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Monthly Hybrid Poetry Events: Live Streamed What: Poetry Films, Five Word Challenge, Guest Poets & Open-Mic When: 2nd Monday, Monthly @ 8.30pm (+ Poetry Films from 7pm) Where: Hayloft Bar (Long Valley Bar), Winthrop St, Cork (& online). Guest Poet & Open-Mic mp3s: Monday Event Archive Wordshops: Creative Writing at Ó Bhéal and Beyond … Ó Bhéal – a poem by Anamaría Crowe Serrano |
*** Ópen *** 12th Five Words Poetry Competition *** Ópen ***
Events are posted every 2 months. Click names for biographical details
@ Nano Nagle Place 12th Winter Warmer festival – 22nd-24th November
Ó Bhéal’s End of Year Event Martina Evans – 9th December
First Fortnight Festival Jeanann Verlee & Lauren McNamara – 13th January
Events are held in the Hayloft Bar, upstairs at the Long Valley, Winthrop st,as well as on Zoom and streamed via obheal.ie/live (more details via the links above)
Poetry Films start from 7.00pm (45mins – Not Streamed). Five Word challenge starts at 8.30pm.
Guest poets begin at around 9.20/9.30pm, Open-Mic session from 10.30pm.
The 12th Ó Bhéal Poetry-Film Comp shortlist
… will be screened on Sunday 24th Nov at the
12th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival.
A special Irish Selection will be screened on Sat 23rd Nov.All Screenings are free to view ONLINE. Best of luck to all the filmmakers!
698 Responses to “Poetry Readings & Open-Mic Nights”
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Open-mic night – 20th February 2012
Thanks to Jill Battson for reading at Ó Bhéal during her European sojourn, and for a most entertaining reading. You can listen to Jill’s performance here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Joe Sweeney, Alan Ó Caochlaoich, Cal Doyle, Aidan O’Shea, Richard O’Toole, Mary O’Connell, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, David Hynes, Martin Daly, Ed Johnson, Rosie O’Regan, Ciarán MacÁrtain and Rab Urquhart.
David Hynes was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Well done David!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
02/26/12; 3:54 pm
Open-mic night – 13th February 2012
Many thanks to Cork poet Jimmy Cummins for his riveting performance, his unique work was tremendously enjoyed by all. You can listen to the reading here.
Thanks to Eimear Conboye for her excellent début as emcee (a natural) and we hope to see more of her in the driving seat in the future … and to all on the open-mic, Kevin Griffin, Sinéad Ryan, Aidan O’Shea, Billy Ramsell, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Alan Ó Caochlaoich, Mark O’Leary, Anne-Marie Grandfield and Ciarán MacArtain.
Cal Doyle won this week’s McNamara Slam. Nice one Cal!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
02/19/12; 7:41 pm
Open-mic night – 6th February 2012
Thanks to Cork’s own Liz O’Donoghue for a fine and entertaining reading from a wide selection of her work, much enjoyed by all. You can listen to Liz’s reading here.
Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for steering the evening in style, and to all on the open-mic, Ciarán macArtain, Aidan O’Shea, Cal Doyle, Sinéad Ryan, Mary O’Connell, John Bracken, Andy Galevky, Patricia Walsh and Rab Urquhart.
Micheál Roche took the Five Word Challenge title this week – Good job!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
02/12/12; 10:45 am
Open-mic night – 30th January 2012
Many thanks to Adam Wyeth for his most enjoyable reading. There was a great turnout for him, and well deserved too. You can listen to Adam’s reading here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for being emcee, and to all on the open-mic, Donna Coogan, Andy Galevly, Seamus Harrington, Julie Field, Patricia Walsh, Colm Scully, Mary O’Connell, Michael Ray, Michael O’Callaghan, Aidan O’Shea, Paul O’Mahony, Joni Takanikos, Rab Urquhart and Conor Mcmanus.
The Five Word Callenge was a tie between Michael O’Callaghan and Tina Pisco. Well done!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
02/5/12; 5:08 pm
Open-mic night – 23rd January 2012
A big thanks to Louis de Paor for venturing down from Galway and for his excellent reading, tremendously enjoyed by all (as expected!). You can listen to Louis’ reading here.
Thanks to Julie Field for excellent emceeing and to all on the open-mic, Aidan O’Shea, Rab Urquhart, Michael O’Callaghan, Daw Harding, Simon Deasy, Patricia Walsh, Sinéad Ryan, Annemarie Grandfield, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Michael O’Donnell and Patrick Duke.
Joan Dargan won this week’s Five Word Challenge … well done Joan!
The open mic mp3 is here.
01/29/12; 2:05 pm
Open-mic night – 16th January 2012
A warm thanks to Daw Harding for his brilliant reading from ‘My Stolen City’, his debut collection, giving insights into Cork that had the full house of poets and punters agape, in tears and in stitches. You can listen to Daw’s reading here.
Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his excellent-as-ever compèreing and to all on the open-mic, Niall Herriott, Aidan O’Shea, Louis Mulcahy, Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, Seamus Harrington, Tina Pisco, Alma Kelly, Rab Urquhart, Ciarán MacÁrtain and Michael O’Callaghan.
Michael O’Callaghan won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well done!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
01/22/12; 6:55 pm
Open-mic night – 9th January 2012
An excellent turnout and start to the new year, with the Hayloft packed out for Helena Nolan’s reading. Five Star poetry from the Kavanagh award-winner, whose collection we are eagerly awaiting. You can listen to Helena’s reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Alan Ó Caoch Laoich, Joe Sweeney, Aidan O’Shea, Niall Herriott, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Ciarán MacArtain, Daw Harding, Cathal Holden and Conor McManus.
Ciarán MacArtain won this week’s McNamara Slam – Well Done!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
01/15/12; 3:19 pm
Open-mic night – 12th December 2011
Among the very best of Ó Bhéal nights – we were treated to over an hour of exceptional entertainment, in alternation, from poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and multi-talented traditional musician John Sampson. A warm thank you to both artists for highlighting the 2011 reading series. The hayloft brimmed and buzzed till closing with a top-rate open-mic. Eighteen Five-Word challengers tied the Ó Bhéal record for the most poems written in fifteen minutes.
Thanks to all the open-mic contributors, Colm Scully, Joe Sweeney, Tom McCarthy, Niall Herriott, Jennifer Matthews, Mary O’Connell, Patrick Cotter, Rosalyn Blue, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Simon Deasy, Tina Pisco, Julie Field, Ciarán MacArtain, Rosie O’Regan, Sue Cosgrave, Sinéad Ryan and Daw Harding.
Jen Matthews took the ultimate McNamara Slam of 2011. Well done Jen!
The open-mic is viewable in a series of videos right here …
… or via the usual mp3 version here.
12/22/11; 3:17 pm
Open-mic night – 5th December 2011
A big thanks to Doireann Ní Ghríofa for her excellent verse, a beautiful bi-lingual reading thoroughly enjoyed by a full house. You can listen to Doireann’s reading here.
Thanks also to Julie Field for her fun emceeing, and to all on the open-mic, Joe Sweeney, Tina Pisco and Manuel Arana (Manolo), Jean Curtayne, John Bracken, Patricia Walsh, Sinéad Ryan, Anne-Marie Grandfield, Conor Cleary, Thom Barrett, Simon Deasy, Michael O’Callaghan and Rab Urquhart.
Conor Cleary was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Sláinte Conor!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
12/11/11; 10:09 pm
Open-mic night – 28th November 2011
Thank you to Kerry Hardie for a fabulous reading, a sonorous mélange of both new and less recent verse, which had the crowd ooh-ing and aah-ing in harmony. Just superb! You can listen to Kerry’s reading here.
Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his eloquent compère work, and to all on the open-mic, Patricia Walsh, Cathal Holden, Cal Doyle, Michael Ray, Julie Field, Micheál Roche, Mary O’Connell, Michael O’Sullivan, John Bracken, Jean Curtayne, Seamus Harrington, Daw Harding and Ciarán MacArtain.
Amidst the open-mic session, John Bracken recited a ballad called ‘Ó Bhéal Poetry Sessions’, which you can listen to here.
Joe Sweeney ran away with the Five Word Challenge prize, for the second week in a row. Well done Joe!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
12/4/11; 1:32 pm
Open-mic night – 21st November 2011
Thanks to Tina Pisco for a gorgeous performance of her poetry, all to the harp of the talented Anja Bakker. An absolute treat -which you can listen to right here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Michael O’Callaghan, Billy Ramsell, Mairéad O’Donoghue, Grant March, Sue Cosgrave, Sinéad Ryan, Simon Deasy, Ciarán MacArtain, Patricia Walsh, Miriam Wainwright, Tadge O’Mullane and Rab Urquhart.
Joe Sweeney was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Sláinte Joe!
The open-mic is here.
11/27/11; 2:54 pm
Open-mic night – 14th November 2011
A big thanks to Galway’s Stephen Murray for a most engaging reading – a charged evening of well-crafted, entertaining and humorous to heavier verse was enjoyed by a well-packed Hayloft. You can listen to Stephen’s reading here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her professional compèring and to all on the open-mic, Mairéad O’Donoghue, Mary O’Connell, John Bracken, Julie Field, Patricia Walsh, Afric McGlinchey, Ciarán MacArtain, Simon Deasy, Terry Dinneen and Rab Urquhart.
Afric McGlinchey and Paul Casey both took the Five Word Challenge in a double-decimal tie. Great fun!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
11/21/11; 12:17 pm
Open-mic night – 7th November 2011
Our second poetry-film night was a great success, as anticipated. Sixteen excellent films were screened in the Hayloft on the first night of the Cork Film Festival. The list follows, most of which are searchable online:
Advertising Space – Robert Montgomery
Ar Eití – le Gearóid Mac Lochlainn
Baptism of Solitude – tribute to Paul Bowles
Blokes – Mat Lloyd
Carnivore Reflux – Eddie White
KHD BLACK POEM – Niko Tziopanos
Start – Deborah pope
Summer haiku – Leonard Cohen
Television is a drug – Todd Alcott
The Art of Drowning – Billy Collins
The Haunted Palace – Edgar Allen Poe
The Old Fools – Philip Larkin
Time for Greatness – Ainsley Burrrows
Time for Greatness – Journey to Guinness
Walking Poem – Richard Grunn
Typography – Taylor Mali
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Sue Cosgrave, Cal Doyle, Seamus Harrington, Richard Mantree, Patricia Walsh, Grant March, Ciarán MacArtain, Simon Deasy and Rab Urquhart.
Lorcan Murray was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Good job!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
11/14/11; 12:06 pm
Open-mic night – 31st October 2011
There goes one of our best nights! A fantastic mix of poets from Salmon thrilled the audience to no end. A phenomenal variety of voices and excellent quality verse throughout. Thanks to Jessie Lendennie and all the Salmon poets for a night that won’t be forgotten. You can listen to the entire reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Donna Coogan, Micheál O’Coinn, Simon Deasy, Faye Boland, Seamus Harrington, Fabian Sweeney, Joe Healy, Louis Mulcahy and Rab Urquhart.
Afric McGlinchey was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Good job Afric!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
11/7/11; 12:04 pm
Open-mic night – 24th October 2011
A magical jazz-poetry night with the K.F.C. Trio improvising to two open-mic rounds of poetry … just brilliant from start to finish! Thanks to Deirdre Frost, Phillip Collins, Stephen Kelly and special guest Ken Marshall on sax for excellent improvisation and for working so well with each poem.
Thanks to the poets, whose all did a great job jivin to the jazz, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Micheál Roche, Tina Pisco, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Sue Cosgrave, Simon Deasy, Ciarán MacArtain, John Bracken, Julie Field, Richard Keane and Grant March.
You can listen to Round 1 here and Round 2 here.
Tina Pisco was on fire all round this week, with song, verse, … and is the winner of this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well Done Tina!
10/30/11; 11:31 am
Open-mic night – 17th October 2011
A big thanks to Seán Hutton for an excellent bi-lingual session in the Hayloft. You can listen to Seán’s reading here.
Thanks to Julie Field for her professional and fun compèring and to all on the open-mic, Noel King, Louis Mulcahy, Daw Harding, Colm Scully, Fabian Sweeney, Patricia Walsh, Jo Collins, Rab Urquhart, Ciarán MacArtain, Simon Deasy and Alma Kelly.
Congratulations goes to Colm Scully, winner of the Five Word Challenge.
The open-mic mp3 is here.
10/23/11; 7:28 pm
Open-mic night – 10th October 2011
A Big Cheers to Tom Conaty for ambling down from Dublin to give a most enjoyable reading, to a well-attended venue and a full house of Five Word Challenge entrants. You can listen to Tom’s reading right here.
Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for fabulous emceeing and to all the open-mic contributors, Noel O’Callaghan, Niall Herriott, Mary O’Connell, Cal Doyle, Julie Field, Fabian Sweeney, Simon Deasy, Ciarán MacArtain, John Bracken, Brian O’Donoghue and Daw Harding.
Michael O’Callaghan has once again won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Good job Michael!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
10/17/11; 4:14 pm
Open-mic night – 3rd October 2011
Thanks to Shirley McClure for venturing down from Dublin to share a lovely selection of her verse, to a very pleased audience and well-attended event. You can listen to Shirley’s reading here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her excellent emcee work, and to those on the open-mic, Noel O’Callaghan, Tina Pisco, Niamh Prior, Mary O’Connell, Conor O’Hagan, Patricia Walsh, Simon Deasy, Ciarán MacArtain and Alma Kelly.
Afric McGlinchey was this week’s McNamara Slam Winner – Well Done Afric!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
10/10/11; 11:45 am
Open-mic night – 26th September 2011
A packed night of poetry in the Hayloft saw Fergus Costello re-crowned as Munster Slam Champion with Mary O’Connell as Runner-Up, amid stiff competition from twelve other Munster performance poets – Tina Pisco, Rosalyn Blue, Colm Scully, Roy Hayler, Conor McManus, Rab Urquhart, Aaron Lewis, Rosie O’Regan, Matthew Sweeney, Julie Field, Lady Grew and Simon Deasy. Fergus and Mary will be up against the other provincial champs this November the 23rd, for the 2011 All-Ireland Slam Championships at Sandino’s Bar in Derry. You can listen to the final six contestants from round two right here.
A special thanks to the judges for carrying the delicate task with professionalism and careful consideration to a fair and welcome outcome – Adam Wyeth, Sarah Clancy and Claire Lamb.
A big thanks to the fabulous guest poet Sarah Clancy for coming down from Galway to deliver a riveting performance. You can listen to Sarah’s reading here.
Thanks also to all on the open-mic, Billy Ramsell, Claire-Ann Treacy, Tom McCarthy, Niall Herriott, Michael Ray, Claire Lamb, Patricia Walsh, Pat Cotter, Sun Wei, Gerry Murphy and Alan Titley.
There was no Five Word Challenge due to the Slam Championships.
You can listen to the open-mic mp3 here.
10/3/11; 1:45 pm
Open-mic night – 23rd September 2011
Thanks to John Carmody for coming down from Limerick to give an electric performance to a full-house of Culture Night punters. You can listen to John’s reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Sue Cosgrave, Mary O’Connell, Solène Vermont, Conor McManus, Rosie O’Regan, Michael O’Callaghan, Linda Cashman and Ciarán MacArtain.
Guest John Carmody was the Five Word Challenge winner … well done John!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
09/25/11; 9:25 pm
Open-mic night – 19th September 2011
Thank you to Rab Urquhart for an exciting auto-biographical performance of his poetry, which was enjoyed immensely by a full house. You can listen to Rab’s performance here.
Thanks to Julie Field for compèring in style and to all on the very full open-mic, Cal Doyle, Lothar Luken, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Sue Cosgrave, Mary O’Connell, Paddy Doyle, Patricia Walsh, Noel O’Callaghan, Sun Wei, pc, Rachel O’Sullivan, Tom McCarthy, Simon Deasy and Conor McManus.
Michael O’Callaghan won this week’s McNamara Slam Challenge. Nice one Michael!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
09/25/11; 8:33 pm
Open-mic night – 12th September 2011
An excellent tri-lingual evening with Rody Gorman reading from his recent collections, most particularly from Beartan Briste his enigmatic collection of ‘inter-toungings’. A big thanks to Rody for coming over from the Isle of Skye, to treat us to no less than a fabulous night. You can listen to Rody’s reading, with introduction and translations by Alan Titley, here.
Thanks to Billy Ramsell for his as ever brilliant emceeing, and to all on the very full open-mic, Bernadette McIntyre, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Madeleine D’Arcy, Julie Field, Sue Cosgrave, Patricia Walsh, Mairead O’Donoghue, Conn O’Sullivan, Noel O’Callaghan, Jo Collins, Simon Deasy, Brian O’Donoghue, Aaron Lewis, Tadge O’Mullane, Jean Curtayne and Alan Titley.
The Five Word Challenge went to Mark Killen this week. Nice one Mark!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
09/16/11; 2:13 pm
Open-mic night – 5th September 2011
Thank you to Geraldine Mitchell for coming down from West County Mayo to read her fabulous poetry. Again the Autumn audiences are filling the venue nicely now, and Geraldine was treated to an attentive, full-house. You can listen to Geraldine’s reading here.
Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his great emcee-work and to all the open-mic contributors, Michael Ray, Sue Cosgrave, Mary O’Connell, Patricia Walsh, Noel O’Callaghan, Seán Kelly, Simon Deasy, Conor McManus, Tadge O’Mullane and Jean Curtayne.
Simon Deasy won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Good Job Simon!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
09/11/11; 6:18 pm
Open-mic night – 29th August 2011
Thanks to Mary Melvin Geoghegan for driving down from Longford to give a fine reading to a full audience (the autumn crowds are taking hold). You can listen to Mary’s excellent reading here.
Thanks also to Jennifer Matthews for compèring and to those on the open-mic, Noel O’Callaghan, Tina Pisco, Julie Field, Sue Cosgrave, Cal Doyle, Patricia Walsh, Tadge O’Mullane, Simon Deasy and pc.
This week’s Five Word Challenge winner was Ruadhan Lawlor. Congrats!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
09/5/11; 12:23 pm
Open-mic night – 26th August 2011
A huge thank you to Leslie Ryan of the National Crafts Council for inviting us to present Ó Bhéal’s first full event outside of Cork, which turned out even better than imagined, with an excellent, engaged audience filling the National Craft Gallery (opposite Kilkenny Castle). The art currently on exhibit has all been created in response to a number of contemporary poets’ works, including Leanne O’Sullivan and Gerry Smyth, and Grace Wells’ (Thank you Grace) very fine reading was composed entirely of new verse, inspired – in turn – from these artworks. You can listen to Grace’s reading here.
Thanks also to those who braved the open-mic, Eimear Conboye, Michael Ray, Darren, Gerry Moran, Afric McGlinchey and Leslie Ryan.
Gerry Moran won the Five Word Challenge. Congrats Gerry!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
08/28/11; 9:24 pm
Open-mic night – 22nd August 2011
Thanks to Maeve O’Sullivan for an excellent reading. The Autumn audiences are beginning to come in now, and Maeve had a fine turnout to enjoy her well-crafted verse. You can listen to Maeve’s reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Cal, Mary O’Connell, Julie Field, Sinéad Ryan, Patricia Walsh, Anne-Marie Grandfield, Debs Hegarty, Ciarán MacArtain, Jo Collins, Simon Deasy and Tadge O’Mullane.
Julie Field was this week’s McNamara Slam winner. Nice one Julie!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
08/28/11; 9:13 pm
Open-mic night – 15th August 2011
A big thanks goes to Aidan Heyes for coming down from Donegal to read. Thanks also to Sue Cosgrave for emceeing and running the evening. You can listen to Aidan’s reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Patricia Walsh, Marion Bennett, Ciarán MacArtain, Oliver Barrett, Michael O’Sullivan, Debs Hegarty, Simon Deasy and Tadge O’Mullane.
Oliver Barrett won this week’s McNamara Slam. Good Job!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
08/24/11; 7:56 pm
Open-mic night – 8th August 2011
A big thanks to the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Terry Shannon for attending the twinning event with great enthusiasm and involvement. Based on audience response, the Lord Mayor won the Five Word Challenge, amid tough competition too. You can listen to The Right Honourable Lord Mayor’s address here.
A great evening with Coventry poet Malcolm Dewhirst, who gave an excellent reading to a full house. While Jon Morley unfortnately couldn’t make it due to a last-minute emergency, that didn’t stop Malcolm from delighting the audience with his poems and rich themes of place and history. You can listen to Malcolm’s reading here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Sue Cosgrave, Laura Dunne, Tom McCarthy, Jo Collins, Rab Urquhart, Julie Field, Mary Brennan, Patricia Walsh, Lady Grew, Afric McGlinchey and Simon Deasy.
The open-mic mp3 is here.
08/10/11; 11:20 am
Open-mic night – 1st August 2011
Thanks to Michael McCarthy who came from Yorkshire to give a fascinating reading, from both of his award-winning collections. You can listen to Michael’s reading here.
Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for fine compèring and to the few on this week’s Bank Holiday open-mic, Colm Scully, Mary O’Connell, Richard Keane, Simon Deasy and pc.
The winner of this week’s Five-Word Challenge was Nora Neville. Congratulations!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
08/7/11; 1:19 pm
Open-mic night – 25th July 2011
Thanks to Pádraig Ó Laighin for a most entertaining reading as gaeilge, and to Julie Field for her excellent compèring. You can listen to Pádraig’s reading here.
And to those who contributed to our unusually intimate open-mic, Patricia Walsh, Vanessa, pc and Simon Deasy, thank you.
Bernadette McCarthy won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Good job!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
07/31/11; 4:09 pm
Open-mic night – 18th July 2011
Thank to Paul Maddern for coming all the way from Belfast to read his poems, including many moving images of his birthplace, Bermuda. There was a good turnout and response to Paul’s reading, which you can listen to here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for great compèring, and to those on the open-mic, Conor McManus, Eimear Conboye, Mary O’Connell, Julie Field, Richard Keane, Jo Collins, Patricia Walsh, pc, Rab and Alan Titley.
Newcomer Stephen won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Well done!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
07/24/11; 9:52 am
Open-mic night – 11th July 2011
Another fabulous night with a packed out audience for Ailbhe Darcy, with punters coming from Limerick, Kerry and around Co.Cork. After an intensive workshop which was booked up days before, Aibhe’s reading had all present abuzz after an eighteen-contender-strong Five-Word Challenge and ended with a very full open-mic. You can listen to Albhe’s brilliant reading right here.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Rab Urquhart, Jennifer Matthews, Louis Mulcahy, Noel King, Andrew Lane, Michael Ray, Marie Coveney, Billy Ramsell, Niamh Prior, Afric McGlinchey, Mary O’Connell, Julie Field, Joe Healy, Sinéad Ryan, Michael Ko and Conor McManus.
This week’s Five Word Challenge winner was Jamie O’Connell on his first public attempt at a poem. Well done Jamie!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
07/18/11; 12:29 pm
Open-mic night – 4th July 2011
Thanks to the Galway poets who made it down to read. An excellent variety of well-crafted verse from (our own) Bríd Buckley, David Doherty, Davnet Heery and Trevor Conway. You can listen to them all reading here.
An excellent turn out, while the open-mic was a lot shorter than usual. Thanks to Jen Matthews for compèring and to the open-mic contributors, Alan Foley, Davnet Heery, Patricia Walsh, pc and Alan Titley.
Joe Sweeney was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Well done Joe!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
07/11/11; 10:51 am
Open-mic night – 27th June 2011
A fabulous night of Italian poetry packed the house nearly to the limit with punters from near and afar. Thanks to Luca Artioli, Andrea Garbin, Fabio Barcellandi and Dave Lordan for stopping in Cork on their tour. You can listen to the readings here.
Thanks also to Stephen O’Riordan for emceeing and to all on the open-mic, Julie Field, Mary O’Connell, Seán Kelly, Patricia Walsh, Michael Flynn, Sinéad Ryan, Jo Collins, Billy Ramsell, Gerry Murphy, Graham Allen, Michael Ray, Afric McGlinchey, Alan Titley, Aaron Lewis and Eimear Conboye.
Rosie O’Regan won this week’s Five Word Challenge. Lovely!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
07/4/11; 1:05 pm
Open-mic night – 20th June 2011
A big thanks to MC Mupéad agus Jimmy ‘The Hideous’ Penguin for coming down from Galway to share their unique rap as gaeilge agus ceol mix. We should have a video up of that fairly soon. In the meanwhile you can listen to their performance here.
Thanks to Julie Field for excellent emceeing, and to those on the open-mic, Rosalin Blue, Patricia Walsh, Jo Collins, Sebi.C, Alan Titley and Conor McManus.
Bernadette McCarthy was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner – Well Done!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
06/27/11; 12:42 pm
Open-mic night – 13th June 2011
Thanks to Jennifer Militello for a fabulous reading on Monday. She was very well received and appreciated by a full house. You can listen to Jennifer’s reading here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her humoured compèring and to all on the open-mic, John Gibson, Colm Scully, Jennifer Matthews, Michael Ray, Marie Coveney, Rab Urquhart, Seamus Harrington, John Keohane, Jo Collins, Billy Ramsell, Julie Field and Grant Burgess.
Grant Burgess was our Five-Word winner amid fierce competition. Well done Grant and hurry back from Oregon!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
06/20/11; 1:43 pm
Open-mic night – 6th June 2011
Thanks to Robyn Rowland and Lynn Saoirse for a memorable evening of poetry and harp interwoven. Harpstrings and Words, trees and birds. You can listen to the performance here.
Thanks to Rosie O’Regan for her fun emceeing, and to all on the open-mic, Eimear Conboye, Mary O’Connell, Patricia Walsh, Conor McManus, Grant Burgess, Gerry Murphy and Adam Wyeth.
Eimear Conboye was this weeks Five Word Challenge winner. Well done Eimear!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
06/13/11; 12:59 pm
Open-mic night – 30th May 2011
A truly enchanting evening which had the reaction levels through the roof and peaking out the sound recordings, Siobhan MacMahon and Sabrina Piggott gave a spellbinding performance. I hope to see more of them on the Irish circuit … bardic, evocative and ringing with the lyrical. You can listen to their performance here.
Thanks to guest emcee Grant Burgess for excellent handling of the evening and to those on the open-mic, Eimear Conboye, Tina Pisco, Tadge O’Mullane, Micheál Roche, Mary O’Connell, Anne-Marie Grandfield, Niall Herriott, Annette Skade, Patricia Walsh, Conor McManus, pc and Sinéad Ryan (yes the original one and only!)
Niall Herriott was this week’s Macnamara Slam Winner – Well done to Niall!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
06/5/11; 11:28 pm
Open-mic night – 23rd May 2011
Thanks to Richard Halperin for visiting from Paris to read from his excellent work and for a top quality reading on Monday, very well received by a strong Cork turnout. You can listen to Richard’s reading here.
Thanks to Jennifer Matthews for her bubbles and delicate touch as compère, and to all on the open-mic, Grant March, Sue Cosgrave, Julie Field, Joe Sweeney, Finbarr Finnegan, Daw Harding, Kellan Head, Patricia Walsh, Micheál Roche, John Gibson and Grant ‘Big Bang’ Burgess, who’ll be emceeing next week before heading back to Portland.
Micheál Roche won this week’s 5 Word Challenge. Good Job!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
05/29/11; 6:47 pm
Open-mic night – 16th May 2011
Thanks to Cork poet Kathy D’Arcy for a lovely reading, and well received by a strong home-grown audience. You can listen to Kathy’s reading here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for excellent compèring, and to all on the open-mic, Tom Moloney,Tina Pisco, Mary O’Connell, Mike Gallagher, Patricia Walsh, Annette Skade, Jennifer Matthews, Julie Field, Miceál dé Róiste, Daw Harding, Tadge O’Mullane and Conor McManus.
Limerick’s Tom Moloney was the winner of this week’s Five Word Challenge. Nice job Tom!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
05/23/11; 2:07 pm
Open-mic night – 9th May 2011
Thanks to Michael Farry for making it down from the Boyne Valley to deliver a most pleasant reading. Thanks also to Stephen O’Riordan for emceeing. The faeries robbed the audio again.
Thanks to all on the open-mic, Eimear Conboye, Conor McManus, Eileen O’Toole, Cliff Wedgbury, Stanley Notte, David Walton, Patricia Walsh, Finbarr Finnegan, Micheál Dé Róiste and Grant Burgess.
Micheál Dé Róiste won this week’s McNamara Slam Challenge, good job!
NOTE** Renegade Faerie Detection Equipment required Urgently – Please enquire within.
05/16/11; 10:27 am
Open-mic night – 2nd May 2011
A very wet bank holiday Monday would not deter a fine crowd from leaving the woodwork, to see Anne-Marie Fyfe read her enchanting verse. A very warm thanks to Anne-Marie for detouring down to Cork to read, a day before driving up to Antrim to manage the John Hewitt Spring Festival. Her most excellent workshop inspired much enthusiasm from a number of local poets. You can listen to Anne-Marie’s reading here.
Thanks to Jen Matthews for her well-humoured emcee-work, and to all on the open-mic, Jack Brae Curtingstall, Annette Skade, Seamus Harrington, Sue Cosgrave, Marie Coveney, Grant Burgess, Patricia Walsh, Colm Scully, Eimear Conboye, Afric McGlinchey, Micheál Roche, Finbarr Finnegan, pc, Daw Harding and Mary Brennan.
Joe Sweeney captured the Five-Word Challenge title for the second week in a row. Well done Joe!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
05/8/11; 10:16 am
Open-mic night – 25th April 2011
A hearty thanks to Rita Kelly for winding her way to Cork this Monday. Despite the bank holiday a lively crowd filled the Hayloft and were well rewarded with an excellent reading by Rita, which you can listen to right here.
Thanks to Julie Field on her debut as bilingual emcee, for carrying the evening with care and humour, and to all on the open-mic, Finbarr Finnegan, Mary O’Connell, Micheál dé Róiste, Grant Burgess, Patricia Walsh agus Gearóid Óg Ó Murchú II.
Joe Sweeney was this week’s recipient of the prestigious Five Word Challenge Prize. Well done Joe!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
05/1/11; 12:48 pm
Open-mic night – 18th April 2011
Many thanks to Pat Borthwick for venturing over from York, and for her first class reading and workshop. Pat was a huge hit here and we wish her all success for the future. You can listen to her reading here.
Thanks to debut guest emcee Grant Burgess for steering an even night with much humour and grace, and to all on the open-mic, Tina Pisco, Stanley Notte, Sue Cosgrave, Seamus Harrington, Marie Coveney, Billy Ramsell, Niamh Prior, Patricia Walsh, Michael Ray, Micheál Roche, Ciarán MacArtain, Afric McGlinchey, pc and Conor McManus.
Niamh Prior is this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Well done Niamh.
The open-mic mp3 is here.
04/25/11; 4:59 pm
Open-mic night – 11th April 2011
Well seemingly the anniversary gig is quickly becoming our most popular night of the year. An absolutely quality-packed evening was held to commemorate 200 nights and Five Words Volume IV. The latest volume was launched with the inimitable Billy Ramsell as compère.
Contributors to the publication read from entries other than their own. Jennifer Matthews read Afric McGlinchey, Colm Scully read Patricia Walsh and Joe Sweeney, Rosie O’Regan read John W. Sexton, Niamh Prior read Tina Pisco, Marie Coveney read Helen Lindstrom, Paul Casey read Stephen O’Riordáin and Micheál de Róiste, Patricia Walsh read Rosie O’Regan, Matt Mooney read Niamh Prior, Afric McGlinchey read Joe Sweeney, Joe Sweeney read Colm Scully, Michael Ray read Paul Casey, Tina Pisco read Noel King, Sue Cosgrave read Michael Pattwell, Michael Roche read Finbarr Finnegan, Rosaleen Blue read Marie Coveney, Grant Burgess read Jennifer Matthews and Stanley Notte read Julie Field.
You can listen to all those on podcast right here.
And to continue with our Ramsellian theme of Only Other Poets’ Poetry night for our birthday, were the following contributions:
Tina Pisco – Her Kind (Anne Sexton) & For my Mom (Sasha Pisco)
Colm Scully – Toads Revisited (Philip Larkin)
Joe Sweeney – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Robert Frost) & Nod (Walter de la Mare)
Rosalin Blue – The Man He Killed (Thomas Hardy)
Deirdre O’Connell – Untitled (Brandon deShazer)
Matt Mooney – The Trees (Philip Larkin) & Gathering Mushrooms (Noel Monaghan)
Paul Casey – Údar (Seán Ó Ríordáin) & Ó Bhéal (Anamaría Crowe-Serrano)
Jo Collins – My Job is Gone (Pat Ingoldsby)
Marie Coveney – What the Horses See at Night (Robin Robertson)
Niamh Prior – Unfortunate Coincidence (Dorothy Parker)
Patricia Walsh – Twat (John Cooper Clarke)
Sue Cosgrave – A Puppy Called Puberty (Adrian Mitchell)
Afric McGlinchey – Hanging Fire (Audre Lourde) & Classic Ballroom Dances (Charles Simic)
Daw Harding – Scarecrow (John Liddy) & The Connoisseur (Billy Ramsell)
Grant March – Pretty (Katie MacKay)
Michael Ray – To the Whore who took my Poems (Charles Bukowski)
Grant Burgess – Aeroplane Over the Sea (a song by Jeff Mangum and Neutral Milk Hotel)
Micheál de Róiste – Meitheal Nua (Niall Herriott)
Seamus Harrington – Wedding the Locksmith’s Daughter (Robin Robertson)
Rab Urquhart – The Point of Balance (Mencius) & My Father was a Farmer (Robert Burns)
You can listen to all those here.
Bernadette McCarthy won this week’s Five Word Challenge and also won a fine bottle of bubbly donated by Daw Harding. Well done Bernadette!
(Bernadette’s poem has already been submitted for Five Words Vol V)
Thanks to all for a fantastic night. Sláinte!
04/17/11; 5:34 pm
Open-mic night – 4th April 2011
A very warm thank you to poet-linguist Mary Madec for coming down from Galway, and for her excellent reading which you can listen to here.
Thanks to Jennifer Matthews for steering the evening with gusto and to all on the open-mic, Jo Collins, Julie Field, Micheál Roche, Stanley Notte, Patricia Walsh, Afric McGlinchey, Terry Dineen and Grant Burgess.
Michael Ray was this week’s Five Word Challenge winner. Well done Michael!
The open-mic is here.
04/10/11; 1:04 pm
Open-mic night – 28th March 2011
Thanks to Philip Cummings for making it down from Belfast to read for an excellent bilingual evening, with poems as Gaeilge flowing from the five-word outset. You can listen to Philip’s reading here.
Thanks to Alan Coakley for emceeing, and to the open-mic contributors, Joe Sweeney, Sue Cosgrave, Fergus Costello, Michael Roche, Colm Scully, Patricia Walsh, Magdalena Cullen, Finbarr Finnegan, Conor McManus with choral section by Alan Titley, and Alan again by himself.
This week’s Five Words Challenge winner is Micheál Roche. Comhgairdeas!
The open mic mp3 is here.
04/3/11; 9:21 pm
Open-mic night – 21st March 2011
Thanks to Geraldine Mills and Lisa C Taylor for a fabulous reading from their new shared collection. The event was the first of such readings which are soon to be viewed at numerous venues in the US. You can listen to their reading with an introduction by Maire Bradshaw, here.
Thanks to Rosie O’Regan for her fun emcee work and to all on the open-mic, Joe Sweeney, Grant Burgess, Mary O’Connell, Sue Cosgrave, Jen Matthews, Julie Field, Patricia Walsh, Kathy D’Arcy, Eugene Crowley, Stanley Notte and Seamus Harrington.
Jen Matthews is the winner of this week’s Five Word Challenge … bullaí mná!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
03/27/11; 6:45 pm
Open-mic night – 14th March 2011
A big thanks to Ciaran O’Driscoll for coming down from Limerick to deliver a captivating and enigmatic reading. An excellent reading which you can listen to here.
Thanks to Sue Cosgrave for her emcee vibrancy, and to all on the open-mic, David Toms, Billy Ramsell, Mark O’Leary, Grant Burgess, Mary O’Connell, Micheál Roche, Seamus Harrington, Patricia Walsh, Francis Finnegan, Terry Dineen and Alan Titley.
This week’s Five Words Challenge winner was Colm Scully. G’job Colm!
The open-mic mp3 is here.
03/21/11; 4:16 pm
Open-mic night – 7th March 2011
Be sure to watch Spotlight on BBC NI at 10.30pm on Tuesday the 15th, for highlights of last week’s 5-Word Challenge at Ó Bhéal. The BBC will also be sending me a copy which I’ll make available on youtube. Their filming of the event spurred a tremendous turnout and participation in the poetry challenge. Thanks to the BBC … more of that please!
A big thanks goes to Simone Mansell Broome from Wales for her excellent workshop, and most entertaining performance and accomplished lyrical verse, much enjoyed by all present.
Thanks to Stephen O’Riordan for his classy (as usual) emcee work and to all on the open-mic, Matthew Sweeney, Jennifer Matthews, Marie Coveney, Joe Sweeney, Julie Field, Seamus Harrington, Grant Burgess, Patricia Walsh, Magdalena Cullen, Micheál Roche and Rosalin Blue.
This week’s 5-Word Challenge winner was Marie Coveney, amid immense competition. Well done Marie!
As per my email to Simone, The tech faeries sabotaged us again this week, so no sound unfortunately this time. We suspect that the BBC were tailed down from Ulster by a host of unruly rain faeries, for the mp3 was magically swallowed by the mists. While we have performed many great rituals and made abundant offerings to prevent this, it still happens a few times each year. Paul Durcan’s reading was hijacked last December by a band of renegade Kerry mountain faeries. So there’s just no telling … my apologies!
We will have video of the 5-Word Challenge up soon.
03/13/11; 5:14 pm