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S T R O K E S T O W N
Féile
Idirnáisiúnta Filíochta
Bhéal Átha na mBuillí The first weekend in May/Bealtaine |
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| Some recent participants in the festival. Above, Simon O'Faoláin, Mary O'Donnell, George Szirtes, Theo Dorgan, Harry Clifton, Paddy Bushe, Ciaran Carson, Sheila O'Hagan. Below: Peter Fallon, Maura Dooley, Seamus Heaney, Eileán Ní Chuilleanáin, Louis de Paor, Peter Sirr, Michael Schmidt, Vona Groarke | |||||||||
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| Festival | ||||||||
| Strokestown 2008 | ||||||||
| About the Strokestown Poetry Festival | ||||||||
| The 2008
festival was another magnificent weekend of poetry and fun. We welcomed many new
faces to Strokestown, and were delighted to see so many old friends
returning, particularly from overseas.
Strokestown has its own unique atmosphere and ethos: all the poetry readings are free, and our generous local sponsors provide stunning venues and convivial receptions. Have a look at the photo gallery to get a glimpse of what is Ireland's most poetic poetry festival. Over the past two years Peter Sirr has taken the Directorship of the Strokestown International Poetry Festival to a new level of professionalism and expertise. His hard work and enthusiasm resulted in the huge success of the 2007 and 2008 festivals. Merrily Harpur will be stepping into his shoes for the 2009 festival. Merrily was the festival's first Director from 1998 to 2004, and enjoyed it so much she is once again descending from Strokestown's nearby mountain, Sliabh Bán, where she lives, to help the dedicated and hard working committee put together the best event yet in May 2009. |
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| The 2008 Festival Programme | ||||||||
| Photo gallery - the director's cut | ||||||||
| Poetry Competitions 2008 | ||||||||
| The judges 2008 | ||||||||
| Shortlisted and winning English language poems | ||||||||
| Shortlisted and winning Irish/Scottish Gaelic language poems | ||||||||
| Past winners and poems | ||||||||
| Schools' Competition | ||||||||
| 2008 results | ||||||||
| Poetry Competition 2009 | ||||||||
| Prizes | ||||||||
| Entry Form | ||||||||
| Rules | ||||||||
| Judges for 2009 |
This year's judges for the English language competition
were Peter
Fallon, George
Szirtes and Vona
Groarke. Gréagoir Ó Dúill and Christopher Whyte judged the Scottish Gaelic/Irish competition. Gearrliosta do chomórtas na Gaeilge/Gàidhlige. Click on the menu, left, to see their shortlists and winners for 2008. |
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| Strokestown | ||||||||
| Our magnificent sponsors | ||||||||
| Map of Strokestown | ||||||||
| Accommodation | ||||||||
| Contact | ||||||||
| Links | ||||||||
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....'Coming back from Strokestown Poetry Festival, I find myself
unusually lost for words. 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, a prizewinner in 2006. |
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