Poetry Divas at Babble Festival

I hope to see a load of you this Friday 16th August in Cavan, at the Open Mic as part of the Babble Literary Festival. It's hosted by the lovely people at Cavan Creative Writers' Forum. 8pm Blessings Bar. Come and say hello. Come and read some poetry. Come and listen.

It aims to showcase some of the established and emerging literary talents that this border region has to offer. - See more at: http://www.cavanliving.ie/index.php/2013/08/02/babble-cavans-summer-literary-festival

The Babble Festival weekend will start on Friday night with Poetry Slam supremo Stephen James Smith and he Fabulous Poetry Divas in Blessings Bar in Cavan Town plus readings and music. An afternoon on the Saturday writing workshop with Tom McIntyre at the Backyard Arts Centre, Moynehall, Cavan. A debut of a new play by Cavan-based playwright, Tara Maria Lovett at Chapter 1, Cavan and an open air concert with Mundy on Saturday night. The Festival ends with the official launch of the “Babble Journal 2013” by keynote author, teacher & Fermanagh resident Carlo Gébler at the Kilmore Hotel in Cavan.

The members of Cavan Creative Writers’ Forum came up with the name Babble for this summer’s literary festival. The name was chosen for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the group felt that water was the powerful and fluid connective between counties in this border area. The ‘babbling’ fluidity of the porous Lakeland region was seen as a byword for the more static and hackneyed emblem of the bridge, often referred to in the Peace building measure. Water, the Forum believes has more kinetic power to flow, change and it transgresses most rigid or mapped borders between lands, people, communities and nationalities.

Secondly, the Forum chose Babble for its slightly subversive and quirky quality. In many ways, all talk is nonsense — right back to our pre-verbal cries, gurgles and babble. Moreover, all talk, chatter and verbal exchanges flow in one stream or another gushing or pooling to shape the written words of literature. Sometimes, art and literature can be seen as elitist, lofty and exclusionary (especially by non-writers). Therefore, in choosing Babble it decided to undercut that notion and dispel any assumptions of pretentiousness in a good humoured  way— as satirical literary journals such as Blather (Flann O’Brien et al) once did!

New Poetry Divas Pamphlet

Breaking News!

The fabulous Poetry Divas are working on a brand new poetry pamphlet. It will follow in the footsteps of

(do pamphlets step? do pamphlets have feet?)

• Poetry Divas 1 (The Pink One)
• Poetry Divas 2 (The Blue One)
• Poetry Divas 3 (The Green One)

We are going to name this one, imaginatively,

Poetry Divas 4 

and this one's colour will be purple. Oh yes!

It will feature some favourites and some new poems from regulars and will be available from Saturday 27th April when we will be reading at the Dundalk Book Festival.

Taking pre orders now if you can't make it to Dundalk.

Poetry Divas inc P&P

Poetry Divas 4 Posted to Ireland €5.00 EUR Poetry Divas 4 Posted Anywhere €6.00 EUR Poetry Divas 1, 2 or 3 Posted to Ireland €5.00 EUR Poetry Divas 1, 2 or 3 Posted Anywhere €6.00 EUR Poetry Divas 1, 2, 3 AND 4 Europe Posted Anywhere €15.00 EUR

Poetry Divas read a an International Women's Day Event

Friday 8th March, time 8:30pm- 11:30pm
Upstairs in Arthur's pub on Thomas Street
Free!
Men Welcome!

 This is an evening of performance, poetry, comedy, dance and music. The performers are women but the audience is mixed, everyone is welcome. The title of this event comes from Mary Oliver's Poem 'The Summer Day', the final stanza 

"Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?"
 
This night will be spilling over with luscious spirit - poetry, music, song and dance. inspirational women who will chat about their lives, including Rio Hegarty winner of the person of the year award. Comedian Christiane O'Mahoney will perform. Spoken word performances from 'The Poetry Divas' and also Afric McGlinchy will read her poems. We have songs from two acapella groups 'The Vocal Vixens' and 'Shaydayda' led by Susan Tomelty. Susie Kennedy will sing a few songs from powerful female singers that deserve celebrating. We have music performances from talented songstresses including Flo (folk) and also Carla Brunell. Bellydance performances from The Zoryanna, Adele, LauraMaeve and more.
 
The night will be sometimes bawdy, sometimes whimsical, sometimes fiery. The focus of the event is on the capacity of women to seize the day, to generate their own truths and to create happiness in the midst of turmoil, suffering and banality. It is about the creative elements of femininity and the richness and depth that this gives to everyone's lives. the audience is absolutely everyone, its free and it promises to be a wild and precious night - so don't miss it!

The venue is Arthurs pub on 28 Thomas street. on the corner opposite St. Catherine's Church Thomas Street, it is five minutes walk from Christchurch Cathedral, on bus routes 123, 13,40

The Burning Bush Issue 4

I have a poem in the new issue or the online magazine, The Burning Bush.

Link here

also some other wonderful poets including 2 Poetry Divas.

Three Divas in a Burning Bush sounds like the first line of a poem or short story.

Poetry Divas at DkIT

Look out Dundalk, the Poetry Divas are coming. And we're bringing our very own honorary Divo, Michael Farry.

Michael Farry is a retired primary teacher.His poetry is in journals in Ireland and abroad, and was selected for Poetry Ireland Introductions, 2011. In 2009 he was third in the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry MS Competition, shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Competition and the Plough Prize. Doghouse Books published his first collection, Asking for Directions, 2012

See the article in the Dundalk Democrat.

The Poetry Divas are coming to DkIT for a gig at the Mac Anna Theatre in DKIT, Wednesday, November 28th, from 6.30-8.15pm. The evening will be hosted by DKIT’s new Writer-in-residence Ferdia Mac Anna, author of The Last of the High Kings and The Rocky Years.

The Poetry Divas have performed at the Festival of the Fires, Liss Ard and the Electric Picnic festivals this year.

You can look forward to a night of great poetry, epic satire, emotion, craic, beauty and reflection in a special and unique celebration of rhyme, word and image.

Poets read for Pussy Riot

Did you notice the hiatus? Did you miss me? I was travelling. I'm back now full of caffeine.

Tomorrow Wednesday 21 November is the nine month anniversary since Pussy Riot, the punky protest group of Russian women performed in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow and were locked up for denouncing the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for President Vladimir Putin.

Three members of the collective, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were arrested and held in custody until August when they were each sentenced to two years in prison on charges of ‘hooliganism motivated by religious hatred’. At their appeal hearing in October, the two-year jail term of Samutsevich was suspended, but the sentences against Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were upheld. They have since been separated and transferred to notorious prison colonies, far from Moscow and their young children.

In order to raise and maintain awareness of their case, English PEN launched Poems for Pussy Riot, inviting poets from all over the world to write creative responses to the case. A collection of the contributions, Catechism: Poems for Pussy Riot, was published as a pay-by-donation e-book on 1 October 2012 to coincide with their first appeal hearing. A print-on-demand version is now also available, with all proceeds going to the Pussy Riot Legal Fund and English PEN’s Writers at Risk Programme.

The Poetry Divas are among a good number of poets reading at an event in Dublin, supported by Irish PEN, on Wednesday 21 November at The Grand Social (35 Lower Liffey Street, Dublin 1). Start time is 6.30pm and admission is free. 

Participating Poets include: Kimberly Campanello, Sophie Collins, Sue Cosgrave, Anatoly Kudryavitsky, Christodoulos Makris, Máighréad Medbh, Paula Meehan, Alan Jude Moore, Christine Murray, Sam Riviere and The Poetry Divas. 

Link here

Poets to Check Out - Poetry Divas

This is a poem the Poetry Divas read together and we recorded it especially to highlight our passionate belief in freedom of speech and to support Pussy Riot for English Pen.

The poem, Pair Bond was written by Barbara Smith and you can buy your own copy in her collection. The Angel's Share published by Doghouse.

See Barbara's post here on this.

Couldn't Irish Pen do something similar?

MINDFIELD AT ELECTRIC PICNIC 2012

Excitement is rising about the impending Electric Picnic Extravaganze, Stradbally, Co Laois next weekend. It's not all music. You have to check out Mindfield.

The MindField spoken word arena returns again to Electric Picnic with a stimulating spark-filled programme designed to entertain, inform and inflame. Set among the ancient trees on the lawns of Stradbally Hall you’ll find an oasis of literary readings, political debate, performance poetry, science experiments, inspiring talks, news quizzes, public conversations and much more.

LEVIATHAN STAGE
At the heart of MindField is the Leviathan tent where economist, author and broadcaster, David McWilliams will host three special Leviathan: Political Cabaret events with panels of eminent international and Irish journalists, academics, politicians and commentators.
Topics include:

• Does Ireland Really Need a Second Republic? with Fintan O’Toole (The Irish Times), Carol Hunt (Sunday Independent) and Paddy Cosgrave (F.ounders);
• How Can We Solve the Global Economic Crisis? hosted by Gunther Grun of the ECB (aka Barry Murphy) with David McWilliams, Peter Antonioni (University College London, Economics for Dummies), Professor Brian Lucey (TCD), Norah Casey (Entrepreneur, Dragon’s Den) and Margaret E Ward;
• Democracy Next?: Revolution in the Muslim World with Libyan-Irish officer of the Tripoli Brigade, Hussam Najjair, who fought in Libya and more recently in Syria; Mary Fitzgerald, foreign correspondent of The Irish Times and others,

all with musical satire from Paddy Cullivan (Late Late Show House Band).
 Sunday’s Ryan Tubridy’s Picnic Brunch takes a jaundiced look at the Sunday papers and a review of the festival in the company of Miriam O’Callaghan, Paddy Cullivan and some of Stradbally’s most tired and emotional. 

Salon du Chat reprise their unique “speed-debating” salon of gourmet conversation chosen from a menu of provocative menu options. Engage in intense dialogue with complete strangers, make new friends and influence people.
The hugely popular Banter public talks series will present a special edition hosted by The Irish Times’ Jim Carroll on How the Irish Media Failed Ireland with Carol Hunt (Sunday Independent), Simon Carswell (The Irish Times), John Ryan (Broadsheet.ie) and Enda Leahy (Mail on Sunday)

The Cáca Milis Cabaret closes Friday night with its rambunctious “postmodern vaudeville” blend of music, dance, spoken word, circus clownery and classic cabaret and the Bradd Pitt Light Orchestra close Saturday and Sunday’s Leviathan proceedings.

SCIENCE GALLERY
Fresh from its critically-acclaimed contribution to the European City of Science celebrations at ESOF2012, Science Gallery returns to Electric Picnic this year with a spectacular line-up of live shows, stimulating workshops, and mind-bending events and enclosed in a spectacular inflatable tent.
Science Gallery’s HACK THE CITY exhibition will transform into HACK THE PICNIC, with artists and scientists bringing their DIY hacker mindset to build, tweak, and modify gadgets, gear, and the whole festival experience for the better.
Running over two days, the Science Gallery line-up has something for everyone, with attractions that include the brand new 100% Hammer-Free High Striker, a live recording of Futureproof, and festival favourite, Ignite.

### I will talking about Science Meets Poetry at the Saturday Ignite. Come and say hello.

There are also live dissections, the steampunk robotic busker, Scientific Sue’s Science Shows, 3D printing and the Science Gallery Shop.

THEATRE STAGE
MindField is privileged to welcome back Willie White, now Artistic Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival, to curate the Theatre Stage which features a programme of inspirational and entertaining shows, carefully selected for the Electric Picnic and MindField audience.
Shows include:

• Bears in Space, a new hour of madness from Collapsing Horse;
• Come Rhyme With Me, a verbal explosion of slams, jams, backhands and audience spam;
• Fight Night with Aonghus óg MacAnally;
• I Heart Alice Heart I (Project) Winner of two Absolut Fringe Awards;
• Journey to the End of the Night, written, directed and performed by: Dylan Tighe; and Make and Do return to Electric Picnic, 2012 to present a suite of specially designed festival games.

In celebration of festival reliables like wellington boots, random hook-ups and lots of food, we invite you to a lemon jousting contest, a gumboot dance challenge and a game of Love at First sight;
finally there’s a special preview of Singlehood, conceived and developed by Una McKevitt in collaboration with David Coffey, which premieres at the Absolut Fringe this year.

THE WORD STAGE
The original Word stage is back with a massive programme of drama, discussion, poetry, prose, comedy, rap, and rock ‘n’ roll, featuring:

• Velvet Revolution by Mick Donnellan,
• The Hero Returns, by Maedhbh Haicead,
• Sex, Lies and Sausage Rolls with Joe Rooney, Fran Healy and Sharron Mannion, plus specials guests;
• Jolt Theatre Company;
• Danny Dowling and Friends;
• The Brownbread Mixtape with their comedy sketches and poetry;
• Nighthawks hosted by Colm Keegan; and
• Irish Beatboxing champ Samir.
• There’s Olaf Tyaransen, Poetry Ireland with some of Ireland’s best-known poets;
• The Cúirt Literary Festival’s Slam Poetry Finalists;
• Poetry and beats with Marty Mulligan and The Aftermath and special guests.
• There’s live music with Crow Black Chicken, The Aftermath and guests plus many more poets, rappers, comedians, philosophers and dreamers.
• ### The Poetry Divas and their unmissable show at 2pm Saturday (or thereabouts) ###

Amnesty Ireland Amnesty Ireland moves to the MindField arena this year with an outstanding programme of film screenings and talks with their makers including:

• Conor Horgan with One Hundred Mornings,
• Juanita Wilson with As If I Am Not There,
• Darragh Byrne with Parked,
• Perry Ogden with Pavee Lackeen,

as well as lots of wonderful animation shorts including the Secret of Kells.
The central theme of this year’s Amnesty presence at the Electric Picnic is forced eviction with a special feature of a shanty hut at the centre of the MindField arena.