Cork-Coventry
Twin Cities Celebration

with poetry from

Jon Morley and Anthony Owen

17 November 2008

Cork’s first Twin City was Coventry, established in 1958. In celebrating the 50th anniversary of this valuable relationship, Ó Bhéal hosted two of Coventry’s more prominent masters of verse, Jonathan Morley and Anthony Owen. The evening was attended by Deputy Lord Mayor Jim Corr, who addressed the audience with an inspired speech, acknowledging the importance of poetry and the long-established link between the two cities.

As Anthony had to reluctantly fly back due to unforeseen circumstances, six of Ó Bhéal’s regular poets, Billy Ramsell, Alan Coakley, Daw Harding, Joe Sweeney, Bríd Buckley and myself each read one of his poems, before Jonathan Morley took to the stage to recite from his forthcoming collection, Backra Man.


Videos of the Evening


Opening Address

Lord Mayor Jim Corr opens the celebration


Ó Bhéal poets read the verse of Anthony Owen


Billy Ramsell

The Copper Man (by Anthony Owen)


Alan Coakley

The Cowardice of Francis Evans (by Anthony Owen)


Daw Harding

Cigarette Starlette (by Anthony Owen)


Joe Sweeney

Porcelain (by Anthony Owen)


Bríd Buckley

Room 17 Ashford Hospital (by Anthony Owen)


The poetry of Jonathan Morley



Fabula (trans. from the original of José Craveirinha)


My Father’s Eyes were Blue (by Anthony Owen)


Iberian Baroque


Spon


Duskfall


Bomb


From the Spanish Gypsey


Coventry Boys


On First Looking into Cecily Jones’ Ingendering Whiteness


For Lee Miller


Disillusion


Dobesh Snail