Tralee Launch of Anthology of Best of Munster Poetry This Evening

Poet, Eugene O’Connell reading at Waterstone’s Book Shop for the Cork launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland. John Reidy / www.mainevalleypost.com

At Waterstone’s Book Shop for the Cork launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland were: Evening Echo literary editor Des Breen (left) and John Reidy, photographer, Best Loved Poems. John Reidy / www.mainevalleypost.com

At Waterstone’s Book Shop for the Cork launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland were: John Reidy, photographer Best Loved Poems with poets: Leanne O’Sullivan, Eugene O’Connell and Gerry Murphy with Best Loved Poems editor and poet, Gabriel Fitzmaurice. John Reidy / www.mainevalleypost.com

Poet, Leanne O’Sullivan reading at Waterstone’s Book Shop for the Cork launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland. John Reidy / www.mainevalleypost.com

In Cork for the launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland were: Mary Feehan, Mercier Press; Gabriel Fitzmaurice, poet and Best Loved Poems editor; Michael Brennan, Currach Press, Best Loved Poems publishers and John Spillane, Mercier Press. Photograph: John Reidy www.mainevalleypost.com 24-11-2016

Gabriel Fitzmaurice, poet and editor Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland reading at Waterstone’s Book Shop for the Cork launch. John Reidy / www.mainevalleypost.com

Book editor, Gabriel Fitzmaurice and myself had a wonderful afternoon in Cork yesterday at the launch of Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland.

The book’s Cork launch was in Waterstone’s Bookshop on Patrick Street and we were treated to readings by Gabriel, and Cork poets, Leanne O’Sullivan and Eugene O’Connell.

This evening we’re in Tralee at O’Mahony’s Bookshop from 6-30pm.

Castleisland Readings

There will be readings and book signings and meeting people. A Castleisland date is being arranged for early December and the book is already in the shops here.

Best Loved Poems is an anthology that will delight the general reader as well as the poetry specialist.

Here you will find poems from the 9th century along with contemporary favourites, some translated from the original Irish, the rest written in English.

Passion of Munster

This book articulates the passions of Munster women and men and opens a window to the soul of Ireland. It sings of love and death, religion and spirituality, faith and doubt, of mothers, fathers and their children.

There are political poems, in particular ‘The Betrayal’ – a passionate account by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins of the failure of the Irish state that grew out of the struggle for independence in the period 1916-1921.

There is a large number of poems written by, and about, women – from the 9th century ‘The Old Woman Beare’ translated lovingly from the Irish by Brendan Kennelly. There’s Leanne O’Sullivan’s contemporary celebration of her grandmother’s life and death.

Cursing Poems

There are cursing poems, homages to the Irish language and to our native games of Gaelic football and hurling as well as poems of poverty and emigration.

Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland (ISBN: 9781782188902) is published by Currach Press and priced €24.99. The book is available in all good shops and can be ordered from www.currach.ie.

For more details please contact Ellen Monnelly on E: ellen@columba.ie T: 01 687 4096.

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