ONE of CUISLE Limerick City International Poetry Festival’s several highlights was the launch of ‘The Stony Thursday Book’ compendium on Thursday 24.
Edited by Paddy Bushed, he chose 116 poets for inclusion and at The Stony Thursday Book event in 69 O’Connell Street, at least 30 read their works, among them Robin Parmar and Justin McCathy.
Painter John Shinnors had officiated at the relaxed opening the previous evening in Jerry Flannery’s Bar. Poets who participated in the four day festival included Anthony Cronin, who along with the late Seamus Heaney, is one of only six member of Aosdana elevated to the status of Saoi.
Poet Macdara Woods took part in festival as did David Wheatley and Biddy Jenkinson; master classes were given by Ljublhana’s Veronika Dintinjana and Tim Cunningham from Limerick.
“CUISLE Limerick City International Poetry Festival is dedicated to poetry in all its forms and varieties, featuring the best of local, national, and international poets,” explained City and County arts officer Sheila Deegan.
“For 19 years, Cuisle has helped to establish Limerick a centre for poetry not only in this country, but throughout Europe and beyond. Cuisle is the pulse that brings life to language, and creates friendships through verse between all peoples”.
This year, established links to Slovenia, Brighton and now Italy were strengthened with exchange and residency programmes for adult and young poets.
