Dublin born, and West Kerry raised, Simon Ó Faoláin is the winner of this year's Strong Award for his first poetry collection Anam Mhadra, Coiscéim 2008. Comhghairdeas, Simon!
Commiserations to Patrick Cotter, Ciaran Berry and Áine Moynihan who were all very worthy co-listees.
All four read at yesterday's Poetry Now Festival in Dun Laoghaire and it was a joy to listen to the variety in their work: some ponderous, some moving, all very well crafted. Pat Cotter - in a gorgeous red tie - stole the show, IMO, with his witty poems, his assured, relaxed delivery and his references to 'decadent enjambments' and other writerly concerns. All in all, it was an entertaining couple of hours of hot-off-the-presses poetry.
8 comments:
I don't know Patrick Cotter's work very well, but I love Aine Moynihan's collection. Wish I could have been there to see them all reading.
Aine read some v moving poems about her children. I particulalry liked one about a boat trip that went wrong, before her daughter Muireann was born.
Good to meet you there Nuala. I found it a very interesting reading indeed. On the basis of the reading alone, my vote split between Aine & Patrick. I really love Ciaran Berry's book - but his reading did him no favours? Been perusing Patrick's book further - it's stuffed with good work!
BTW, I was of course incorrect about him reading at the Heaney tribute the previous day (I was verseboggled!) None of Strong shortlist were involved in that - which is a pity actually, as it would be nice to have seen them in there with the 'heavies'.
Hi PJ
It was great to meet you again.
I'm not a fan of the declamatory style of reading that Ciaran B appears to have adopted. Also his poems are so long and dense they are perhaps better read and absorbed on the page?
Better thatn that, though, Pat got to go to the Heaney's house for tea and sticky buns along with all the poets! Now that would be fun!
Yum, Indeed!
There's a poem in that Nuala - tea and sticky buns for poets... ;)
Off you go, Babs. You can have it!!
:)
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