White House Poetry, 05th May 2010

What: Poetry reading with special guest Mary O'Donnell

When: Wednesday, 05th May 2010, from 9pm

Where: The White House pub, O'Connell Street, Limerick

This week at the White House for their popular Wednesday night poetry reading series, the special guest will be Mary O'Donnell. Her reading will be coupled with an open-mic session and, as ever, all comers are welcome to and will be encouraged to read, so if there's something you've been working on and you wish to try it out, bring it along. Admission to the event is free and complimentary finger food shall be provided by the proprietors.

Mary O’Donnell was born in Co Monaghan. Her poetry collections are Reading the Sunflowers in September (The Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare, Salmon, 1991), Spiderwoman’s Third Avenue Rhapsody (Salmon Poetry, 1993), both of these nominated for the Irish Times Literary Award for poetry, Unlegendary Heroes (Salmon Publishing, 1998), September Elegies (Belfast, Lapwing Publications, 2003), The Place of Miracles: New & Selected Poems (Dublin, New Island Books, 2006), and The Arc Builders (Todmorden, UK, Arc Publications, 2009).

Her story collections are Strong Pagans (Dublin, Poolebeg, 1991) and Storm Over Belfast (New Island Books, 2008) and her novels are The Light-Makers (Poolebeg, 1992), which was named The Sunday Tribune Best New Novel of 1992, Virgin and the Boy (Poolebeg, 1996), and The Elysium Testament (London, Trident Press, 1999).

Her awards include the William Aillingham Award, the Listowel Writers’ Week Award, a Hennessy Award and, of course, two nominations for the Irish Times Literary Award for poetry. She is a member of Aosdana, Ireland's most prestigious artistic honour.

White House Poetry, April 28th 2010

What: Poetry reading with special guest Kevin Higgins

When: Wednesday evening, April 28th 2010, from 9pm

Where: The White House pub, O'Connell Street, Limerick

At the White House this (Apr 28th, from 9.00pm) Wednesday Kevin Higgins will launch his new collection of poetry, his third, Frightening New Furniture, from Salmon Poetry. This will be coupled with an open-mic reading session to which all comers may and will be encouraged to contribute, so please bring something you've been working on. There will be complimentary finger food and wine reception courtesy of the proprietors, and of course admission is free as always.

Higgins' first collection, The Boy With No Face, was shortlisted for the 2006 Strong Award, and this was followed by Time Gentlemen, Please. With his wife Susan Millar DuMars he established and organises the very popular Over the Edge literary readings in Galway.

In 2006, Lapwinf Press in Belfast published a collections of his essays and reviews, Poetry, Politics and Dorothy Gone Horribly Astray. He is poetry critic for the Galway advertiser also.

White House Poetry, 21st Apr 2010

What: Poetry reading with special guest Marian O'Rourke

When: Wednesday evening, 21st April 2010, from 9pm

Where: The White House pub, O'Connell Street, Limerick

A very special book launch takes place at the White House this Wednesday evening (Apr 21st, from 9pm), with Limerick poet Marian O'Rourke celebrating the publication of her debut collection, Inhaling the Light, from Lapwing Press. The honour of launching the book goes to award-winning poet and Aosdana and Cuisle Committee member, Ciaran O'Driscoll. Admission is free and the proprietors will provide complimentary finger food and wine reception to mark the occassion.

The night will also include an open-mic session, broken into two parts around O'Rourke's reading, and for which all comers are encouraged to contribute something they've working on and feel like sharing. So please, bring something with you just in case the mood strikes you.

Marian O'Rourke has lived most of her life in Canada and the USA. She has been a flower designer, a piano teacher, an office administrator, a health food store owner, a fashion weaver and a street belly dancer. While her home is once again in Limerick, she divides her year between Ireland and the USA.

Her poems have been published in a variety of journals both in Ireland, England, and Canada. She has read her poetry on WBAI Radio (New York City), and Lyric FM, and has performed at poetry events in Ireland, England, Canada and The United States. Her short stories have been accepted by Sunday Miscellany. Her chapbook, Uprooted, was published by Horn Press in 2008. Inhaling the Light, published in 2009 is her first full poetry collection. Marian holds an M.A. (Hons.) in Creative Writing from The Waterford Institute of Technology.

Of course, copies of Inhaling the Light will be available for purchase on the night should you enjoy what you hear, which the poet will sign for you with personalised messages.

Hope to see you there for what should be a very special night of poetry and festivity!!

White House Poetry, 14th Apr 2010

What: Poetry reading with special guest reader Maggie O'Dwyer
When: Wednesday, 14th April 2010, 9.30pm
Where: The White House pub, O'Connell Street, Limerick

This week at the White House Poetry reading series we proudly welcome Maggie O'Dwyer as our guest of honour. She will give a reading of poems from debut and Strong Award shortlisted collection, Laughter Heard from the Road, published by Templar. The evening will also have an open-mic reading session, to which all comers will be encouraged to read and share something they've been working on.

Maggie O’Dwyer was born in Dublin in 1951. Since graduation from art college in 1974, her work has been exhibited widely and included in The Royal Hibernian Academy exhibitions. In 2000 she won a Scholarship to The Eastern Washington University Writing Workshop and was awarded a place in the Poetry Ireland Introduction Series in 2007.

As well as being shortlisted for the Strong Award, she has been shortlisted in the Féile Filiochta International Poetry Competition and the satirical category of the Strokestown Poetry Festival. She has also been a winner of Templar Poetry's Pamphlet and Collection Prizes, which led to publication of the volume Yes, I'd Love to Dance.

Her book, Laughter Heard from the Road, will, of course, be available to purchase on the night should you enjoy what you hear and want a little more, and these, naturally, the poet will sign with personalised messages for those interested.

Admission is, as ever, free, and the proprietors of the White House will provide complimentary finger food. See you there!!

White House Poetry, 07th Apr 2010

What: Poetry reading with special guest Fergus Costello

When: Wednesday, 07th April 2010, 9.30pm

Where: The White House pub, O'Connell Street, Limerick

This Wednesday (Apr 7th from 9.30pm) at the White House we welcome Fergus Costello, a combined poet, musician, comic, and storyteller for what will surely be another great evening of poetry. Fergus will treat us to a selection of the work that won him the title of Cuisle Limerick City International Poetry Festival Slam Champion for 2009/10.

The night will of course be complete with the usual open-mic session, and all comers will be encouraged to contribute something here, so if there's anything you've been working on and would like to share bring it along.

As per usual, admission to the event is free, made possible due to the continued support of the Arts Council of Ireland, and finger food will be provided with the compliments of the White House proprietor.

If you would like a taste or snippet of what Fergus Costello does, you can see clips of his performance at On The Nail a few months back on YouTube.

The night will of course by hosted as ever by the mercurial Barney Sheehan, and is sure to be a great event. Hope we'll see you there!!