{"id":22368,"date":"2026-06-03T12:04:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/?page_id=22368"},"modified":"2026-06-03T12:25:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:25:21","slug":"poetry-in-the-parks-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/the-unfinished-book-of-poetry\/poetry-in-the-parks-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Poetry in the Parks 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/center><\/p>\n

The eBook version<\/strong> is available (free) via the following links:<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026<\/strong> (High Resolution 19.7MB<\/strong>)<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026<\/strong> (Low Resolution 2.3MB<\/strong>)<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The following poems have been selected from twelve poets published in The Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026<\/a><\/em>, to be displayed in Cork City Library’s Poetry in the Parks<\/strong><\/em> project during June 2026.<\/p>\n

These installations are situated in Marina Park, Fitzgerald’s Park, Tramore Valley Park, Ballincollig Regional Park, Gerry O\u2019Sullivan Park and the Blarney Sanctuary Walkway. <\/p>\n

The poems on display are part of the 2026 Cruinni\u00fa na n\u00d3g<\/a><\/strong> festival. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

from Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Ballincollig Regional Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Youth Group<\/strong><\/font>                                                      by David Deasy Rubio<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

My youth group is small, 11 people total.
\nAlways loud and talkative.
\nDid you see the game last night?
\nCop on, Joshua.<\/em>
\nJust sitting quiet, eating my food, minding my business.
\nBrain error, cannot compute.
\nDon’t know what’s going on.
\nTry to get involved, 404.
\nBlocked by a firewall.
\nTry to feel included, sometimes go too far.
\nAccess denied, connection terminated.
\nStill love them though, they’re good people.
\nGotta push through the barrier.
\nConnection Stable.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Ballincollig Regional Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Art<\/strong><\/font>                                                                  by Grace Fitton<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

There is no such thing as good art,
\nthere is also no such thing as bad art.
\nThere is not only the finished piece
\nbut also the progress, process
\nand emotions embedded deep within
\nthe piece. Whether that be anger or happiness,
\ngrief or relief, boredom or excitement.
\nThe \u2018ugly\u2019 or the \u2018praised\u2019, the process does
\nnot have to be enjoyable but the piece can
\nbe enjoyed.<\/p>\n

People who tell you that art has rules are
\nliars and if you believe them then you are nothing
\nbut another jester in an empty throne room
\ntrapped by others’ beliefs.
\nPeople say that you have to do this and
\nyou can’t do that.
\n        But tell me what is the point of
\n        creating if the creator cannot
\n        recognise their own work?
\n        Tell me, is it truly your
\n        own art if you allow others
\n        to take over?<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Gaelchol\u00e1iste Mhuire Ag<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Gerry O\u2019Sullivan Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

N\u00edl aon Tinte\u00e1n mar do Thinte\u00e1n f\u00e9in<\/strong><\/font>          by Cian \u00d3 Luasaigh<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

Abhainn na Laoi ag cr\u00f3n\u00e1n go h\u00edseal
\nTr\u00ed dheatach m\u00f3na agus b\u00e1isteach airgid
\nLonra\u00edonn tinte \u00e1rsa f\u00f3s
\nDoirteann solas na geala\u00ed cos\u00fail le huisce
\nAg lonr\u00fa solas airgid ar dhroim an eallaigh
\nAgus rinneadh f\u00e9arach de shoilse
\nCos\u00fail le dreancaid\u00ed tine sa sp\u00e9ir.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Gaelchol\u00e1iste Mhuire Ag<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Gerry O\u2019Sullivan Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

T\u00edr gan Teanga T\u00edr gan Anam<\/strong><\/font>                      by Jodie N\u00ed Mhuirthile<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

Labhra\u00edonn muid \u00e9
\nCloisimid \u00e9
\nFeicimid \u00e9 i gcomhartha\u00ed
\nCanaimid amhr\u00e1n agus muid ag damhsa le fuaimeanna
\nNa bhfli\u00fat agus na cl\u00e1irs\u00ed.<\/p>\n

Cloisimid sc\u00e9alta faoi c\u00e9 chomh crua agus a throid
\nDaoine ar a son
\n\u00c1r gceart chun \u00e1r ngl\u00f3r a \u00fas\u00e1id
\nAr son \u00e1r dteanga.<\/p>\n

Is cuid d\u00e1r mbr\u00f3d \u00e1r dteanga
\nGan \u00e9 bheim\u00eds caillte
\nN\u00ed bheadh anam againn.<\/p>\n

 
\n <\/p>\n

\n

from Mayfield Community School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n<\/center>
(installed at Marina Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

The Soft Horizon<\/strong><\/font>                                                    by Melissa Duarte<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

The day begins to fold its light
\ninto ribbons of amber, pink and gold.
\nA quiet breath before the night
\nas stories of the day are told.
\nThe grass holds dew, the trees
\nagainst the sky, so wide and free.<\/p>\n

Moments of peace within it all,
\nand everything I hope to be.
\nNo wish, no noise, just open space
\nwhere shadows stretch and colours blend.
\nI find my rhythm and my place,
\nbefore this gentle evening\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Mayfield Community School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n<\/center>
(installed at Marina Park)<\/font><\/center>
\n  <\/p>\n

Home Town<\/strong><\/font>                                                            by Ciar\u00e1n Hawkins<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

I am the tradition of the city
\nI am the cool breeze through Bell\u2019s Field
\nI am the lights of the North Cathedral
\nI am the statue of Father Matthew
\nI am the bells that ring from Shandon
\nI am as tall as the tip of Shandon
\nI am as strong as the city hall
\nI am the memories of my grandmother\u2019s stall in the Corn Market
\nI am the hurley Christy Ring once held
\nI am the pride of the Northside.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Bishopstown Community School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Fitzgerald’s Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

The Fly<\/strong><\/font>                                                                    by Ami Hurley<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

I am a fly
\nI fly in the sky
\nvery high
\nall day and night
\nI often think what I might
\ndo if I fly into a kite
\nin the middle of the night
\nso bye until I find my bed
\nand sleep tight
\nuntil morning light<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Bishopstown Community School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Fitzgerald’s Park)<\/font> <\/center><\/p>\n

Bad Poem<\/strong><\/font>                                                                    by Aoibhe Lacey<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

Today I am sitting in poetry class,
\nthe goal is to write a really bad poem.
\nI don\u2019t know what to do.
\nSo far this poem doesn\u2019t rhyme,
\nis this a crime?
\nThat sounded weird
\nthat\u2019s what I feared
\nI might sound mad
\nbut will that make the poem bad?
\nThere is a prize to make the worst one
\nit\u2019s meant to be fun.
\nReading this feels a bit awkward.
\nDo you think I will win the award?
\nWhat if it\u2019s a test?
\nOh well, I tried my best.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Blarney Sanctuary Walkway)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder<\/strong><\/font>                                                by Elsie O\u2019Regan<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder
\nWhy the needles prick
\nWhy the bread’s crust is rough<\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder
\nWhy the wind on my skin is soft
\nWhy the blue in my mind lingers<\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder
\nto wonder
\nWondering about the concrete persistence
\nof sometimes<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Mayfield Community School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Blarney Sanctuary Walkway)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Stone<\/strong><\/font>                                        by Amy McCarthy<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

This stone is like the sun shining
\non an eventful day, the touch<\/p>\n

of freshly cut grass, glistening
\nin May. This stone knows<\/p>\n

there is always sun, even
\non a cloudy day, understands<\/p>\n

that stars don\u2019t appear until
\nnight but are always there<\/p>\n

This stone makes me feel
\nat ease like sunset or the sound<\/p>\n

of rain pouring down. I am
\nhuman, it\u2019s okay to make mistakes.<\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n

from Presentation Secondary School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Tramore Valley Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

getting lost in paintings by escher<\/strong><\/font>              by Maya Zuhaira<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

walk up the wall, walk down the ceiling
\nhere gravity seems unappealing
\ndoors and windows, big amount
\nthe halls reflecting every sound
\none wrong foot, a sealed fate<\/p>\n

your clicking steps, they resonate
\nstairs left and right and all around
\nget lost in here, you won’t be found
\nwalk up the wall, walk down the ceiling
\nbut walk too fast, a funny feeling<\/p>\n

 
\n <\/p>\n

\n

from Presentation Secondary School<\/font><\/strong>
\n 
\n(installed at Tramore Valley Park)<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Breeze<\/strong><\/font>                                                      by Fizza Tauseef<\/b>
\n  <\/p>\n

You asked me once.
\nWhere does the wind go?
\nI will tell you now.<\/p>\n

Coming from the north, going to the south,
\ncarrying the essence of a million lives around.<\/p>\n

Dancing and singing it goes around
\nwarm then cold and colder,
\nplaying with hair and dancing with flowers.<\/p>\n

As I wished it took me with it,
\ncarrying me around like a traveller with no home.<\/p>\n

I will then tell you,
\nwhere the wind goes.
\n  <\/p>\n

(Inspired by \u201cYour Native Home\u201d by Giuliano Nistri)<\/em><\/p>\n

 
\n  <\/p>\n

\n
\n

Foreword<\/strong><\/p>\n

And here we welcome the 22nd edition of this ever-bounteous and delightful compilation, one which surprises us unfailingly. The Unfinished Book of Poetry<\/i> 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. <\/p>\n

The 2026 edition features poems from 31 young writers, in transition year at five Cork city schools. Since the d\u00e9but 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.<\/p>\n

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-\u00e0-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. <\/p>\n

Congratulations to all of the newly published poets, from:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Le Ch\u00e9ile Secondary School, Ballincollig with poet Molly Twomey in
\n Ballincollig library;<\/p>\n

\u2022 Presentation Secondary School, led by poet Niamh Prior in Tory Top Library
\n and at the school;<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bishopstown Community School with poet Matthew Geden in Bishopstown
\n Library;<\/p>\n

\u2022 Gaelchol\u00e1iste Mhuire Ag le file Dairena N\u00ed Chinn\u00e9ide, \u00ed Leabharlann na
\n Linne Duibhe; agus<\/p>\n

\u2022 Mayfield Community School led by poet Lani O’Hanlon in Mayfield Library
\n and at the school.<\/p>\n

With special thanks to the T.Y. co-ordinators and Cork city library staff. <\/p>\n

Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Paul Casey<\/strong>
\nProject Curator, April 2026<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The eBook version is available (free) via the following links: Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026 (High Resolution 19.7MB) Unfinished Book of Poetry 2026 (Low Resolution 2.3MB)   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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5244,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-22368","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22368"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22387,"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22368\/revisions\/22387"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.obheal.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}