Farewell!
We write this in late September 2022. The final verse in this year’s Fingal Poetry Festival has been spoken, the last note of music has been struck.
What an amazing time we had – we had poetry on library walls, poetry in libraries, poetry in shop windows, on the streets, in parks, in pubs and a theatre, in a purpose-built auditorium and in a Bridge Club, in schools and outside fish shops, by the sea and even rising out of the sea. We heard poetry in the GAA and in Skerries Mills.
Now in its third year, the Fingal Poetry Festival weekend ran from the 15-18th September following its launch at the Illumination of Floraville on Thursday, September 1st. The Festival celebrated the light that poetry brings to our lives, and the sea, which is precious to all and in peril.
There was poetry in unexpected places — on shop windows, pavements, benches — and, colourfully illuminated and projected at Floraville, our lovely little park right in the heart of town beside the Library. With over 20 events scheduled for the weekend, there was something for everyone — poetry walks through the High Woods of Ardgillan Castle and on Red Island, lunchtime poetry readings, glittering evenings filled with poetry and live music and an especially commissioned film poem by Pat Boran.
We were delighted to welcome the next generation of poets through exhibitions of local pupils’ poems in Fingal Libraries, a visit by Laureate na nÓg Áine Ní Ghlinn, a Family Poetry Fest, and other fun family-friendly events.
Those who preferred to participate online were able to come along to our virtual ‘Night Sky’ or ‘An Dán ar Ardán’ poetry workshops!
In a unique event on Saturday, the Deaf Poets’ Society shared their work, voiced by an interpreter.
As ever, the Irish language was a pillar of the Festival. We were delighted to host a number of bilingual poetry readings, Comhrá & Craic, the Clinic Leabhair (Book Clinic), or the Seomra / Salon reading and Open Mic on Sunday.
We had the Fingal Poetry Slam, some participants of which were winners of monthly Slams held in Libraries all over Fingal earlier in the year.
Reaching out into the wider Fingal community, we also had three workshops in Fingal schools.
Enda Coyle-Greene, Artistic Director, said before the festival:
At our previous ‘live’ events, I’ve loved the reactions of our audiences, especially perhaps those people who mightn’t normally have considered poetry to be ‘their thing‘ (or could just be nursing a hangover from school and exams!) Our programme this year features a broad range of poets from Ireland and elsewhere, including Leontia Flynn, Michael O’Loughlin, Aifric Mac Aodha, Kate Miller, Dermot Bolger, and many more, so there should be a reading to suit everyone.
And she was right!
Fingal Poetry Festival 2022 was supported by the Arts Council Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, Fingal County Council, Fingal Libraries, Leabhair Pháistí Éireann, Laureate na nÓg, Poetry Ireland, and RTÉ Supporting the Arts. Our international poetry competitions, The Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh – the Irish language prize, are sponsored by DHL International Forwarding and Progressive Credit Union, respectively.
The 2022 Fingal Poetry Prize was sponsored by DHL.
An Fiach Dubh, the Irish language poetry prize, was sponsored by Progressive Credit Union.
And now for the images.
Enjoy a look back at the 2022 festival with photographs (many by the wonderful members of Skerries Camera Club, whose images greatly contribute to this page).
We even added three nuggets, see can you find them all – short videos with animations based on poems around our 2022 theme:
The sea, that blue end of the world…— Elizabeth Barrett Browning
If you attended one or more of our events, don’t forget to give us your feedback! Details on our Feedback page.
Thursday 1 September
Illumination of Floraville
and Launch of the Fingal Poetry Festival 2022
Location: Floraville Park, Strand Street, Skerries Co. Dublin
Date and Time: Thurs 1 September 2022, 8.30 – 9.30 pm. More…
Celebrating the light that poetry brings to our lives. Many people joined us for the launch of the Festival and an evening of poetry and spectacular video display.
Floraville played stage to poetry and music, launching this year’s Festival in style, by celebrating the light that poetry brings to our lives. We listened to poetry and watched a live performance of “Currents”, a specially commissioned poem by Sunday’s Child, which also features in our spectacular new video projection, staying in situ until the Final Verses have rung out on September 18th.
Music: Oscar Churcher and Diarmuid Slattery.
Photographs: Donal Greene
Thursday 15 September
Opening Verses
Location: The Watermills Café, Skerries Mills
Time and Date: Thursday 15 September 2022, from 8 pm. Doors: 7.30 pm
Languages: Irish Sign Language Interpretation. Bilingual: Irish / English. More…
We opened our 2022 festival with an evening of poetry both live and on video.
Presenting an exciting new film poem by Pat Boran, especially commissioned for the Fingal Poetry Festival.
Live readings were provided by Aifric Mac Aodha, and UK-based poet, Kate Miller.
Music: Keith Burke and Sarah May Rogers
Unfortunately, MAKOSH, an aerial dance spectacle with Polina Shapkina and Ruairí O’Shea, were unable to join us on the night, due to health reasons.
Photographs: Niall O’Reilly
Friday 16 September
Lunchtime Poems
Location: Joe May’s Pub (upstairs), Skerries Harbour
Date and Time: Fri 16 September 2022, 1-2 pm. More…
The first of our festival lunchtime readings in this iconic Fingal location featured poets Michael O’Loughlin and Breda Wall Ryan with music by Muireann McDonnell.
Poetry, music and a bite to eat overlooking beautiful Skerries Harbour – what’s not to like??
Photographs by Martine Healy (17), Donal Greene (2)
Community Poets Invite
Location: Skerries Harps GAA Club, Thomas Hand Street, Skerries
Date and Time: Fri 16 September 2022, 5 – 6.30 pm
Languages: Irish Sign Language Interpretation.
Our series focussing on Poetry in the Community continued this year with readings from Donabate’s Chinkwell Writers with very special guest, poet Nessa O’Mahony. Music by Liz Seaver.
Fingal Poetry Slam
Location: The Watermills Café, Skerries Mills
Date and Time: Fri 16 September 2022, 7 pm. More…
Hugely popular night with performance poets competing for the title of Festival Slam Champion. With featured poets Craig Doyle, who jumped in at short notice as Emmet O’Brien couldn’t make it due to illness, and Sheila Ryder.
Music: Thunderclap (Aidan) Murphy
Photographs: Niall O’Reilly
Music and the Muse
Location: Irish Institute of Music and Song, Church Street, Balbriggan
Date and Time: Fri 16 September 2022, 8 pm. More…
A glittering night of poetry and song featuring new poetic voice Nithy Kasa and one of Ireland’s best-known poets and writers, Dermot Bolger.
Music by the Sarah May Rogers Band.
Photographs by Niall O’Reilly (9) and Ernestine Woelger (2)
Saturday 17 September
Poetry Walk through the High Woods, Ardgillan
Location: Meet us at the Coffee Dock, Upper Car Park, Ardgillan
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 10-11 am. More…
What a wonderful day for a wander among Ardgillan’s lovely trees. Led by Enda Coyle-Greene with special guest poet Susan Connolly who also provided the music. Many did bring a poem to share…
Photographs: Ann Rooney.
‘Night Sky’ Poetry Workshop with Anne Tannam
Location: Online via Zoom
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 11 am – 1 pm
Language: English
A dynamic and interactive ONLINE workshop that explored through poetry our intimate connection with stars and the night sky. Participants were to come away with first drafts of poems, and hopefully, stars in their eyes! More details…
An Dán ar an Ardán: Ceardlann Filíochta le Ciara Ní É – Irish Language Poetry Workshop
Location: Ar líne / Online via Zoom
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 11 am – 1 pm
Teanga / Language: Gaeilge
Sa cheardlann seo phléigh Ciara gach a mbaineann le cur i láthair filíochta, a chabhróidh le gach rannpháirtí teacht ar a stíl féin. More details…
Poems Signed Sealed Delivered
Location: Joe May’s Pub (upstairs), Skerries Harbour
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 1-2 pm
Language: English, Irish Sign Language Interpretation.
The second of our luchtime readings was a unique event featuring the Deaf Poets Society sharing their work voiced via an interpreter. Also on the bill, Skerries-based Bob Shakeshaft, reading from his recently-published debut collection.
Music: Operatic melodies with Lea Försterling and Eoin Conway. More…
Stephen Maguire, typewriter poet
Location: Outside Egan’s Ocean Fresh Fish Shop, Strand Street, Skerries
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 1-4 pm
Visitors could take a 20 minute slot with Stephen, who wrote a personal poem, just for them. More details…
Photographs by Ann Rooney.
Family Poetry Fest
Location: Floraville Park, Strand Street, Skerries Co. Dublin
Languages: Irish Sign Language Interpretation. Bilingual event: Irish / English.
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 2-4 pm
Lots of creative fun centred around words including readings by Áine Ní Ghlinn, the Laureate na nÓg and friends, an Open Mic for children and young adults, painting, games and much more… More details…
Photographs by Michael Gavin.
Fingal Poetry Prize & An Fiach Dubh Winners Unveiled
Location: S.A.B.C. Bridge Club, 73B Strand Street, Skerries, K34C951
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 3.30-5 pm
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English.
What makes a competition-winning poem?
Those who joined us for readings by our judges, Iggy McGovern and Louis de Paor, two of Ireland’s finest poets found out, when the results of the Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh were revealed. See here for the titles and authors of the winning poems!
Music: Oscar Churcher and Diarmuid Slattery. More…
Photographs: Donal Greene
Comhrá & Craic at the Gladstone Inn
Location: Gladstone Inn, Skerries Co. Dublin
Languages: Irish (all levels welcome)
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 5-7 pm
Gaeilge le chéile. An Irish language conversation group. All levels of Irish speakers were welcome. More…
Poetry and All That Jazz
Location: Little Theatre, Skerries
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 8 pm
Poets Angela Gardner and Leontia Flynn were joined by the Nigel Mooney Trio: Nigel Mooney, Ireland’s King of the Blues on guitar, with Johnny Taylor on piano and Barry Donoghue on bass. More details…
Photographs: Niall O’Reilly
Sunday 18 September
Poetry Walk by the Sea
Location: Meet us at the Sea Scouts Den, Harbour Road, Skerries
Date and Time: Sun 18 September 2022, 11 am
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English.
The second of our highly enjoyable Poetry Walks, led by Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin with special guest poet Eva O’Connor (Sunday’s Child) and music by Skerries Folk Club.
We met by the Sea Scouts’ Den on Harbour Road for a stroll around Red Island, the jewel in Skerries’ crown.
Featuring a stunning live performance piece by Eva O’Connor. Many brought a poem by themselves or poets they like and shared them! More…
Photographs: Ann Rooney
Seomra / Salon with Open Mic
Location: Joe May’s (upstairs), Skerries Harbour.
Date and Time: Sun 18 September 2022, 1-2 pm
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English.
What an enjoyable Sunday lunch… Having a bite to eat and being entertained by poets Ciara Ní É and Peter O’Neill, with Open Mic to follow.
MC Seána Ó Rodaigh.
Music: Sara Dennedy and Donal Kearney More…
Photographs: Niall O’Reilly
Final Verses
Location: Little Theatre, Old Schoolhouse, Dublin Road, Skerries
Date and Time: Sun 18 September 2022, 3.30-5 pm
Featuring poetry and music with Mary Branley and GreenBird, and Gerard Smyth, we closed this year’s festival in fine eclectic style. More…
Photographs: Niall O’Reilly
And these were our events for our younger audiences throughout Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September
Clinic Leabhar do Pháistí / Book Clinic
Location: Holmpatrick National School, Convent Lane, Skerries
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English.
Parents and children could book a slot with the book doctor (bilingual): Bhí an Dochtúir Leabhar linn ó Leabhair Pháistí Éireann chun an leabhar is ansa do do pháiste a phlé & leabhair eile a mholadh di/dó. The book doctor was for young readers seeking an injection of new Irish language literature in their lives. The consultation facilitated the non-fluent Irish speakers, parent and child alike. More…
Siopa Leabhar do Pháistí
Location: Holmpatrick National School
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 11 am – 12.30 pm
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English.
Is féidir liom léamh! Parents and children were invited to come and see some Irish children’s books and get inspired. More…
Visit Laureate na nÓg Áine Ní Ghlinn
Location: Holmpatrick National School, Convent Lane, Skerries
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 11 am – 12 noon
Languages: Bilingual: Irish / English. Participating children should have some Irish.
At this stimulating, fun workshop for 10-12 yr olds with Áine Ní Ghlinn, the Children’s Laureate, Irish language story and poetry was used to inspire creativity.
This was followed by a short bilingual presentation for parents on the scope of books available to enrich their children’s Irish. More…
Family Poetry Fest
Location: Floraville Park, Strand Street, Skerries Co. Dublin
Languages: Irish Sign Language Interpretation. Bilingual event: Irish / English.
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 2-4 pm
See above for details and photographs.
Leaflings Fun Workshop
Location: Holmpatrick National School, Convent Lane, Skerries
Date and Time: Sat 17 September 2022, 3 – 4 pm
Age: Suitable for 5 years+.
Drawing and poetry workshop with Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher.
Participants could draw their own field guide, learned how to draw Leaflings and created an acrostic poem based on the names of some of the trees in Niamh and Owen’s book. More…
Children’s Poetry Corner
Location: Holmpatrick National School, Convent Lane
Date and Time: Sun 18 September 2022, 1.30-2.15 pm
and Sun 18 September 2022, 3-3.45 pm.
Age: 4-7 years. No unaccompanied children, please.
Fiona Dowling was in the Children’s Poetry Corner for two shows, with stories, riddles and songs for little ones, celebrating the power of imagination and our ability to be playful with words. More…
Events with Irish Sign Language Interpretation
See above for details and photographs for these events!
Opening Verses
Community Poets Invite
Poems Signed Sealed Delivered
Family Poetry Fest
Imeachtaí le Gaeilge / Irish-Language Events
Féach thuas: Eolas agus pictiúir. / See above: Information and pictures.
Opening Verses
An Dán ar an Ardán: Ceardlann Filíochta le Ciara Ní É – Irish Language Poetry Workshop
Clinic Leabhar do Pháistí / Book Clinic
Siopa Leabhar do Pháistí
Fingal Poetry Prize & An Fiach Dubh Winners Unveiled
Comhrá & Craic at the Gladstone Inn
Poetry Walk by the Sea
Secure your tickets now on Eventbrite (booking fees apply except for free events),
or come early – there will be some tickets available on the day.
Online booking ends 24 hours before the event starts.
💥 Go to our full programme here💥
The 2022 Fingal Poetry Prize was sponsored by DHL.
An Fiach Dubh, the Irish language poetry prize, was sponsored by Progressive Credit Union.
Fingal Poetry Festival 