It all started from early September 2021 with the Illumination of Floraville.
Then there was the Launch event on Thursday, 16 September.
We had new film poems by Kate Miller & Thomas Brezing. Live reading by Ivy Bannister.
with Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation at the Launch: Poetry for all! – Music by Liz Seaver and Ed.
There was poetry all over the town of Skerries…
Like these poems in shop windows around Skerries for two weeks leading up to the Festival. Some even have QR codes which enable people to listen to the poet talking about the displayed poem. Try it yourself!
The Fingal Poetry Slam.
A dozen performance poets battled it out for the honour of being the first FINGAL POETRY SLAM Champion. One of Ireland’s leading performance poets John Cummins shared his unique voice as the headline act and Sheila Ryder, another part of Ireland’s spoken word scene, also featured. Musician EMR gave the event extra jazz between spoken word acts.
The winner was Carla Beattie, second prize went to Partridge Boswell, and Joseph Mackey came third. Super stuff from all.
Festival In A Van brought poetry and music everywhere.
There were poetry workshops. Poetry readings. And lots and lots of music…
The winners of two poetry prizes were announced to a very impressed audience…
The Winner of the Fingal Poetry Prize, Anne Frances O’Reilly reads her winning poem “Shipwrecked”
The winning poem of the inaugural An Fiach Dubh (Irish Language Poetry Competition) was by Áine Ní Ghlinn.
Skerries News were at the event and shared the following photos with us – thank you, Emily!
A poetry walk. A poet who came to people’s gardens to perform. A poetry picnic and a poetry family fest!
On Sunday morning a happy group of poetry lovers took to the high woods at Ardgillan for a stroll in the sunshine, stopping every now and then for poems in both English and Irish. The perfect way to begin our final day!
Prize winning writer and actor Eva O’Connor delivered her poetry to people in Skerries gardens.
Bill Haneman provided the music at the Poetry Picnic with Ardgillan Creative Writers’ Group. This event was also interpreted by ISL interpreters.
Family Fest in Floraville – with lots of activities for all. Painting, Poetry Quiz, Festival in a Van with Katherine Duffy and Colm Breathnach and community poets with ISL interpretation. Music from Seana Davey
A children’s workshop and poems by children all over our town.
Children in local schools were asked to write their own poetry, which then adorned our town and the festival venue. – Trolland had children and parents bewitched. What a lovely event!
Not to forget: Our online events, which you can watch at your own leisure!
Here is the entire playlist. Or have a look at our Fingal Poetry Festival 2021 Online page.
Video production and sound at all live events: Graham Tully.
And then, the last event for 2021: Final Verses.
Enda Wyley, Peter Sirr and (music) Nigel Mooney brought the festival to a close.
Raven illustrations and brochure design: Matthew Kelly.
Fingal Poetry Festival 