Fingal Poetry Festival returns to Skerries on September 13-15th 2024. The local festival connects people with poetry, music and each other — creating shared moments that inspire us to find our voice. In celebration of our fifth anniversary, this year’s programme is full of exciting events for all ages. Visit our website for full details.
Fingal Poetry Festival aims to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. There are many free events, if you are on a low income or unwaged, please avail of the reduced rate for ticketed events.
On Friday 13 September, join land artist Mayumi Nakabayshi in making a giant mandala with natural materials on Red Island. Later that evening, come along to the Little Theatre for the Grand Slam Final to crown the Skerries Slam Champion — who will perform in the Word Tent at Electric Picnic 2025! Featuring host Sheila Ryder, the finalists of our four regional Poetry Slams in Fingal Libraries, and multi-championship winning guest poet Samuel Yakura. Music by Amano. File, amhránaí, cumadóir ceoil, scríobhann Amano trasna seánraí éagsúla ag tabhairt draíochta & faobhair nua don traidisiún. Stay in the Little Theare for post-slam craic agus ceol with bilingual poet Ben McCaoilte. Bí linn & file ildhána, iltheangach Ben Mac Caoilte.
On Saturday 14 September, The Big Poetry Day Outkicks off bright and early with an 11am morning Poetry Walk at the Harbour. Led by poet Enda Coyle-Greene with readings by poets Lani O’Hanlon and Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin, Sean Nós dancer Nada Ní Chuirrín, and music by Brenda Castles. Bring along a poem, by yourself or a favourite, to share with your fellow walkers. Afterwards, head over to the Skerries Sailing Club where award-winning poets Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Philip Cummings will read their work at Poems Signed, Sealed, Delivered — a unique event that sees spoken poetry interpreted through Irish Sign Language and signed performances by the Deaf Poets’ Society interpreted into English. Music by Sinead White. On Saturday morning, service users of Prosper Fingal will partake in a closed Poetry and Art Workshop to create artistic magic with poet Tony Curtis and visual artist Nunce McAuley. From 2-4pm, Floraville Park will transform for the Family Poetry Fest! Fun for all the family with children’s author Lucinda Jacob, young local poets and musicians. There will be creative art, games, and an open mic for children and young adults. Look out for the wonderful raven animations created by 1st Class students in Skerries!
Between events, take part in An Cosán Filíochta, a self-guided trail of our Poetry in Windows series around Skerries. Pick up a sheet at the Family Fest in Floraville from 2pm or anytime online between September 6th and 15th.
At 15:30, join us in Prosper Fingal for poetry, song and a cuppa, as we celebrate with the winners of the Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh — our international poetry competitions. Readings by poets Peter Sirr and Bríd Ní Mhóráin and music by Lola Rose. Then round out the day at Poetry and All That Jazz, Oíche mhór cheiliúrtha d’fhilíocht agus ceol. Readings by two of Ireland’s finest poets, Leontia Flynn and Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha. Music by Nigel Mooney Organ Trio with special guest Honor Heffernan on vocals. Hailed by the BBC as Ireland’s King of the Blues; Nigel Mooney’s much acclaimed organ trio features Scott Flanigan (organ) and Dominic Mullan (drums). For this concert they will be joined by their old friend, Ireland’s greatest jazz chanteuse Honor Heffernan.
To round out the festival, poet Damien B. Donnelly will guide us through an Ardgillan Poetry Walk in the high woods on Sunday 15 September. Finishing in Ardgillan Castle Library with a reading by poet Brian Kirk. Music by Mick Morris. All participants are invited to bring a poem written by themselves or a poem they like, for sharing. Críoch iontach é seo d’fhéile iontach. Siúl linn, éist le filíocht & ceol na n-éan i dteannta le filíocht & ceol ár n-aíonna.
Funding for the 2024 festival from Fingal County Council, the Arts Council and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature is gratefully acknowledged. With support from Poetry Ireland.
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