A CALL has been made for a Limerick home for the humble Limerick.
And aspiring rhymesters are invited to bring their Limericks to the Limerick competition in, of course, Limerick on Saturday, August 25 when Dolan’s Music Venue on the Dock Road will play host to the scribes.
Up for grabs is the chance to become this year’s champion Limerick writer and walk away with a cheque for €500, not a bad return for a five line poem.
The event, now in its sixth year, has attracted entries from all over the world from fans of the funny (though often ribald, irreverent, and, sometimes vulgar) five line poem. Once again this year, the organisers stress the connection between the verse and the place.
Festival director Lisa Gibbons said, “The delightful simplicity of the Limerick verse, with its five lines and an aabba rhyme scheme, has given it the moniker of ‘the People’s Poetry’. At its core lies humour and a sense of the absurd. This is its defining feature and through which it has maintained its popularity.
“This, and the playful subversiveness of the Limerick, combine to make it an ideal vehicle for parody and mockery of modern society”, she said.
“The hope is to make the competition an integral part of the cultural life of the city and region and further the aim of making the Limerick verse form synonymous with the city of Limerick. Our ultimate aim is to make Limerick the world centre for this famous verse form.
“In the longer term, I think we should explore the idea of having a centre for the Limerick here in the city. Such a premises would house books and exhibits relating to the ‘Limerick’ and as a venue would occasionally host readings of ‘Limericks’ and workshops for visitors,” Ms Gibbons added.
Entries are now been taken for the competition and local, national and international wordsmiths are encouraged to take part. Pick up an entry form at your local library or enter on-line at https://limericksfest.wixsite.com/limerickliteraryfest
More information from Lisa Gibbons at [email protected] or Dominic Taylor at[email protected]
