great night. Early booking is advised.
PLUS!
After Hours – After-Slam Craic
Kick back and relax with bilingual poet Ben McCaoilte, who morphs poetry to song and story to poetry plus craic and chit-chat. Light refreshments served.
Tar fé gheasadóireacht Ben Mac Caoilte – file ildhána, iltheangach & lig do Ghaeilge agus Bhéarla leáigh ina oíche d’fhocail líofa dhátheangach.
(Let’s not go home just yet…)
💥 Skerries Grand Slam Final 2024 Na Slamfhilí + After Hours Craic: More…
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
The festival events for the BIG POETRY DAY OUT / Lá Mór Filíochta are timed so that you can come to Skerries by train or bus, spend the day enjoying the Fingal Poetry Festival events all over town and leave after the last event of a fun and refreshing day, enveloped in sea air, poetry, music and art…
The last train from Skerries leaves at 10.29 pm, and there is a bus to Dublin at 11.27 pm from Strand Street.
Poetry Walk at the Harbour 2024
Siúlóid Cois Cuain
💥 More…
- Venue: Red Island / Skerries Harbour (downstairs in the Sailing Club if the weather is inclement)
- Meeting Place: Skerries Sailing Club, Harbour Road
- Date and time: Saturday / Dé Sathairn 14/09/2024, 11 am to 12.30 pm (approximately)
- Bilingual, live music, dancing.
- Free, but ticketed: Nearly fully booked on Eventbrite.
There will be some tickets available on the day, come early!
An annual Fingal Poetry Festival favourite, with added dancing!
Led by poet Enda Coyle-Greene with readings by our special guests, poets Lani O’Hanlon and Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin and also featuring Sean Nós dancer Alison O’Grady and concertina player Brenda Castles.
Join us in the scenic surroundings of Skerries Harbour for the freshest of fresh air, fine poetry, great music, and a dance or two on the first of our poetry walks.
And why not bring along a poem, by yourself or anyone you like, to share with your fellow walkers?
💥 More…
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
Poems SignedSealedDelivered 2024
Dánta ó Bhéal
💥 More…
- Venue: Skerries Sailing Club, Harbour Road, downstairs.
- Date and time: Saturday / Dé Sathairn 14/09/2024, 1.30 – 3 pm
- Bilingual, live music.
- Tickets €10 / €8 on Eventbrite (fees apply).
There will be some tickets available on the day, come early!
This always-popular lunchtime event showcases some of Ireland’s finest poets reading (in English and Irish). Not to be missed!
Join us for a bite of lunch while listening to this year’s featured poets Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Philip Cummings. Music by rising star, Sinéad White.
Unfortunately, the planned Irish Sign Language Interpretation is not possible this year. – You can expect some fascinating live poetry from our curated Open Mic! (The list for that is now full.)
💥 More…
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
Family Poetry Fest 2024
Féile don gClann
💥 More…
- Venue: St Patrick’s Junior School (K34 D799)
- Date and time: Saturday / Dé Sathairn 14/09/2024, 2 to 4 pm
- Bilingual, live music by young local musicians.
- Free event. Just come along! You can register on Eventbrite to receive an email reminder.
- No unaccompanied children.
Fun for all the family with featured poet, best-selling children’s author Lucinda Jacob, young local poets and musicians.
Creative art activities, games, and an open mic for children and young adults. Look out for the wonderful raven animation created by 1st class students in Skerries.
💥 More…
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
Poetry and Music at the Monument 2024
Filíocht agus Ceol
💥 More…
Sold out on Eventbrite – some tickets available at the event- come early!
- Venue: Prosper Fingal’s new Skerries premises, 1 Strand Street
- Date and time: Saturday / Dé Sathairn 14/09/2024, 3.30 to 5 pm
- Bilingual, live music.
- Free event, but ticketed. Fully booked on Eventbrite.
There will be some spaces available on the day, come early!
We are invited into Prosper Fingal’s beautiful new Skerries premises! Join us in in the heart of Skerries in the shadow of Skerries’ iconic Monument for poetry, song, and a cuppa, as we celebrate poetry with the winners of the Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh. With readings by our special guests, this year’s judges, poets Peter Sirr and Bríd Ní Mhóráin and with music by Lola Rose.
And on your way in, don’t miss the display of the fabulous artwork produced during the Festival’s Prosper Fingal morning art and poetry workshop!
💥 More…
Saturday 14 September 2024
THE BIG POETRY DAY OUT
Dé Sathairn 14ú Meán Fómhair 2024
LÁ MÓR FILÍOCHTA
Poetry & All That Jazz 2024
Filíocht & Snagcheol & After Hours Craic
💥 More…
- Venue: The Little Theatre, Old School, Skerries Community Centre
- Date and time: Saturday / Dé Sathairn 14/09/2024, 7 to 9 pm
- Bilingual. Live music.
- Tickets €20 / €15 on Eventbrite (fees apply).
There will be some tickets available on the day, come early! - Join us for Craic agus Ceol afterwards, until 11 pm. Light refreshments served.
We’re bringing Saturday to a close with a treat for all poetry and jazz fans with readings by poets Leontia Flynn and Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, with music by jazz legends Nigel Mooney and his trio featuring Honor Heffernan.
Nigel Mooney’s organ trio features Scott Flanigan (regular Van Morrison sideman) on organ and Dominic Mullan (Mary Coughlan) on drums. For this concert they will be joined by their old friend, jazz chanteuse Honor Heffernan.
Oíche mhór cheiliúrtha d’fhilíocht agus ceol
💥 More…
Sunday 15 September 2024
Dé Domhnaigh 15ú Meán Fómhair 2024
Ardgillan Poetry Walk 2024
Siúlóid Filíochta Tríd an Choill
💥 More…
Sold out on Eventbrite – some tickets available at the event- come early!
- Venue: Ardgillan Grounds and Castle
- Meeting Place: Coffee Dock, upper car park
- Date and time: Sunday / Dé Domhnaigh 15/09/2024, 11 am to 12.30 pm (approximately)
- Bilingual, live music.
- Free, but ticketed. Fully booked on Eventbrite.
There will be some spaces available on the day, come early!
Let’s close the festival in chilled, Sunday morning style with another firm favourite! Led by poet Damien B. Donnelly, we’ll meet at the Coffee Dock in the upper car park for a stroll through the high woods where, as well as that spectacular view, we’ll be treated to fine poetry from Damien and music by our wandering troubadour Mick Morris.
Críoch iontach é seo d’fhéile iontach. Siúl linn, éist le filíocht & ceol na n-éan i dteannta le filíocht & ceol ár n-aíonna.
Finishing up with poems in the Library of Ardgillan Castle by our final featured reader, poet Brian Kirk, with more music from Mick Morris, and an optional visit to the castle Gallery before leaving.
As always on our Poetry Walks, all participants are invited to bring a poem by themselves, or anyone they fancy, for sharing.
💥 More…
Fingal Poetry Festival 