Harold's Cross

Eight renowned poets who live along a 5 km stretch through Harold’s Cross from Portobello to Rathfarnham read from their work and reflect on the neighbourhood and how it has influenced their writing. Featuring Amanda Bell, Catherine Ann Cullen, Gilles Fabre, Maggie O’Dwyer, Michael O’Loughlin, Peter Sirr, Gerry Smyth, and Enda Wyley.

Amanda Bell is Harold’s Cross’s inaugural Writer in Residence. Her published work includes poetry, psychogeography, transcreation, and creative non-fiction for children. Her debut poetry collection First the Feathers was shortlisted for the Shine Strong Award for best first collection. A new collection, Riptide, is forthcoming from Doire Press.

Catherine Ann Cullen is Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence, and the recipient of a Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Award 2018/19. She is the author of three books for children, and three poetry collections, the most recent of which is The Other Now: New and Selected from Dedalus Press.

Gilles Fabre is a French national living in Ireland. His first collection of haiku Because of a Seagull was published by The Fishing Cat Press. His latest collection Along the Way was published by Alba Publishing in 2020. He is the editor in chief of Seashores, an international journal of haiku.

Maggie O’Dwyer is a visual artist, poet, and gardener. Her collections from Templar are Yes, I’d Love to Dance (2008), Laughter Heard from the Road (2009), and The Wire Heart (2015). Her debut collection was shortlisted for the Rupert and Eithne Strong Award in 2010, and her art is widely exhibited.

Michael O’Loughlin lived for many years in Barcelona and Amsterdam. He has published five collections of poetry and has also translated poetry from Dutch, Spanish and Catalan. His new collection, Liberty Hall, a highly original fusion of poetry, images and prose memoir, is published by New Island this April.

Peter Sirr’s personal journey through Dublin past and present, Intimate City, is due from The Gallery Press. He has published ten poetry collections. His novel for children, Black Wreath, was published in 2014. He is a member of Aosdána. With his wife, the poet Enda Wyley he co-hosts the podcast Books for Breakfast ([https://booksforbreakfast.buzzsprout.com]) 

Gerard Smyth has published ten collections, including The Sundays of Eternity (2020); A Song of Elsewhere (2010); The Fullness of Time: New and Selected Poems (2015) (all from Dedalus Press), and The Yellow River (with artwork by Seán McSweeney and published by Solstice Arts Centre in Navan in 2017).  He is a member of Aosdána.

Enda Wyley has published six collections of poetry with Dedalus Press. The most recent is The Painter on his Bike (2019). Her books for children include, Boo and Bear, I Won’t Go to China! and The Silver Notebook, O’Brien Press. Enda is a member of Aosdána, and co-hosts the podcast Books for Breakfast. https://booksforbreakfast.buzzsprout.com