Thursday, April 29, 2010

Theo Dorgan reads at 'Greece in Ireland'

As part of a co-operative effort of The Embassy of Greece Press & Communication Office, The Hellenic Community of Ireland & The Irish Hellenic Society, Dedalus Press poet Theo Dorgan read from his recently published poetry collection, Greek, to a capacity crowd at the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 2, on 29 April 2010, a day on which grim tidings from the financial world did not prevent Irish-based Greeks and the many non-Greek members of both societies from showing up in large numbers.

The evening was launched by Her Excellency Diana Zagorianou-Prifti, Greek Ambassador to Ireland, with introductions by Yiorgos Chouliaras, Press Counsellor of the Embassy of Greece. Music was provided by classical guitarist Yiannis Giagourtas. Greek translations of Dorgan's poems, by Socrates Kabouropoulos (who was unable to attend), were read by Dorgan's long-time friend, and Chair of the Irish Anti-War Movement, Michael Youlton.

Her Excellency Diana Zagorianou-Prifti, Greek Ambassador to Ireland
with Theo Dorgan

L to R: Michael Youlton, Theo Dorgan and Yiannis Giagourtas

 As previous image, with Yiorgos Chouliaras (standing)

***

Greek, by Theo Dorgan, is available at www.dedaluspress.com

All photographs © Pat Boran / Dedalus Press

Monday, April 26, 2010

Reviews of Gerard Smyth and Paul Perry

Excellent reviews of the new Gerard Smyth (The Fullness of Time: New and Selected Poems) and Paul Perry (The Last Falcon and Small Ordinance) books in The Sunday Business Post by that fine writer and great champion of Irish poetry and writing in general, Dermot Bolger.

On Gerard Smyth: "His work is distinguished by a deliberate unshowiness, a sense of every experience being tested in a language stripped and primed against any false note."
 On Paul Perry: "His is an imagination without borders, a probing and unsettling intelligence lightly worn, a poetry that is as sensual as it is playful, real and celebratory, surging forth and then tautly reined in. It is the work of a singular imagination."

Full reviews here

For further details on these two books, see www.dedaluspress.com.



Both books which will be launched, together with When God Has Been Called Away to Greater Things, by Grace Wells, on Tuesday 4th May, Damer Hall, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 at 7.00 pm. All welcome. In association with Poetry Ireland.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dedalus poets at Cúirt

With both Dedalus and Galway's Cúirt International Festival of Literature celebrating 25th anniversaries this year, it's perhaps no surprise to see a strong contingent of Dedalus poets, and books, on the festival programme. Hope to see some of you over the course of the five (sunny, say it now together, sunny) days!

WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL
 - 6.30 pm: Richard Tillinghast (with Fred A'Aguiar and Naomi Shihab Nye. Town Hall Theatre

THURSDAY 22 APRIL
5.00 pm: Launch by Philip King of Gerard Smyth's The Fullness of Time: New and Selected Poems. Oyster Bar, Meyrick Hotel
 - 6.15 pm. Enda Wyley and Enrique Juncosa. Cava Restaurant

FRIDAY 23 APRIL
- 1.00 pm: Pat Boran (with Rupert Thomson) reading from his memoir, The Invisible Prison: Scenes from an Irish Childhood. Town Hall Theatre
- 6.00 pm: A reading by Gerard Smyth (with John Burnside). Town Hall Theatre.


SAT 24 APRIL
- 11.30 am: Pat Boran joins Eileán Ní Chuilleanáin and Catrióna O'Reilly in A Poets' Colloquy: From Manuscript to Published Poem, (hopefully useful) advice on publishing individual poems and book-length manuscripts. Kenny's Bookshop, Liosbán, Tuam Road, Galway.
- 4.00 pm: Tom Mathews, reading as Special Guest at the Cúirt Poetry Slam. Róisín Dubh.
- 4.00 pm: Galway Launch of the Dedalus anthology, Landing Places: Immigrant Poets in Ireland, edited by Eva Bourke and Borbála Faragó.  Sheridans on the Docks; 

SUN 25 APRIL - 5.00 pm: Eva Bourke, reading with four other Galway-based poets as part of Cúirt's 25th anniversary celebrations. Town Hall Theatre.

There's also a conversation between that national treasure Philip King and the superb Josh Ritter on the Saturday afternoon at 2.00 pm in Druid Lane Theatre, though tickets may well be already sold out. Best to check at the Cúirt festival office here.