A Cautionary Tale About Money and Art Very often States large and small deploy Arts funding systems to help Artists develop their work, and sometimes, with the best of intentions, it doesn't work out as intended. This essay explores an imaginary country's attempts, and the increasingly serious problems associated with allowing artistic freedom full expression … Continue reading The Next Big Thing
poetry
Things I never Knew about the Poet William Blake – that is, Until Recently.
One of the most important poets in the English language, or indeed any language, was born November 28, 1757 in London, England. He remained largely unknown during his lifetime. Though he had an established reputation as an engraver of considerable gifts, his reputation as a poet, something that he achieved world historical repute for in … Continue reading Things I never Knew about the Poet William Blake – that is, Until Recently.
Notes for a 21st Century Artistic Manifesto
The Place of Literature.Art is the imitation of life by means of signs, symbols and plastic objects. Literature is the imitation of life using symbols and signs to tell stories. To understand what life means we use art as a skeleton key into what has always been the greatest of mysteries and challenges. Here in … Continue reading Notes for a 21st Century Artistic Manifesto
A People’s Poem for Limerick
From left Poet John W. Sexton, Mayor Michael Sheahan (Limerick) and Oran Ryan A poem written by Limerick people and made up of words, phrases and lines submitted during the Limerick Writers’ Centre’s recent poetry festival ‘April is Poetry Month in Limerick 2019’, was this week unveiled and presented to the mayor of Limerick Cllr. … Continue reading A People’s Poem for Limerick
Let the Good Times Roll
But when people say, Did you always want to be a writer?, I have to say no! I always was a writer Ursula le Guin When I ask people 'So, what's your image of a writer?', usually they talk about a guy. Even the women I ask, they tend to talk about a man. … Continue reading Let the Good Times Roll
NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN – Martin Egans ‘Sea Journey’
SEA JOURNEY by Martin A Egan Lapwing Press 2013 One of the happier memories of my friend Martin Egan was listening to him both talk about and read aloud many drafts of the poems that eventually became Sea Journey, a book that for as long as it has been in print, remains a huge favourite … Continue reading NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN – Martin Egans ‘Sea Journey’
Eight things about reading at O Bheal in Cork that everyone should know
Ireland is replete with literary events and poetry readings. All literary events are literary, but not all of them are equal. O Bheal ( http://www.obheal.ie ) is a particularly good one, and it was a marvelously enjoyable evening for me. 1. Resistance is futile. You are made just so welcome. I am not a particularly … Continue reading Eight things about reading at O Bheal in Cork that everyone should know
POSTER POEM BY COLIN DARDIS
COLIN DARDIS’ EXCELLENT ADVENTURE So much of Irish contemporary poetry is to say the least disinteresting. It is tired, fearful of innovation, hopelessly swamped with a vast rich cultural and historical context that should give it a deep well of innovation to work from, a launching pad to new modes of self … Continue reading POSTER POEM BY COLIN DARDIS
Poet in Profile–Unabridged Interview with Oran Ryan by Ruairi Conneely
I've been tasked at times at NewsFour with writing about poetry and the Dublin Literary scene, insofar as I'm in frequent contact with it. However, the circumstances that lead me to interview Oran were simple and typical for a journalist: the assignment was dropped on me with only a day or two to research and … Continue reading Poet in Profile–Unabridged Interview with Oran Ryan by Ruairi Conneely
No really,do go on telling me how worthless being a writer is… I love Big Brother, honestly…
I am not by nature a political animal. I have no party political instincts, dislike the whole fakery of politics in any form, and regard most politicians with a visceral distrust I find a little disturbing even to myself. Yet I know writing is a profoundly political activity. It concerns itself with human behaviour, … Continue reading No really,do go on telling me how worthless being a writer is… I love Big Brother, honestly…
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