The following poems have been selected from twelve poets published in The Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026, to be displayed in Cork City Library’s Poetry in the Parks project during June 2026.
These installations are situated in Marina Park, Fitzgerald’s Park, Tramore Valley Park, Ballincollig Regional Park, Gerry O’Sullivan Park and the Blarney Sanctuary Walkway.
The poems on display are part of the 2026 Cruinniú na nÓg festival.
(installed at Ballincollig Regional Park)
Youth Group by David Deasy Rubio
My youth group is small, 11 people total.
Always loud and talkative.
Did you see the game last night?
Cop on, Joshua.
Just sitting quiet, eating my food, minding my business.
Brain error, cannot compute.
Don’t know what’s going on.
Try to get involved, 404.
Blocked by a firewall.
Try to feel included, sometimes go too far.
Access denied, connection terminated.
Still love them though, they’re good people.
Gotta push through the barrier.
Connection Stable.
(installed at Ballincollig Regional Park)
Art by Grace Fitton
There is no such thing as good art,
there is also no such thing as bad art.
There is not only the finished piece
but also the progress, process
and emotions embedded deep within
the piece. Whether that be anger or happiness,
grief or relief, boredom or excitement.
The ‘ugly’ or the ‘praised’, the process does
not have to be enjoyable but the piece can
be enjoyed.
People who tell you that art has rules are
liars and if you believe them then you are nothing
but another jester in an empty throne room
trapped by others’ beliefs.
People say that you have to do this and
you can’t do that.
But tell me what is the point of
creating if the creator cannot
recognise their own work?
Tell me, is it truly your
own art if you allow others
to take over?
(installed at Gerry O’Sullivan Park)
Níl aon Tinteán mar do Thinteán féin by Cian Ó Luasaigh
Abhainn na Laoi ag crónán go híseal
Trí dheatach móna agus báisteach airgid
Lonraíonn tinte ársa fós
Doirteann solas na gealaí cosúil le huisce
Ag lonrú solas airgid ar dhroim an eallaigh
Agus rinneadh féarach de shoilse
Cosúil le dreancaidí tine sa spéir.
(installed at Gerry O’Sullivan Park)
Tír gan Teanga Tír gan Anam by Jodie Ní Mhuirthile
Labhraíonn muid é
Cloisimid é
Feicimid é i gcomharthaí
Canaimid amhrán agus muid ag damhsa le fuaimeanna
Na bhfliút agus na cláirsí.
Cloisimid scéalta faoi cé chomh crua agus a throid
Daoine ar a son
Ár gceart chun ár nglór a úsáid
Ar son ár dteanga.
Is cuid dár mbród ár dteanga
Gan é bheimís caillte
Ní bheadh anam againn.
The Soft Horizon by Melissa Duarte
The day begins to fold its light
into ribbons of amber, pink and gold.
A quiet breath before the night
as stories of the day are told.
The grass holds dew, the trees
against the sky, so wide and free.
Moments of peace within it all,
and everything I hope to be.
No wish, no noise, just open space
where shadows stretch and colours blend.
I find my rhythm and my place,
before this gentle evening’s end.
Home Town by Ciarán Hawkins
I am the tradition of the city
I am the cool breeze through Bell’s Field
I am the lights of the North Cathedral
I am the statue of Father Matthew
I am the bells that ring from Shandon
I am as tall as the tip of Shandon
I am as strong as the city hall
I am the memories of my grandmother’s stall in the Corn Market
I am the hurley Christy Ring once held
I am the pride of the Northside.
(installed at Fitzgerald’s Park)
The Fly by Ami Hurley
I am a fly
I fly in the sky
very high
all day and night
I often think what I might
do if I fly into a kite
in the middle of the night
so bye until I find my bed
and sleep tight
until morning light
(installed at Fitzgerald’s Park)
Bad Poem by Aoibhe Lacey
Today I am sitting in poetry class,
the goal is to write a really bad poem.
I don’t know what to do.
So far this poem doesn’t rhyme,
is this a crime?
That sounded weird
that’s what I feared
I might sound mad
but will that make the poem bad?
There is a prize to make the worst one
it’s meant to be fun.
Reading this feels a bit awkward.
Do you think I will win the award?
What if it’s a test?
Oh well, I tried my best.
(installed at Blarney Sanctuary Walkway)
Sometimes I wonder by Elsie O’Regan
Sometimes I wonder
Why the needles prick
Why the bread’s crust is rough
Sometimes I wonder
Why the wind on my skin is soft
Why the blue in my mind lingers
Sometimes I wonder
to wonder
Wondering about the concrete persistence
of sometimes
(installed at Blarney Sanctuary Walkway)
Stone by Amy McCarthy
This stone is like the sun shining
on an eventful day, the touch
of freshly cut grass, glistening
in May. This stone knows
there is always sun, even
on a cloudy day, understands
that stars don’t appear until
night but are always there
This stone makes me feel
at ease like sunset or the sound
of rain pouring down. I am
human, it’s okay to make mistakes.
(installed at Tramore Valley Park)
getting lost in paintings by escher by Maya Zuhaira
walk up the wall, walk down the ceiling
here gravity seems unappealing
doors and windows, big amount
the halls reflecting every sound
one wrong foot, a sealed fate
your clicking steps, they resonate
stairs left and right and all around
get lost in here, you won’t be found
walk up the wall, walk down the ceiling
but walk too fast, a funny feeling
(installed at Tramore Valley Park)
Breeze by Fizza Tauseef
You asked me once.
Where does the wind go?
I will tell you now.
Coming from the north, going to the south,
carrying the essence of a million lives around.
Dancing and singing it goes around
warm then cold and colder,
playing with hair and dancing with flowers.
As I wished it took me with it,
carrying me around like a traveller with no home.
I will then tell you,
where the wind goes.
(Inspired by “Your Native Home” by Giuliano Nistri)
Foreword
And here we welcome the 22nd edition of this ever-bounteous and delightful compilation, one which surprises us unfailingly. The Unfinished Book of Poetry continues to offer space to our next generation of writers, rendered here in 120 pages of thoughtfully woven verse, covering an impressive range of subjects. It is also published as an eBook, and is easily searchable online.
The 2026 edition features poems from 31 young writers, in transition year at five Cork city schools. Since the début edition was published in 2005, the year Cork city was the European Capital of Culture, over thirty schools have taken part in the project, most on multiple occasions.
The consistent quality of poems is in large part thanks to the diligent eyes of our five professional assisting writers. Their creative guidance in helping each student develop their own modes of individual expression, vis-à-vis exploring a broad variety of examples and genres from the universe of poetry, is highly informative and valuable for the development of these young writers.
Congratulations to all of the newly published poets, from:
• Le Chéile Secondary School, Ballincollig with poet Molly Twomey in
Ballincollig library;
• Presentation Secondary School, led by poet Niamh Prior in Tory Top Library
and at the school;
• Bishopstown Community School with poet Matthew Geden in Bishopstown
Library;
• Gaelcholáiste Mhuire Ag le file Dairena Ní Chinnéide, í Leabharlann na
Linne Duibhe; agus
• Mayfield Community School led by poet Lani O’Hanlon in Mayfield Library
and at the school.
With special thanks to the T.Y. co-ordinators and Cork city library staff.
Enjoy!
Project Curator, April 2026
