February 28th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Posted by pc in Ópen-mic on Mondays

    Monthly Hybrid Poetry Events: Live Streamed

    What: Poetry Films, Five Word Challenge, Guest Poets & Open-Mic
                            *** Contributors take part via zoom and in-person ***

    When: 2nd Monday of each Month @ 8.30pm (+ Poetry Films from 7pm)

    Where: Hayloft Bar (Long Valley Bar), Winthrop St, Cork (& online).

    Guest Poet & Open-Mic mp3s: Monday Event Archive

    Wordshops: Creative Writing at Ó Bhéal and Beyond …

    Ó Bhéal – a poem by Anamaría Crowe Serrano


Five Words Poetry Competition*** Ópen *** 12th Five Words Poetry Competition *** Ópen ***

Click here for this week’s words & guidelines >>>>>>

The 2024 judge is Lauren O’Donovan!



Guest Poet Line-up for April / May 2024
Events are posted every 2 months. Click names for biographical details

**HYBRID EVENTS**

Ó Bhéal’s 17th Anniversary with the launch of Five Words Vol XVII – 8th April

i.a.w. Foras na Gaeilge Joanne McCarthy and Eoin Mc Evoy – 13th May

Click here for our Live Poetry StageEvents are held in the Hayloft Bar, upstairs at the Long Valley, Winthrop st,
as well as on Zoom and streamed via obheal.ie/live (more details via the links above)
 
Poetry Films start from 7.00pm (45mins – Not Streamed). Five Word challenge starts at 8.30pm.
Guest poets begin at around 9.20/9.30pm, Open-Mic session from 10.30pm.




 The 11th Ó Bhéal Poetry-Film Comp shortlist

… was screened at Winter Warmer Poetry Festival.

Our Congratulations to Kate Sweeney

winner of Ó Bhéal’s 11th Poetry-Film Competition!



690 Responses to “Poetry Readings & Open-Mic Nights”

  1. 1
    pc Said: @1:54 pm 

    Open-mic night – 18th February 2013

    A warm thanks to James Lawless for coming down from Kildare on Monday. James gave an excellent reading, mainly from his fine collection Rus In Urbe (Doghouse, 2012), and you can listen to James’ reading right here.

    Thanks also to Rosie O’Regan for keeping things steady at the helm, and to all who contributed poems on the open-mic, Julie Field, Conor McManus, Richard Keane, Jack Healy-O’Connor, Seamus Harrington, Noel O’Callaghan, Frank Lee, Pete Duffy, Emily Davis-Fletcher and Cathal Holden.

    Joe Sweeney and Paul Casey were tied winners of this week’s Five Word Challenge. Sláinte!

    The open-mic mp3 is here


    02/24/13; 1:54 pm
  2. 2
    pc Said: @2:23 pm 

    Open-mic night – 11th February 2013

    A warm thank you to Anne Fitzgerald for venturing down from county Dublin to read at Ó Bhéal. She gave an excellent reading and we wish her the very best with her future work.

    Thanks also to Sue Cosgrave for compèring and to all on the open-mic, Richard Keane, Jack Healy-O’Connor, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Afric McGlinchey, Rab Urquhart, Mary O’Connell, Sandra McShane and Eileen.

    Congratulations goes to Heather Hakvaj for wining this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well done!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    02/17/13; 2:23 pm
  3. 3
    pc Said: @6:19 pm 

    Open-mic night – 4th February 2013

    A big Cheers to Karl Parkinson, for his brilliant performance on Monday, and for coming down from Dubs to delight and electrify the Hayloft crowd with his mesmeric verse. You can listen to Karl’s reading here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Joe Lyons, Tina Pisco, Mary O’Connell, Richard Keane, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Claire Lou, Ciarán MacArtain and Daw Harding.

    Congratulations goes to Maighread O’Donoghue for winning this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well done Maighread!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    02/9/13; 6:19 pm
  4. 4
    pc Said: @11:48 am 

    Open-mic night – 28th January 2013

    Many thanks to Bernadette McIntyre for her most enjoyable reading on Monday. For a bi-lingual reading where more than half of the audience have practically no Irish, she made each line accessible with her creative interspersal of translations and explanations. A well-deserved full-house for Bernadette, whose reading you can listen to right here.

    Thanks also to Billy Ramsell for his as-always professional touch as emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Terry Dineen, Joe Sweeney, Eugene Crowley, Seamus Harrington, Daw Harding, Chris and John W. Sexton.

    John W. won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Nice one John W!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    02/3/13; 11:48 am
  5. 5
    pc Said: @3:09 am 

    Open-mic night – 21st January 2013

    An excellent evening of poetry with seven poets reading for the Winter launch of Southword – Thanks to MLC director Patrick Cotter, Cal Doyle, Afric McGlinchey, Donal O’Driscoll, John W.Sexton, Michael Sheehan and Rosalin Blue, who all read or performed to a full, enthusiastic Hayloft. You can listen to the Southword readings here.

    Thanks to Jennifer Matthews for compèring in fine style and to all on the open-mic, Billy Ramsell, Raven, Edward O’Dwyer, Seamus Harrington, Joe Sweeney, Conor McManus, Jo Collins, Kev O’Brien, Mark Burke, Michael Ray and Ciarán MacArtain.

    Joe Sweeney was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner – well done Joe!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    01/27/13; 3:09 am
  6. 6
    pc Said: @2:18 pm 

    Open-mic night – 14th January 2013

    We had another packed-out Hayloft on Monday (including ten visitors from Minnesota) for a most entertaining performance from poet Peadar O’Donoghue. Thank you to Peadar for weaving his way down from Wicklow to give an excellent reading, covering a range of material mainly drawing from his recent collection from Salmon Poetry, Jewel. You can listen to Peadar’s reading here.

    Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his lively emcee work, and to all on the open-mic, Cal Doyle, Annette Schiebout, Tyler, Joe Sweeney, Colm Scully, Michael Ray, Ciarán MacArtain, Seamus Harrington and Conor McManus.

    Congratulations goes to Annette Schiebout for winning this week’s Five Word Challenge!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    01/20/13; 2:18 pm
  7. 7
    pc Said: @5:01 pm 

    Open-mic night – 7th January 2013

    There was a fantastic turnout for the first Ó Bhéal of 2013. A huge thank you to Eileen, who received a very positive response to her earlier workshop, which she also had made gratis, and a lively reaction from an almost full house, to her delightful reading. You can listen to Eileen’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Sue Cosgrave for her fun-as-ever compère work, and to all on the open-mic, Mary O’Connell, Helen Kavanagh-Ronan, Seamus Harrington, Marie Coveney, Mick Noonan, Dominick Donnelly, Conor McManus, Cathal Holden, Rab Urquhart and Madeleine D’Arcy.

    Well done to Cathal Holden, for winning the first Five Word Challenge of the year!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    01/13/13; 5:01 pm
  8. 8
    pc Said: @9:20 am 

    Open-mic night – 10th December 2012

    A magical end of year reading from Gillian Clarke, who drew a packed audience into the Hayloft, drawing mainly from her latest collection, T.S.Eliot Award shortlistee, Ice (Carcanet, 2012). A warm thank to the Welsh National poet for venturing over from Ceredigion to delight us with her fabulous verse. You can listen to Gillian’s reading here and there are fourteen videos from the evening filmed by Stephen O’Riordan right here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Ciarán MacArtain, Rab Urquharrt, Billy Ramsell, Frankie Griffin, Cal Doyle, Mary O’Connell, Adam Wyeth, Pat Cotter, Seamus HArrington, Mick Nunan, Rosalyn Blue, Daw Harding and Jo Collins.

    Cal Doyle was the Five Word Challenge winner this week. Congrats Cal!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    12/16/12; 9:20 am
  9. 9
    pc Said: @2:25 pm 

    Open-mic night – 3rd December 2012

    A big thanks to guest poet Diarmuid Johnson for coming all the way from Bonn to give an excellent reading in the Hayloft, interspersed with his entrancing flute-playing. You can listen to Diarmuid’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Julie Field for emceeing and to Billy Ramsell for running the open-mic, as well as to the open-mic contributors, Rab Urquhart, Lane Ashfeldt, Rosie O’regan and Bubba Shakespeare. Sadly we had no time for seven other poets.

    Miceál de Róiste was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Nice one Miceál!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    12/9/12; 2:25 pm
  10. 10
    pc Said: @2:35 pm 

    Open-mic night – 26th November 2012

    A warm Cork thank you to Dublin artist-poet Tom Mathews, for his funtastic performance on Monday to a near-full Hayloft. Be sure to keep your eyes open for his next collection from Dedalus, hopefully out in 2013. You can listen to Tom’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Rab Urquhart for emceeing and to all on the open-mic, Simon Aronsohn, Rab Urquhart, Grant March, Billy Ramsell, Conor McManus, Ciarán MacArtain and Daw Harding.

    Miss Anonymous (tbc) won the Five Word Challenge this week. Good job!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    12/2/12; 2:35 pm
  11. 11
    pc Said: @1:05 pm 

    Open-mic night – 19th November 2012

    A huge thanks to the talented Paula Cunningham for treating us to an excellent reading on Monday from a variety of her work, much enjoyed by all present. Those lyrical Ulster cadences and best of Northern poetic humour never fail to delight! We need more poets from the North! You can listen to Paula’s reading here.

    Thanks to Eimear Conboye for her fun, on-the-ball compèring, and to the open-mic contributors, Bubba Shakespeare, Margaret Sargent, Rosalin Blue, Eugene Crowley, Conor McManus and Michael Ray.

    Guest Paula Cunningham and Paul Casey were joint winners of this week’s Five Word Challenge. Sláinte!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    11/24/12; 1:05 pm
  12. 12
    pc Said: @5:53 pm 

    Poetry-Film Night – 12th November 2012

    Another great night in the Hayloft Cinema, packed with Cork Film Festival-goers for Ó Bhéal’s third poetry-film night, which featured thirty poetry-fims from around the world. A few technical glitches meant a late start and so no time for the open-mic.

    Jennifer Matthews was this week’s Five Word challenge winner. Well done Jen!

    The poetry-night programme can be viewed here.


    11/17/12; 5:53 pm
  13. 13
    pc Said: @10:42 am 

    Open-mic night – 5th November 2012

    A warm thanks to Afric McGlinchey for her excellent reading on Monday, to a full and fully engaged Hayloft. You can listen to Afric’s reading right here.

    Thanks to Rosie O’Regan for steering the proceedings with mirth and gusto, and to all on the open-mic, Rab Urquhart, Darragh Browne, Mary O’Connell, Marie Coveney, Colm Scully, Mary Noonan, Bubba Shakespeare, Rosalin Blue, Michael Ray, Seamus Harrington and Ciarán MacArtain.

    Michael Ray was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Good job Michael!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    11/10/12; 10:42 am
  14. 14
    pc Said: @3:49 pm 

    Open-mic night – 29th October 2012

    A warm thanks to Denise Blake for coming all the way from Letterkenny to delight us with her fabulous words. You can listen to Denise’s reading here.

    Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for excellent emceeing, and to all on the open-mic, Tina Pisco, Judit Bakos, Mary O’Connell, Billy Ramsell, Rosalin Blue, Rab Urquhart & Bubba Shakespeare, Patricia Walsh, Kathy D’Arcy, Michael Ray and Gerry Murphy.

    Tina Pisco was this week’s McNamara Slam winner. Well done Tina!

    The open-mic mp3 was sadly hosted away by a band of renegade faeries.


    11/3/12; 3:49 pm
  15. 15
    pc Said: @3:44 pm 

    Open-mic night – 22nd October 2012

    A great poetry-jazz night, one for the record books, with a host of punters unable to believe that Raven and the Dan Walsh Trio had never played together before. According to all sources, each of the four first-class artists were on tip top form. You can listen to their performance here. The videos of the night, including those from the open-mic, are here.

    Thanks to Rab Urquhart for taking care of the sound, to Stephen O’Riordan for filming the night and to Billy Ramsell for compèring in fine style. Thanks also to those on the open-mic, Niamh Prior, Mike Eager, Cal Doyle, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Conor McManus, Sue Cosgrave and Rosie O’Regan.

    Congrats to Rab Urquhart for winning this week’s Five Word Challenge!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    10/28/12; 3:44 pm
  16. 16
    pc Said: @7:13 pm 

    Open-mic night – 15th October 2012

    Another WOW! night, the house bursting at the seams with poetry and the elemental sounds and heart-beats of Lillian Allen. A huge thanks to Lillian for adding Cork to her European tour. You can listen to Lillian’s reading here.

    Thanks to Jennifer Matthews for keeping the room smiling through the proceedings, and to all on the open-mic, Julie Field, Mary O’Connell, Liam in the T-Shirt, Richard Keane, Patricia Walsh, Ciarán MacArtain an Rosalin Blue.

    Grant March won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Congrats Grant!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    10/17/12; 7:13 pm
  17. 17
    pc Said: @9:33 am 

    Open-mic night – 8th October 2012

    Hearty thanks to Colm Breathnach for venturing down from Dublin to give a very fine reading of his work. The simplicity to the lines and excellent translations, penned by himself, made the reading most enjoyable to Non-Gaelgeoirs and Irish speakers alike. A full house again in the Hayloft, showing that bi-lingual readings are just as popular as English ones. You can listen to Colm’s reading here.

    Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his enigmatic touch as emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Colm Scully, Theresa Fitzgerald, Eithne Kietz, Margaret O’Driscoll, Judit Bakos, Frank E Lee, Patricia Walsh, Joe McHale, David Browne, Ciarán MacArtain, Alan Ó Caochlaoich, Aaron Lewis and Brian Keane.

    Brian Keane was this week’s Five Word challenge winner. Nice one Brian!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    10/14/12; 9:33 am
  18. 18
    pc Said: @9:14 am 

    Open-mic night – 1st October 2012

    Louis Mulcahy gave a fine reading on Monday, to a full house and great applause. Many thanks to Louis and Liz who came over from the West Kerry gaeltacht. You can listen to Louis’ reading here.

    Thanks to Julie Field for her fun-as-ever emceeing, and to all on the very full open-mic, Noel King, Kevin Griffin, Margaret Sargent, Mary O’Connell, Fergus Costello, Patricia Walsh, Rab Urquhart, Annie Wells, Theresa Fitzgerald, Emily Fletcher-Davis, Dave Rock, Michael O’Donnell and Julie Field.

    Séan Riordan won the Five Word Challenge. Great stuff Séan!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    10/6/12; 9:14 am
  19. 19
    pc Said: @9:07 am 

    Open-mic night – 24th September 2012

    The Ó Bhéal audience on Monday witnessed a phenomenal performance from World-Class poet Ilya Kaminski. Ilya also allowed us to film the event, and you can find a link to the videos on the front page of the site. You can listen to Ilya’s reading here.

    Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his fine touch as emcee, all to on the open-mic, Patrick Cotter, Jennifer Matthews, Finn O’Gorman, Jamie Urquhart, John Keating, Rosalin Blue, Patricia Walsh and Malcolm Dewhirst.

    Cal Doyle won the Five Word Challenge. Well done Cal!

    The open-mic mp3 was spirited away by the little folk.


    10/6/12; 9:07 am
  20. 20
    pc Said: @8:59 am 

    Open-mic night – 21st September 2012

    A fantastic night again for Culture Night with a full house in for the excellent Séamus Fox, who entertained the audience for 45 energy-packed minutes. A warm thanks to Séamus for coming down from Belfast. You can listen to Séamus’ reading here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Lisa Allen, Rab Urquhart, Trevor Goring, Seamus Harrington, Finn O’Gorman, Derek O’Sullivan, Sue Cosgrave, Ciarán MacArtain, Patricia Walsh, Afric McGlinchey, Declan Roche, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Billy Ramsell, Séamus Fox and Margaret Caher.

    Derek O’Sullivan won the Five Word Challenge. Good job Derek!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    10/6/12; 8:59 am
  21. 21
    pc Said: @1:56 am 

    Open-mic night – 17th September 2012

    A spectacular performance by three very talented poets from Down Under, packed the Hayloft to the rafters with AAA performances. Thank you to Alex Skovron, Alison Wong and Andy Kissane for coming all the way from Oz to delight us, and to Robyn Rowland and the Australian Embassy of Ireland for making it all possible. You can listen to Alex’s performance here, to Alison’s here and to Andy’s here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Sinéad Ryan, Annemarie Grandfield, Marie Coveney, Robyn Rowland, David Jordan, Mary O’Connell, Margaret Sargent, Annie Wells, Patricia Walsh and Rab Urquhart.

    Afric McGlinchey won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Nice one Afric!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    09/20/12; 1:56 am
  22. 22
    pc Said: @11:11 am 

    Open-mic night – 10th September 2012

    A hearty thanks to Mícheál Ó hAodha for his excellent bi-lingual reading on Monday, mostly from his new collection from Coiscéim, Slán le hÉirinn. You can listen to Mícheál’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Julie Field for her fine work as compère and to all on the open-mic, Micko, Cal Doyle, Rob O’Donnell, Margaret Sargent, Patricia Walsh, Annie Wells, Eithne Kietz, David Jordan, Niall Herriott and Cathal Holden.

    Cathal also won the Munster Slam Championships the next evening, in Limerick. Congrats to Cathal and to runner-up Fergus Costello.

    Cal Doyle won this week’s McNamara Slam. Good stuff Cal!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    09/16/12; 11:11 am
  23. 23
    pc Said: @1:38 pm 

    Open-mic night – 3rd September 2012

    A huge thanks to Kit Fryatt for coming over from Aberdeen to share her absolutely electrifying performance on Monday. A must see if you haven’t yet! You can listen to Kit’s reading here.

    Thanks to Rosie O’Regan for her fine emcee-work and to all on the open-mic, Tina Pisco, Michael O’Donnell, Mary O’Connell, Patricia Walsh, Eithne Kietz and Margaret Sargent.

    Yours truly was this week’s McNamara Slam winner (pats himself on the back depite the few shouts of ‘fixed‘).

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    09/9/12; 1:38 pm
  24. 24
    pc Said: @9:38 am 

    Open-mic night – 27th August 2012

    Thanks to Dedalus poets Marie Coveney and John Saunders for a first class reading on Monday, from their new collection Measuring: New Writers. Both poets also read a poem from the third poet in the anthology, Clare McCotter. You can listen to Marie’s reading here and to John’s reading here.

    Thanks to Billy Ramsell for curating the proceedings and to all on the open-mic, Mary O’Connell, Michael Ray, Patricia Walsh, Sue Cosgrave, Jamie Urquhart, Colm Ó Coiléain, Annie Wells, Jo Collins, Daw Harding, Conor Collins, Rosie O’Regan, Rob O’Donnell and Sarah Kentish.

    Conor Collins won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well done Conor!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    09/2/12; 9:38 am
  25. 25
    pc Said: @11:12 am 

    Open-mic night – 20th August 2012

    Warm thanks to Eleanor Hooker for coming down from Nenagh to give an excellent reading on Monday, after an equally engaging workshop. You can listen to Eleanor’s reading here.

    Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for holding the helm, and to all on the open-mic, Joe Healy, Mary Noonan, Seamus Harrington, Matthew Sweeney, John Mee, Mary O’Connell, Colm Scully, Patricia Walsh, David Browne, Madeleine D’Arcy, James Foley and Sarah Kentish.

    Sarah Kentish won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Good job Sarah!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    08/26/12; 11:12 am
  26. 26
    pc Said: @11:41 am 

    Open-mic night – 13th August 2012

    Another fabulous twinning event with Coventry poets Janet Smith and Jayne Stanton. The Hayloft was packed to the hilt and the open-mic went way over time. The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Cork joined in the fun with a fine Five Word contribution and complimentary address which you can listen to most of here.

    Janet and Jayne’s poems were tremendously enjoyed and you can listen to Janet’s reading here and to Jayne’s reading here.

    Thanks to all on one of the most euro-linguistically diverse open-mics we’ve seen, with Flora Herrera (with poetry in Spanish), Antonella Zagaroli (with poetry in Italian), Julie Field, Niall Herriott, Mary O’Connell, Pascal McDonnell, Sarah Kentish, Rosalin Blue, Patricia Walsh, Grace O’Donoghue, Quitterie Gounot, Helen Kavanagh-Ronan, Adrian (with poetry in French), Rab Urquhart and Conor McManus.

    Pascal McDonnell won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Good job Pascal!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    08/19/12; 11:41 am
  27. 27
    pc Said: @3:17 pm 

    Open-mic night – 6th August 2012

    Thanks to Hugh O’Donnell for his fine reading on Monday, an excellent variety of his work which you can listen to here.

    Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her fun emceeing, and to the open-mic contributors, Mark Kidney, Emmet Morgan, Cathal Holden, Quitterie Gounot, David Jordan, Mary O’Connell and Rab Urquart.

    Quitterie Gounot won this week’s Five Word challenge. Nice job Quitterie!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    08/12/12; 3:17 pm
  28. 28
    pc Said: @2:26 pm 

    Open-mic night – 30th July 2012

    Thanks to Harry Clifton for coming from Dublin to give an excellent reading of his recent work, which was framed by two Cork poems, much to the thrill of the audience. He read mainly from his latest collection from Bloodaxe, and you can listen to Harry’s reading here.

    Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his excellent-as-ever compère work and to all on the open-mic, Cal Doyle, Colm Scully, Stephanie Brennan, Rab Urquhart, Niamh Prior, Julie Field, Grace O’Donoghue, Mary O’Connell, David Jordan and Patricia Walsh.

    Afric McGlinchey won this week’s McNamara Slam. Nice one Afric!

    The open-mic is here.


    08/5/12; 2:26 pm
  29. 29
    pc Said: @6:58 pm 

    Open-mic night – 23rd July 2012

    Thanks to Áine Ní Ghlinn for an excellent reading on Monday, which she made extra-accessible for the non-Gaelgeoirs. A full-house enjoyed a most enjoyable and varied mix of Áine’s work, which you can listen to here.

    Thanks to Julie Field for her class bi-lingual emceeing and to all on the open-mic, Helen Kavanagh-Ronan, Grae Rose, Quitterie Gounot, Shane Forde, Pauline Chalmee, Patricia Walsh and pc.

    Grae Rose was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Well done Grae!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    07/28/12; 6:58 pm
  30. 30
    pc Said: @5:21 pm 

    Open-mic night – 16th July 2012

    Thanks to Anatoly for his insightful workshop on haiku, and for an excellent reading, which you can listen to here.

    Thanks also to Jennifer Matthews for emceeing, and to all on the open-mic, Sue Cosgrave, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Sandra Terry, James Stafford, Patricia Roelofs, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Marie Coveney, Grace O’Donoghue, Corrie McCracken, Quitterie Gounot and Patricia Chalmers.

    Grace O’Donoghue won this week’s Five Word challenge. Nice one Grace!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    07/21/12; 5:21 pm
  31. 31
    pc Said: @2:01 pm 

    Open-mic night – 9th July 2012

    Thanks to Mark Conway for his excellent reading, enjoyed by all in a very full Hayloft. You can listen to Mark’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Rab Urquhart for his enjoyable emcee work, and to all on the open-mic, Cathal Holden, Billy Ramsell, Paul Casey, Shane Forde, Patricia Walsh, Colm Ó Cioleáin, Grace O’Donoghue, Quitterie Gounet and Cal Doyle.

    Micheál Roche won this week’s five Word challenge. Good job Micheál!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    07/15/12; 2:01 pm
  32. 32
    pc Said: @1:12 pm 

    Open-mic night – 2nd July 2012

    Thanks to Cliona O’Connell for giving a fabulous reading from her début collection White Space. I’ll never think of Billy Collins in the same way again. You can listen to Cliona’s reading here.

    Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his prefessional touch as emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Jennifer Matthews, Mary O’Connell, Billy Ramsell, Patrick Cotter, Patricia Walsh, Simon Deasy, Julie Field, Rosalin Blue and Rab Urquhart.

    Julie field won this week’s McNamara Slam. Lovely poem Julie!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    07/8/12; 1:12 pm
  33. 33
    pc Said: @8:21 pm 

    Open-mic night – 25th June 2012

    Thanks to Gerry Boland for making it down from Roscommon to give a fabulous reading on Monday. You can listen to Gerry’s reading here.

    Thanks to Eimear Conboye for her fine compèring, and to all on the open-mic, Rosalin Blue, Jen Matthews, Joe Sweeney, Aneesh Shukla, Edward O’Dwyer, Eugene Crowley, Julie Field, Richard Hawtree, Grace O’Donoghue, Billy Ramsell, Patricia Walsh, Eric Bosse, Conor McManus and Simon Deasy.

    Jen Matthews won his week’s Five Word Challenge amid stiff competition. Good job Jen!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    07/1/12; 8:21 pm
  34. 34
    pc Said: @10:09 am 

    Open-mic night – 18th June 2012

    Thank you to Anne Hartigan for coming down to read on Monday. You can listen to Anne’s reading here.

    Thanks also to Jen Matthews for emceeing and to Stephen O’Riordan for running the sound, and to those on the open-mic, Rosalin Blue, Anne-Marie Grandfield, Sinéad Ryan, Seamus Harrington, Dan Gallagher, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Patricia Walsh, Eric Bosse, Grace O’Donoghue and Aneesh Shukla.

    Congrats goes to Micheál Roche, winner of this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well Done!

    The open-mic mp3 was robbed by a faerie.


    06/24/12; 10:09 am
  35. 35
    pc Said: @2:53 pm 

    Open-mic night – 11th June 2012

    Thanks to Pauline Fayne for coming down from Dublin. Pauline delivered a most entertaining reading which you can listen to right here.

    Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for compèring and to all on the open-mic, Tim Healy, Gerry Buckley, Jennifer Matthews, Julie Field, Cal Doyle, Mary O’Connell, Pamela Eggerton, Patricia Walsh, Niall Herriott, Conor Murphy, Simon Deasy and Cathal Holden.

    Congratulations to Eric Bosse for winning the Five Word Challenge. Well Done!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    06/17/12; 2:53 pm
  36. 36
    pc Said: @3:51 pm 

    Open-mic night – 4th June 2012

    A hearty thanks to Australian poet Ross Donlon for venturing down to the land of Munster during his visit to Ireland. He gave a fabulous reading of great variety, much to the enjoyment of all present. You can listen to Ross’ reading here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Billy Ramsell, Rosalin Blue, Annette Skade, Seamus Harrington, Gerry Murphy, Patricia Walsh and Simon Deasy.

    Rosalin Blue won this week’s Five Word challenge. Good job Sue!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    06/10/12; 3:51 pm
  37. 37
    pc Said: @4:43 pm 

    Open-mic night – 28th May 2012

    Thanks to Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin for an astounding, multi-faceted performance on Monday. No surprise he’s the All Ireland slam champ, agus gach rud as Gaeilge! You can listen to Séamus’ performance here.

    Thanks also to Billy Ramsell for his fine-as-usual compèring, and to all on the open-mic, Ger Buckley, Susan Sheehan, Niall Herriott, Seamus Harrington, Cathal Holden, George O’Sullivan, Patricia Walsh, Dominick Donnelly and Rab Urquhart.

    Dominick Donnelly was this week’s Five Word challenge winner. Well done Dominick!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    06/3/12; 4:43 pm
  38. 38
    pc Said: @1:16 pm 

    Open-mic night – 21st May 2012

    Many thanks to Roger Hudson for coming down from Drogheda at such short notice, and for his very enjoyable reading, which you can listen to here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Susan Sheehan, Cathal Holden, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Joe Sweeney, Deirdre Tunney, Mary O’Connell, Patricia Walsh, Simon Deasy, Rab Urquhart and Julie Field.

    Micheál de Róiste was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Great job!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    05/27/12; 1:16 pm
  39. 39
    pc Said: @10:09 am 

    Open-mic night – 14th May 2012

    Thanks to Fergal Gaynor for an excellent, thought-provoking reading of poetry in the hayloft, much enjoyed by all. You can listen to Fergal’s reading here.

    Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his calm captaincy at the helm and to all on the open-mic, Aidan O’Shea, Cathal Holden, Niall Herriott, Joe Sweeney, Patricia Walsh, Simon Deasy and Ciarán MacArtain.

    Cathal Holden was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Nice one.

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    05/20/12; 10:09 am
  40. 40
    pc Said: @6:23 pm 

    Open-mic night – 7th May 2012

    A most enjoyable bi-lingual evening with poet Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, with explanations of her poems as Bearla, working very well for those who haven’t enough Irish (like myself) to pick up on all the subtleties, cadences and nuances. Thanks Ceaití!

    And thanks to those on the open-mic, Conor McManus, pc, Patricia Walsh and Simon Deasy.

    Ceaití also on this week’s Five Word Challenge. Comhghairdeas!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    05/13/12; 6:23 pm
  41. 41
    pc Said: @9:51 am 

    Open-mic night – 30th April 2012

    Lovely readings altogether of great variety from both Sheila Fitzpatrick O’Donnell and Joseph Healy, who came down with half of Limerick in tow! And great to see all the familiar faces from the Limerick poetry scene. You can listen to Sheila’s reading here and to Joe’s reading here.

    Thanks to Patricia Walsh for her successful début as emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Mary Clarke, Joe Sweeney, Ronan Deevy, Evelyn Casey, Teri Murray, Cathal Holden, Bridget Wallace, Christy O’Donnell, Jean Curtayne, Rosalin Blue, Simon Deasy, Rab Urquhart and Ciarán MacArtain.

    Paul Casey won the Five Word Challenge this week (fixed, obviously). Ach sláinte!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    05/6/12; 9:51 am
  42. 42
    pc Said: @11:45 am 

    Open-mic night – 23rd April 2012

    After a packed and popular workshop, the Hayloft held an excellent night with Fiona Clarke-Echlin working up a full house, with a fine variety of form and free verse. Thanks Fiona. You can listen to Fiona’s reading here.

    Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his professional touch as emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Donna Coogan, Aidan O’Shea, Conor Cleary, Marie Coveney, Julie Field, Emmet O’Corbáin, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Patricia Walsh, Mary Buckley Clarke, Seamus Harrington, Niall Herriott and Simon Deasy.

    Garry McCarthy won the McNamara Slam this week. Good job Garry!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    04/29/12; 11:45 am
  43. 43
    pc Said: @6:26 pm 

    Open-mic night – 16th April 2012

    A fantastic night for our fifth anniversary, so thank you to all the poets involved. Hope we’re still here in Five Years time …

    For the launch of Five Words Vol V, contributors who read were Simon Deasy, Colm Scully, Jen Matthews, Jamie O’Connell, Joe Sweeney, Aidan O’Shea, Michael Ray, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Afric McGlinchey, Niamh Prior, Michael O’Callaghan, Patricia Walsh, Sean O’Riordan, Rosalin Blue, Julie Field, Niall Herriott and Ciarán MacArtain. You can listen to all of these here.

    And an excellent selection of other poets’ poetry for the open-mic …

    Joe Sweeney – East Anglian Bathe (John Betjeman)
    Colm Scully – To my Mother, Eileen (Greg Delanty)
    Simon Deasy – The Laughing Heart (Charles Bukowski)
    Aidan O’Shea – Male Gorillas (Ruth Stone)
    Grant March – What Teachers Make (Taylor Mali)
    Michael Ray – Heart Disease (John Cooper Clarke)
    Billy Ramsell – Thalassa (Louis MacNeice)
    Seamus Harrington – #328 (Emily Dickinson)
    Sue Cosgrave – For How Long AND Tourists (Nazih Abu Afach)
    Patricia Walsh – Mercedes Benz (Janis Joplin)
    Afric McGlinchey – Goth Persephone’s Mother asks her to do the Messages (Mary O’Donnell)
    Cal Doyle – A Miracle for Breakfast (Elizabeth Bishop)
    John Maguire – Thinking about Art (Odia Ofeimun)
    Kevin Desmond Swords – Still Life – The Table (Theo van Doseburg)
    Rab Urquhart – Do not stand at my grave and weep (Mary Elizabeth Frye)
    Niall Herriott – Enfants du Paradis (Jacques Prévert)
    Niamh Prior – On Mona’s Smile (Winona Baker)
    Rosie O’Regan – Things that are Lost (Kerrie Hardie)
    Cal Doyle – #14 – The Dream Songs (John Berryman)
    Aidan O’Shea – Everyone Sang (Siegfried Sassoon)
    Ruth Fortune – You Missed It (Patty Ludwig)
    Seamus Harrington – 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (Richard Thompson)
    Sue Cosgrave – A Hole in the Head (Rima Buaini)
    Afric McGlinchey – A Woman Taking Off Her Shirt (Paul Hostovsky)
    Rosalin Blue – Freudenhaus (August Stramm)
    Michael O’Callaghan – Inversnaid (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
    Kevin Desmond Swords – Ted Hughes (James Kelly)
    Simon Deasy – McDougal Street Blues (Jack Kerouac)
    Ciarán MacArtain – Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (Dr. Suess)
    Grant March – Satiate on Sunlight …(Seamus Hogan
    Rab Urquhart – Warning (Jenny Joseph)
    Conor McManus – Spleen (Charles Baudelaire)

    Stephen O’Riordan was this week’s 5 Word Challenge Winner. Sláinte Stephen!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    04/22/12; 6:26 pm
  44. 44
    pc Said: @4:14 pm 

    Open-mic night – 9th April 2012

    Thank you to Paul Jeffcutt for venturing down from the County Down to give a fine bank-holiday reading from his collection Latch. You can listen to Paul’s reading here.

    Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her relaxed and fun emceeing, and to all on the open-mic, Dominick Donnelly, Seamus Harrington, Gerry theoneandonly Murphy, Patricia Walsh, Joanne Collins, Rab Urquhart, Alma Kelly, Ciarán MacArtain, Michael O’Callaghan and Conor McManus.

    Seán Bent was this week’s Five Word Challenge Winner. Nice job Seán!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    04/12/12; 4:14 pm
  45. 45
    pc Said: @12:16 pm 

    Open-mic night – 2nd April 2012

    A big Thanks to Leeanne Quinn for coming down from Dublin to deliver an elegant, enticing reading from her new collection Before You. You can listen to Leeane’s reading here.

    Thanks to Jennifer Matthews for her excellent-as-ever compèring, and to all on the open-mic, Patricia Walsh, Grant March, Michael Ray, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Michael O’Callaghan, Jamie O’Connell, Deirdre Tunney, Mary O’Connell, Seán O’Riordan, Cathal Holden and Ciarán MacArtain.

    Adrian Scanlon was this week’s Five Word Challenge Winner. Good job Adrian!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    04/8/12; 12:16 pm
  46. 46
    pc Said: @4:36 pm 

    Open-mic night – 26th March 2012

    We enjoyed an excellent night with guest poet Kerrie O’Brien on Monday. A delightful reading! Thank you Kerrie. You can listen to the reading here.

    Thanks to the open-mic contributors, Cathal Holden, Deirdre Tunney, Collins Kato, Jennifer Matthews, Emily Davis-Fletcher, Cal Doyle, Sinéad Ryan, Anne-Marie Grandfield, Grant March, Emmet O’Corbáin, Rosalin Blue, Rab Urquhart and Yossi Valdman.

    Julie Field was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Congrats Julie!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    04/1/12; 4:36 pm
  47. 47
    pc Said: @2:20 pm 

    Open-mic night – 19th March 2012

    Thanks to Paddy Moran for a fine reading on Monday, from both of his collections and a number of new works. You can listen to Paddy’s reading here.

    Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her enjoyable emcee-work, and to the open-mic contributors, Patricia Walsh, Cal Doyle, Cathal Holden, Seamus Harrington, Brian Cougle and Gerry Murphy.

    Cathal Holden was this week’s McNamara Slam winner. Good Job!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    03/25/12; 2:20 pm
  48. 48
    pc Said: @2:54 pm 

    Open-mic night – 12th March 2012

    A warm thanks to Peadar O’ hUallaigh for venturing up from Dun Chaoin to deliver a fine performance of filíocht agus feadóg, much enjoyed by all present. You can listen to Peadar’s reading here.

    Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his excellent compère work, and to those on the open-mic, Patricia Walsh, Eoin Murray, Aidan O’Shea, Jean Curtayne, Emmett C and James Foley.

    John Downes won this week’s Five Word challenge. Nice one John!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    03/18/12; 2:54 pm
  49. 49
    pc Said: @4:13 pm 

    Open-mic night – 5th March 2012

    Many thanks to Rita Ann Higgins for her wonderful reading on Monday, in a packed to the rafters Hayloft. Rita Ann read poems from the spectrum of her career including from her latest collection from Bloodaxe, Ireland is Changing Mother. You can listen to Rita Ann’s reading here.

    Thanks to all on the open-mic, Alan O’Caochlaoich, Sandra O’Chondúin, Richard Keane, Rosie O’Regan, Joe Sweeney, Joe Healy, James Foley, Tom Moloney, Aidan O’Shea, Jen Matthews, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Margaret Sheehan, Mary O’Connell, Mike Gallagher, Niall Herriott, Afric McGlinchey, Rosalin Blue, Cal Doyle, Colm Scully, Rab Urquhart and Conor McManus.

    Aidan O’Shea was this week’s Five Word Challenge wonner. Well done Aidan!

    The open-mic mp3 is here.


    03/11/12; 4:13 pm
  50. 50
    pc Said: @9:51 pm 

    Open-mic night – 27th February 2012

    A very big thanks to Colm Keegan for venturing down from sunny Clondalkin, to give a top class reading and performance of his work. Don’t forget his play this summer at Kinsale Arts festival, and his collection due from Salmon in May.

    As happens once or twice in the year, the little folk made off with the mp3s, so unfortunately the night remains confined to memory.

    Thanks also to Jennifer Matthews for compèring, and to all on the (very full) open-mic, Donna Coogan, Cal Doyle, Rab Urquhart, James Foley, Joe Sweeney, Seamus Harrington, Eugene Crowley, Patricia Walsh, Aidan O’Shea, Afric McGlinchey, Richard Keane, Mary O’Connell, Michael O’Callaghan, Martin, and Sandra Uí Chondúin.

    The five word challenge was won by Alison O’Grady. Congrats Alison!


    03/4/12; 9:51 pm

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