August and November 2023
from Coventry: Devjani Bodepudi and John Watson
from Cork: Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue
In August 2023 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Devjani Bodepudi and John Watson for two readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word as part of the twin cities exchange. Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.
August and November 2022
[L-R] Sujana Crawford, John Bernard, Dean Browne and Victoria Kennefick
with photos and reviews from Cork and Coventry poets
In August 2022 Ó Bhéal and Here Comes Everyone resumed our in-person twin cities exchange. Sujana Crawford and John Bernard were invited to Cork for readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word, along with a visit to the Lord Mayor’s chambers, while Dean Browne and Victoria Kennefick represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.
August 2021
Twin Skies (Ó Bhéal Press, 2021) celebrates 14 years of poetry interplay between the cities of Cork and Coventry. These 40 poets have each visited their respective twin city on at least one occasion to share their well-crafted words and experiences. Poets included in the anthology will read across two online events, at Ó Bhéal on the 9th August 2021 and at HCE in Coventry on the 19th August.
To obtain a physical copy (12 euros + postage) please email info@obheal.ie.
More information on the book can be found here
.August and November 2020
with photos and reviews from Cork and Coventry poets
Emilie Lauren Jones, Matt Black, Jim Crickard and Molly Twomey
In August 2020 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Emilie Lauren Jones and Matt Black via virtual means to Cork, for online readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word and a zoom visit to the Lord Mayor’s chambers. Jim Crickard and Molly Twomey represented Cork for a reciprocal visit, being sent (digitally) to Coventry for two readings in November. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.
A zoom interview of the Cork poets by Kate Hills of Hillz FM can be watched here.
A review of the 2020 exchange from our Coventry partners via HCE Magazine can be viewed here.
An interview with Molly Twomey by HCE Magazine can be viewed here.
with photos and reviews from
Benjamin Burns, Aysar Ghassan, Shaunna Lee Lynch and Raef Boylan.
In 2019 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Aysar Ghassan and Raef Boylan to Cork in August, while Cork poets Shaunna Lee Lynch and Benjamin Burns were sent (ceremoniously!) to Coventry, for two readings in November.
with photos and reviews from
Jane Commane, Peter Raynard, Michelle Delea and Ali Bracken.
In 2018 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Jane Commane and Peter Raynard to Cork, then Cork poets Michelle Delea and Ali Bracken made their way over to Coventry for the Peace festival. With thanks to St. Mary’s College, California we were able to assist Leanne O’Sullivan’s visit to San Francisco.
with photos and reviews from
Andrea Mbrushimana, Russ Berry, Ciarán MacArtain, Stanley Notte
and Kathy D’Arcy.
2017 marks Ó Bhéal’s first year taking part in two separate twin cities events. Kathy D’Arcy represented Cork in San Francisco for a cornicopia of events arranged by poet/professor Raina J. León from St.Mary’s College, California, whilst on this side of the Atlantic, Adam Steiner from Silhouette Press set up poets Andrea Mbarushimana and Russ Berry to visit Cork in July, with Leesiders Ciarán MacArtain and Stanley Notte reciprocating in Coventry during the Peace Festival in early November. This collective review includes photos taken by the participants, as well as by regular Ó Bhéal poet & photographer, Linda Ibbotson.
[L-R] Adam Steiner, Saleha Begum, Adam Wyeth, Kathy D’Arcy and Cal Doyle
Poetry Exchange
with photos and reviews from
Cork and Coventry poets
[L-R] Saleha Begum and Adam Steiner at Béal na Bláth
This year’s Cork-Coventry Twin Cities poetry exchange welcomed five new and talented voices. Representing Coventry were two exciting young poets: Adam Steiner and Saleha Begum, while Cork returned with three well-known local poets: Adam Wyeth; Kathy D’Arcy and Cal Doyle.
[L-R] Tom Wyre, Sarah James, Martin Brown, Julie Field and Rab Urquhart
Poetry Exchange
with photos and reviews from
Cork and Coventry poets
[L-R] Martin Brown, Sarah James and Tom Wyre at the Norman Keep near Cobh
Thanks to the City Councils of Cork and Coventry, the 2013 Cork-Coventry Poetry Twinning exchange saw five poets travel from their respective twin cities to share their work. Representing Coventry were Tom Wyre, Sarah James and Martin Brown, and for Cork, Julie Field and Rab Urquhart. The Coventry poets visited for three days in July and gave readings at Ó Bhéal and at the Whitehouse in Limerick. They visited Lord Mayor Cllr. Catherine Clancy at City Hall and made daily excursions to Spike Island, the Old Head of Kinsale, Blarney Castle, Lough Gur and Cobh, while during a reciprocal three-day visit the Cork contingency gave readings at Playwrights Café in Coventry, the King’s Head in Litchfield and at the Old Crown in Birmingham, visited Lord Mayor Cllr. Gary Crookes and were interviewed live on Hillz FM Radio.
[L-R] Janet Smith, Jayne Stanton, Conor McManus and Matthew Geden
Poetry Exchange
with photos and reviews from
Cork and Coventry poets
In 2012 the Twinning exchange was broadened yet again with four new participating poets, representing Coventry: Janet Smith and Jayne Stanton, and for Cork: Conor McManus and Matthew Geden. The Coventry poets visited for four days in August, giving readings at Ó Bhéal and the Whitehouse in Limerick, and were treated to excursions to Lough Gur, Cobh, Myrtleville and the English Market, while during a reciprocal four-day visit the Cork contingency gave readings at both Night Blue Fruit in Coventry and Tamworth, and appeared on HillzFM Radio. Both parties visited their respective host cities’ lord mayors.
[L-R] Malcolm Dewhirst, Afric McGlinchey, Colm Scully and Jennifer Matthews
Poetry Exchange
with photos and reviews from
Cork and Coventry poets
The successful annual exchange between Cork and Coventry has been taking great strides forward, with poet Malcolm Dewhirst performing at Ó Bhéal and Limerick’s Whitehouse in early August, including excursions in Cork city, Cobh and Lough Gur. Malcolm has been inspired to write a number of poems about his visit. The return trip during the first week of November featured three Cork poets, Jennifer Matthews, Colm Scully and Afric McGlinchey, who gave readings in Coventry and Polesworth, were taken along the Polesworth poetry trail and performed on HillzFM Radio – and a lot more …
Poetry Exchange
with photos and reviews from
Cork and Coventry poets
As the twinning relationship deepens between Cork and Coventry, so does the poetry. 2010 produced yet another eventful exchange with poets Barry Patterson and Anthony Owen performing at Ó Bhéal and the Whitehouse in Limerick last July. Aside from their excellent readings, the Coventrians were also treated to excursions to Cobh and Lough Gur. The return leg in November turned out to be the most exciting yet, with the four Cork-based poets being billed prominently for two separate events within the Month-long Coventry Peace Festival, marking 70 years since the blitz.
Poetry Exchange
with reviews, mp3s and poetry from
Cork and Coventry poets
This year’s Cork-Coventry twin-cities poetry exchange turned out to be far more exciting and fruitful than any of the participants had imagined …
[L-R] Jon Morley, Jen Matthews, Paul Casey, Tony Owen, Mike McKimm and Billy Ramsell at Cassidy’s
