GALWAY: Over The Edge

Friday, July 9th, 2010, 8pm
Sheridan’s Wine Bar,
14-16 Church Yard Street,
Galway

Over The Edge presents readings by poets Dave Lordan, Elaine Feeney and Drucilla Wall plus the Galway launch of Lead Skeletons, a new poetry collection by Jennifer Liston.

Jennifer Liston was born in Limerick and grew up in Gort, Co Galway, Ireland. She now lives in Adelaide, Australia. Her first collection of poetry, Exposure, was published by Ginninderra Press in May 2003. Her second collection of poetry, 17 poems: one for every year of innocence, was published by White Wave Press in 2008. Jennifer was a member of a poetry group in Sydney, a member of the Canberra Closet Poets group, and is a founding member of the Adelaide Closet Poets. She is also a member of the South Australian Writers’ Centre. She has performed her poems at several Irish and Australian poetry events. Lead Skeletons is Jennifer’s third collection of poetry and is published by White Wave Press. The book will be launched on the night by Kevin Higgins.

Dave Lordan was born in Derby, England, in 1975, and grew up in Clonakilty in West Cork. In 2004 he was awarded an Arts Council bursary and in 2005 he won the Patrick Kavanagh Award for Poetry. His collections are The Boy in The Ring (Salmon Poetry, 2007), which won the Strong Award for best first collection by an Irish writer and was shortlisted for the Irish Times poetry prize; and Invitation to a Sacrifice (Salmon Poetry, 2010) is just published. Eigse Riada theatre company produced his first play, Jo Bangles, at the Mill Theatre, Dundrum in 2010. He has lived in Holland, Greece and Italy, and now resides in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

Drucilla Wall has published poems and essays in Cream City Review, Kalliope, The People Who Stayed: South Eastern Indian Writing After Removal; Eating Fire, Tasting Blood: Breaking the Great Silence of the American Indian Holocaust; Times of Sorrow/Times of Grace: Writing by Women of the Great Plains/High Plains; and True West: Authenticity and the American West. She serves on the executive board for the Western Literature Association and holds membership in the Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers. She teaches writing at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Her first collection of poem, The Geese At The Gates, will be published very early next year by Salmon Poetry.

Elaine Feeney was born in Galway in 1979. She has been writing since her early teens. In 2006 she won the North Beach Nights Grand Slam and in 2008 won the Cuirt Festival’s Poetry Grand Slam. She is a keen page and performance writer. Elaine has performed at many venues including The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Electric Picnic, The Vilenica Festival and The Cúirt International Literature Festival. She was the chosen writer on a One Sheet collaboration in 2010 with an artist and a graphic designer and this work is currently on exhibit across Dublin. Her work has been translated into Slovene. Elaine lives in Athenry with her partner Ray, and sons, Jack and Finn. Her debut collection of poetry, Where’s Katie, is just published by Salmon Poetry.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

GALWAY: Launch of 'Identity Parade'

Friday, July 2nd, 2010, from 6pm
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop,
Middle Street,
Galway

Galway Launch of Identity Parade: New British & Irish Poets, edited by Roddy Lumsden, published by Bloodaxe Books

Over The Edge in association with Bloodaxe Books presents the Galway launch of the generation definining poetry anthology Identity Parade: New British & Irish Poets. There will be readings by six of the contributing poets, Julia Bird, Judy Brown, Sarah Corbett, Sasha Dugdale, Kevin Higgins and Mark Waldron, with introductions by the editor Roddy Lumsden. All are welcome to attend.

Identity Parade presents new British and Irish poetry at a time of great vibrancy and variety. It is the first anthology to comprehensively represent the generation of poets who have emerged since the mid-1990s. Eclectic, diverse and wide-ranging in scope, the book fully reflects the climate of “the pluralist now”. It offers the work of 85 highly individual and distinctive talents whose poems display the breadth of styles and approaches characteristic of our current poetry.

These writers are prospering all over Britain and Ireland – from Shetland to Aberystwyth, from Gravesend to Galway – as well as further afield. Many new and undersung poets appear alongside this generation’s most celebrated names, and probably for the first time in any major poetry anthology, more women writers than men are featured. All the poets have either published first collections within the past 15 years or make their debut within the next year.

Identity Parade is as accessible to the new reader as to the aficionado, with each poet introduced by a biographical note also covering their themes and concerns. This is the essential starting place for anyone interested in the poetry of here and now.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 2nd July, 2010, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £5/£4, WINE
Trinity United Reform Church,
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town
2 mins. Camden Town tube

Ruth O'Callaghan presents (our very own) Graham High, Arlene Ang and Jude Rosen. Poets from the floor very welcome (some longer spots available). Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology.

Patron: Carol Ann Duffy - Poet laureate