Strokestown International Poetry

S T R O K E S T O W N
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
P O E T R Y F E S T I V A L
Féile Idirnáisiúnta Filíochta Bhéal Átha na mBuillí

The first weekend in May/Bealtaine ~ 4-6 May 2012


	The Strokestown International Poetry Competitions & Festival 2012

	Dear poets, The sun shone on the festival every day, spirits were high, and the weekend was deemed another great success. See a few of the comments below... ●Some festival 2012 photos The poets short-listed for the Strokestown International Poetry Prize, Category 1 English Language were, in alphabetical order: Isobel Dixon Cambridge, Sandra Harris Dublin, Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé Singapore, Jim Maguire Co. Wexford [First Prize], Shirley McClure Co. Wicklow, Lydia Macpherson Cambridgeshire, Chris Preddle Yorkshire [Second Prize], Liam Ryan Co. Laois [Third Prize], Liane Strauss London, Jessica Traynor Edinburgh. Read their shortlisted poems here... Among the 60 or so poems which were long-listed by the judges were, in no particular order: The Lyrebird; The Return; The Empty Apartment; A6; Hafiz; Insomnia in the Garden Cabin; Taken; The Pawnbroker's Wife; The Miracle of Myrtle Street Children's Hospital: Cardiac Ward 1969; First Long Walk after Convalescence. The poets short-listed for the Colmcille/Strokestown Prizes were, in alphabetical order: Rody Gorman, Isle of Skye; Ceaiti Ní Bheildiuin, Co. Chiarrai; Seán Ó Dúrois, Belfast; Pádraig Ó Laighin, Baile Átha Cliath; Art Ó Maolfabhail, Baile Átha Cliath; Seosamh Ó Murchú, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath. Prizewinners will be posted up here shortly. Read their shortlisted poems here... Dánta eile atá le moladh go mór, gan iad a bheith in aon ord faoi leith anseo thíos: Hesperides; Meirge an Laoich; Aibreán na hAille; Slán; Multi-tasking; dubhaich; Smut de Duffy’s Cut; Lá le Bríde; Anamchomhrá; Deachú na Díchuimhne; Guairille; An Sgàthan. Poets short-listed for the Percy French Prizes were, in alphabetical order: The Ballad of Noah and God by Margaret Hickey, Portumna, Co. Galway; A Rum Tale by Lawrence Kessenich, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; The Life and Times of a Septic Tank Inspector, by John McDonagh, Ballymote, Co. Sligo [First Prize]; Deputy Alowishis Turnip TD [Third Prize] and The Derivatives Express by Ian MacDonald, Loughrea, Co. Galway; Kenny Live by Mary O'Connell, Richmond Hill, Cork [Second Prize]; Austerity Blues by Alice Walsh, Perth, Scotland. For a full report of this prestigious event, read former prize-winner Peter Goulding's blog here... *Merrily Harpur* *Director* office@strokestownpoetry.org / scda@eircom.net 071 9633759




	Some comments on the 2012 festival: 'I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, the whole occasion was a very special experience for me. I had heard people speak glowingly of the Strokestown Poetry Festival before but having experienced it myself I can truly appreciate what a unique occasion it really is... Yourself and the committee made us very welcome and the festival is a credit to you. To be in the presence of so many wonderful poets was a special treat.' ~ Seosamh Ó Murchú ‘We really enjoyed the festival, and were reminded once again of how outstanding is its lovely combination of informality and respect for the poetry.’ ~ Paddy Bushe ‘The atmosphere at Strokestown was just lovely, people wanting to encourage and be encouraged… Please keep that festival going, whatever you do.’ ~ Thomas McCarthy ‘Still the best festival in the country…’ ~ Ignatius McGovern ‘Congratulations and thank you for a wonderful festival. I loved it! … You make such a huge contribution to Irish life, and to poetry internationally, every year.’ ~ Máire Ní Annracháin ‘Thank you so much for bringing such a wonderful event to this area.’ ~ Anne Maxwell ‘I had a wonderful time and was threatening not to go home - it was a real high point for me to be included on the shortlist with such distinguished poets and I know that in the future I'll look back at that weekend as the origin of some wonderful opportunities.’ ~ Jessica Traynor 'A fantastic weekend… I look forward to getting back to your wonderful Festival of Poetry. It was just great to mix and meet all the people and make new friends.’ ~ Liam Ryan ‘I've been telling everyone what a wonderful festival it is!’ ~ Pete Mullineaux ‘A unique event… We met some great people there whom I hope to see again!’ ~ Shirley McClure *‘Fáilte agus fichid!.. I came home after your festival exhilarated... It deserves its great reputation.’* ~ Ceaití Ní Bheildiuin ●Some festival 2012 photos What they said about the 2011 festival: "Strokestown is a rather special festival... the prize is just being there." ~ Pat Winslow [read Pat Winslow's blog ] Thank you very, very much for putting together this wonderful festival. I loved every minute of it... I really enjoyed the mingling of Gaelic and English in the reading sessions, it worked brilliantly. It was great to feel the seriousness and commitment to poetry of all the participants, and the fun of it at the same time. ~ Susanne Erhardt ...I am wondering how to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the Strokestown festival for a marvellous weekend. It is a unique gathering, and I felt greatly honoured to be among so many fine poets and warm-hearted people, sharing our love of poetry with a wonderful intensity and commitment... can't wait to be back! ~ Elisabeth Rowe The festival was wonderful... all the talk and excitement that seems to happen EVERY year from what people say. And meeting READERS - that's what I value so much. So many people have read and talked about and come to own the poems and find meanings in them for themselves; it's what you'd hope for your writing, but Strokestown is the only place I've known this happen; it's both humbling and inspiring. To say nothing of the betting... You made the weekend very special, adding John and Patsy's music to the mix. And then Martin Dyar's play AS WELL - it was such a treat, the whole weekend. ~ Jane Routh "Many thanks for a lovely long weekend....I feel I've had a welcome injection of poetry which will vaccinate me for a while against day-job tedium!" - Matthew Barton "A most enjoyable and dynamic weekend. In an age when the capacity to listen is diminishing, when, even if you have it, cacophany denies you, the festival was an oasis of attentiveness. Very many thanks." - Tim O'Leary "Once again, many thanks for a truly memorable festival..." - Peter Goulding "I had a wonderful time and I hope to be back next year..." - Siobhán Flynn Read more of what they said about the festival 2011... ...And about previous festivals: *"If you did not already exist it would be impossible to invent you... Thank you all for one of the best weekends of my life*." - Martin Parker "…*My wife* [the poet Gerda Stevenson] *having previous commitments, is very disappointed not to be joining me, to what we both agree is the greatest poetry festival on earth!" - Aonghas Macneacail* "Your festival is the most generous and convivial I have attended in many years, characterised by high seriousness and a serious sense of fun." - Hilary Davies "...A marvellously successful festival… Strokestown is the most convivial and congenial of poetry festivals - literally a fireside gathering." - Dennis O’Driscoll "...A *majestic achievement." - Sebastian Barker* "...A marvellous festival in a place that comprises one big house and two small streets like a pair of crossed pencils..." - George Szirtes "How do I begin to describe my most enjoyable literature festival experience to date? A small town, with a big repossessed manor house in which to host events – ceilings two floors high; windows from floors to those ceilings; old oak panelling; roaring fires. Generously provisioned reception parties at either end. An astonishing number of talented poets – from both Gaelic and English traditions - reading in the space of just three days... " - Ros Barber "...I have never before encountered such a warm and inclusive atmosphere as I did in Strokestown... I was bowled over by the sense in which the involvement of the local community was integral to the event." - Chrissie Charvill Read more....