Ard Fili: Become Ireland's High Poet for 2007

The first All Ireland Live Poetry Championships

Desmond Swords

"I am Desmond Swords, the organiser of the first All Ireland Live Poetry Championships. The winner will be crowned Ireland's Ard Fili, which means they will be Ireland's High Poet. Heats will be held from November 2006 and the final will be in October 2007, as part of the Patrick Kavanagh Celebration 2007.

Contact desmondswords@hotmail.com for details.

The 2006 Patrick Kavanagh Celebration is on 1 September, above the Palace Bar, Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin. This is a major spiritual home of Dublin literary life, where Kavanagh held court and sought employment from Dublin's post war head hacks, writing film and farming columns for the rags. In the mix with Brian O'Nolan aka Flann O'Brien aka Myles nag Copaleen, Behan, Anthony Cronin and the numerous scribes and bletherers of that town.

Kavanagh famously said that the standing army of Irish poets never fell below 20,000, which is a figure I can well believe, as if I heaved a brick from the top of Grafton Street it would be guaranteed to hit 10 before it reached the Phil Lynott statue outside Bruxelles boozer where Ronnie Wood has the occasional jam with the regular blues band there.

But enough idle chatter, Kavanagh also stated The Palace Bar. There was the gabble of poetry to be heard. And you can hear it on 1 September.

There will be a masterclass and workshop in the daytime from 12-4, all for the bargain price of 150 euros, led by He who shall remain nameless, but considered by many to be Irelands premier bard. Numbers are strictly limited and early booking a must."

DESMOND SWORDS

See the Poets On Fire Discussion Forum for more details of live poetry events like this and some great craic!