WHITE HOUSE POETRY - ONLINE!
(WebMaster/Administrator About)
CALLING ALL POETS
READERS ARE ASKING ABOUT YOU
THOSE WHO HAVE APPEARED HERE IN THE PAST
(AS WELL AS THOSE YET TO BE LISTED)
IT'S TIME TO UPDATE YOUR PAGE
- GET IN TOUCH -
Don't have ready access to internet?
Simple - Forward a non-returnable (hard) copy of your latest
to
78 Whitethorn Drive, Caherdavin Heights, Limerick
State what poems you wish included
on White House Poets - Online
and we will do the rest
It's that simple!
DIARY
DON'T FORGET
FOR OUR LATEST POETRY ADDITIONS
SEE 'THE OPEN POET' COLUMN ON THE LEFT
2018
TRIBUTES PAID TO 'CULTURE WARRIOR' BARNEY SHEEHAN WHO HAS PASSED AWAY.
Bernard 'Barney' Sheehan, poet, amateur jockey, leather craftsman, founder/MC and long-time driving force behind the popular weekly (Wednesday) poetry revival sessions in Limerick City at the White House bar on O'Connell Street, died on Saturday April 9, 2018. Following his repose at Thompson's Funeral Home, his funeral took place on Wednesday, April 11.
2015
Tuesday, April 28
Coming on board this week is Mike Durack who, in recent years has been collaborating with his brother, Austin, on a programme of poetry and guitar music. My initial posting for Mike last week met with some gremlins but, following a root, branch and syllable check, I'm happy to report, all is now to his satisfaction.
Wednesday, April 15
Teri Murray's collection - 'UNDER A LINNET'S WING' (Eliza Press) - launched May 14th, (7.30pm) in Gerry Flannery's bar on Catherine Street, Limerick. Mairtín Ó Brían - launch honours.
Tuesday, January 13
Launch of Margaret Mary Glasgow's 'Flowers and Thorns of Life'.
Poet Mark Whelan did the honours.
2014
December 10
Just to hand, Críostóir Ó Floinn's latest book of poetry,
' The Woman Who Never Said "Hello" '
November 24
Launch of Tom McCarthy's memoir
' Susie's Son - A Memoir in verse and prose '
Former Mayor of Limerick, John Quinn, did the launch honours.
November 7
Just in hand, Críostóir Ó Floinn latest book,
' Remember Limerick '
November 5th, White House Bar:
Launch of Margaret Mary Glasgow sensitive first collection,
Flowers And Thorns of Life
(Flores et Spinae Vitae).
October 8th, White House Bar:
Last night saw the launch of Lotte Bender's much awaited Street Line Critics - Expressing the Urban Experience, the result of her dedicated effort to raise questions amongst us about the spaces we live in. As a print record of what was a chalk-on-concrete experience, this is a wonderful publication, it does exactly what it did on the pavement. Abundantly illustrated with the work of twenty-four featured 'author/artists' (yours truly included), the book takes you on a Limerick walkabout tour showing the chalk based work as it was in-situ. As Lotte explains, she founded Street Line Critics in June 2013 as a socially engaged art project. She began with the seemingly simple idea of asking questions about the 'imposed narratives' (advertising etc.) we encounter as we go about our lives. Underlying this question was whether we, as citizens, could 'reclaim' public spaces (e.g. from attention-grabbing advertising) and create our own spaces within which we could share our thoughts with fellow citizens. The original chalk writings have long succumbed to the elements but the record in book form lives on. It should be in every school library. See www.streetlinecritics.net for more.
September 6th, Kinsale: Following the funeral service in St. John the Baptist church, Dr. Desmond O'Grady was laid to rest in St. Catherine's Cemetery, a small graveyard directly across the road from the single-story house in Rincurran which became his home following his final return to Ireland.
Visit Desmond O'Grady Page Here
July 31st, Hunt Museum: Enjoyed Dr. Bridget Wallace and Tommy Collins reading at the Hunt Museum lunchtime poetry readings. Bridget read from the Sextet collection and some latest 'anti-war' poems. I hadn't heard Tommy's work before but, his poem about saving a goal in a muddy goal-mouth nearly had me shouting "Well Saved!". (July 31st)
July 24, Hunt Museum: Unavoidably missed Tim Cunningham and Richard Halperin at the Hunt Museum lunchtime poetry readings. Will watch out for their next readings. (July 24th)
Críostóir O'Floinn launched his edited version of 'Drunken Thady and the Bishop's Lady - A Legend of Thomond Bridge' by Michael Hogan - The Bard of Thomond. As Críostóir outlines, this was, in fact, just one of Hogan's 165 poems contained in his Lays and Legends of Thomond collected poems which he published in 1867. Such is O'Floinn's admiration for Hogan's work, and this poem in particular, he feels it deserves to be '...universally acknowledged as on of the finest, and perhaps the best, of all the comic poems in the English language.' Praise indeed. To be fair, Limerickman Críostóir, a bi-lingual writer and playwright, with over sixty books to his credit has, since 1977, championed Michael Hogan's work among his publications. This latest publication is by Revival Press. It features introductory matter on the life of Michael Hogan followed by Críostóir's analysis, clarifying notes on each verse and an audio cd featuring Críostóir reading the entire 438 lines of the legend of 'Drunken Thady and the Bishop's lady'.
*For a tribute poem by Brian Blaney on the life of Michael Hogan himself, see 'Here The Heart of Limerick Beats' in Brian Blaney's 'Poems in Profile', Revival Press (2011). The poem marks the occassion, in 1994, when a new headstone was unveiled over Hogan's grave at Mount St. Lawrence Cemetary by The Bard of Thomond Memorial Committee. Among the small gathering, were no fewer than four former Limerick Mayors, including the incumbant, Richard Sadlier, who performed the unveiling. As an invited guest to the unveiling, Blaney begins his poem by viewing the distinguished Mayoral proceedings as Hogan, whose jaundiced eye overlooked the proceedings, might well have done. The headstone features a chiselled image of the bard. The poem begins:-
Oh, what time is this that sees this, once mortal, coil
Entombed and now reslabbed anew beneath this soil
My chiselled features cut in stone so fine
So friend or foe can kiss, or jab, my eyes as they incline
...
*To mark, yet again, another publication on Michael Hogan - Bard of Thomond, I propose to add his name to our list of poets profiles in the near future.
I am currently working my way through John Liddy's latest collection picked up recently at its launch during Limerick's Summer Literary Festival. Entitled 'The Secret Heart of Things' (Revival), this is John's ninth collection. Dedicated to his brother Mark, John also acknowledges the 'diligent eye' of his brother Liam. (July 18th)
Enjoyed sharing a stint alongside John Liddy at the Hunt Museum 'Lunch Time Poetry' organised by the Limerick Writer's Centre. Indeed, I felt honoured to share a platform with John during this, the first of the 2014 'mid summer' readings which was well, and attentively, attended. (July 10th)
I met Sheila Fitzpatrick O'Donnellat the Hunt Museum during the lunchtime poetry readings. She told me about her latest project involving her friend and fellow poet, Dr. Bridget Wallace. The project is called 'Reading at Random' and involves touring with a chair ... yes ... a chair (only Sheila would etc. etc...). The intention being to promote creativity by offering the seat to anybody who wishes to 'read at random'. So far, the trio have visited Sligo, Tulla and Sixmilebridge. Hopes are to get enough funding for a poetry bus (more seats) to take a Poetry Tour of Ireland. Sheila says they are on facebook. Check it out. (July 10th)
Edward O'Dwyer's debut collection, The Rain on Cruise's Street, (Salmon Poetry) was launched by poet Eileen Sheehan in The Strand Hotel. The collection opens with 'Just By Chance', a poem reported in the local press as having been highly commended and due to be published in the next Forward Book of Poetry. The poem, which focuses on a romantic encounter on the banks of the (river) Shannon, was picked for publication following the poets' publisher, Salmon Poetry, submitting it to the judges. (July 3rd)
Don't make Resolutions,
JUST DO IT!
This is your space to make your creative presence known during Limerick City of Culture. Despite its setbacks so far, many are working to ensure its success.
This began as my voluntary contribution to 2013 year of The Gathering. Following its success, I've decided to continue it as part of 2014 Year of Culture.
Have you read at the White House Open Mic?
Have you written some prose or poetry lately?
Why not show your work here?
In this non-judgemental showcase for emerging and established poets.
Share your creative voice with others
Three samples of your work accepted with photo and bio.*
WHITE HOUSE POETRY REVIVAL - ONLINE!
A platform for those inspired to write.
"What you say, and how you say it,
is more important than who you are"
"... we are all echoes of the voice we grew up with, depending on where we came from and our experience of growing up, the school we went to, the country we came from."
- Desmond O'Grady (1996)
Submission of complete, or part, works may be submitted (max. 3 pieces)
Photo also acceptable (recommended)
*Space restrictions may dictate some space availability.
Email:
- Submissions or Queries -
** Place them in THE body of email please **
i.e. type them in as normal text
ATTACHMENTS MAY NOT BE OPENED
Finally, enter 'WHITE HOUSE POETS' in the email subject line
Addresses:
Email: bjslattery@eircom.net
or
Directly to: BJ Slattery,
78 Whitethorn Drive, Caherdavin Heights, Limerick
Authors may also notify availability of their work, for sale or otherwise, available in any form,
(including public library archives e.g. if currently out of print).
Copyright of individual work remains with the authors named.
Authors may have their profile details, or work displayed, updated or removed at their discretion.