In the next few days, Dubliners will notice a new billboard campaign, which is bound to draw second glances. Penguin Books are doing a generic advertising campaign, which aims to promote the publishers rather than any one specific title. The name of an Italian clothing company came to mind when Sadbh saw the images, since they seem to have little to do with the advertised product and a lot to do with controversy. A sniper in Beirut takes aim down an alley; two boys kiss at the entrance to a Coney Island subway station; a young Seattle boy furtively puts a revolver into his jacket pocket. All the images have the orange Penguin logo in the corner, and the legend "Be Here" somewhere. The idea is that you too, can vicariously experience these lives, simply by picking up a book. Well, do you buy it? That's what Penguin will be hoping to find out.
The summer schools continue, and this year's John Hewitt International school has pulled off a bit of a coup by getting the Palestinian writer and critic, Edward Said, to speak there. Said, author of The Politics of the Dispossessed among other tomes, will be in discussion with academic and critic Declan Kiberd. Politician Brian Cowen will deliver the keynote paper, entitled Across a Roaring Hill. Among the others participating in the summer school are writer Pat McCabe, poet Tom Paulin, and Susan McKay, whose recently-published Northern Protestants; An unsettled people, is certain to provoke much timely debate. The school runs from 24th to 29th of this month. For more information email killens@fsmail.net
This week, Sadbh received the following typed correspondence. Please find enclosed copies of a forthcoming "Lunchtime Poetry Readings" in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, if possible could you please mention these dates. She is still marvelling at the howlers therein. I mean none of us is perfect but it's really depressing when the literature for what are, after all, literary events, is as poorly written as this. For the record, the forthcoming readings are Eibhlin Nic Eochaidh and Aine Miller on July 28th; and Vona Groarke and Conor O'Callaghan on August 25th. The readings are free, and take place at 1.15 p.m. in aforementioned premises. And if Sadbh has misspelt any of the poets' names, blame it on the press release, poets.
News from Poetry Ireland that they have appointed both a new general manager and administrator, Joe Woods and Claire Doyle respectively. Poetry Ireland have also just appointed their first education officer, Jane O'Hanlon; a position funded by the Department of Education and Science. The PI website is due to be revamped this summer, and they are welcoming ideas from the public on what additions they'd like on the site. You can e-mail your suggestions to poetry@iol.ie
Irish language poets, this is your lucky year! To commemorate the late Michael Hartnett, Limerick County Council and the Arts Council have joined together to offer an annual prize of £5,000 for a book of poems published in either Irish or English. The prize will alternate between Irish and English language poets. This year, it will go to an Irish poet. Publishers are invited to submit books now. The judges are Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Cathal O Searcaigh, and Declan Kiberd. The winning poet will receive the Michael Hartnett Annual Poetry Award on September 22nd. There is a small but significant catch. Every year, the criteria is that the book will be the poet's third collection. The organisers explain that they wanted to give the award to poets who are well on their way to being established. Yes, but . . . Sadbh wonders how many - or how few - poets there are writing in the Irish language who are publishing third collections this year? Not many, she is certain. Surely the point of literary prizes is to incite a spirit of inclusiveness? More information from 061317280.
News from the Model Arts Centre in Sligo of a rare opportunity to participate in a poetry workshop with Paul Muldoon on September 16th. Muldoon will be reading from his work that evening at the Scriobh festival, which runs from September 14th to 17th. In the morning, he will be giving a poetry workshop to between five and eight people, working with them on drafts of poems which they will have already submitted. If you want a chance to be selected for the workshop, send up to three poems to the Model Arts Centre, The Mall, Sligo, before the end of this month. Those selected should hear by the end of August. There will be a fee for attendance, of £20 or £15, depending on your circumstances.
August is traditionally a quiet month for literary events, since many of us are off on wet beaches the length and breadth of Ireland, or dry beaches elsewhere. There are however, a couple of readings that have caught Sadbh's attention. Poets Paula Meehan and Mary O'Donnell will be reading at the Winding Stair at 7 p.m. on August 9th, and novelist John Banville at the Irish Writer's Centre the following night.