Éigse Michael Hartnett, considered one of Ireland’s largest annual gatherings of contemporary poets, goes ahead in Newcastle West from tomorrow Thursday April 10th to Saturday 12th.
Author Claire Kilroy, Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter Susan McKeown, historian Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, Limerick moun-taineer Mark Quinn and photographer John Minihan are amongst the confirmed participants in this year’s event.
The renowned poet and novelist, Theo Dorgan, has taken up the reins as president of the exciting and wide-ranging festival celebrating the life and work of Newcastle West’s most famous son, poet Michael Hartnett. Hartnett, who wrote both English and Irish poems, was born in County Limerick in 1941 and died in Dublin in 1999. He is regarded as one of the most significant voices in late 20th century Irish writing.
The Festival Coordinator, Bríd Quinn of the Limerick Arts Office, commented: “This festival is grounded in the community and we want to make it as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, giving people the opportunity to hear and engage with the standard bearers in poetry, writing and critical thinking in Ireland and internationally. Many of the events over the festival weekend are free or just have a nominal admission fee.”
The festival will be officially launched tomorrow Thursday at 8pm at Newcastle West Library where Ireland’s most celebrated photographer, John Minihan, will deliver the Keynote Address.