Poetry Day Ireland takes place today, Thursday, May 7th, with more than 50 events taking place. Presented by Poetry Ireland, the day will celebrate the vital role that poetry plays in Irish life, from sporting occasions to commerce. To launch Poetry Day Ireland, Minister for the Arts Heather Humphreys read Seamus Heaney’s poem, Midnight Anvil, at a ceremonial opening of the day’s trading at the Irish Stock Exchange.
Other highlights include poet Paul Durcan in conversation with Tipperary hurling manager Eamon O’Shea at the Source Arts Centre in Thurles; poets and crime writers Sophie Hannah and Paul Perry reading in Green Street Courthouse; a Poetry Wave across 16 branches of Cork county libraries; poets in schools on three of our populated islands; poetry readings by more than 40 groups participating in the Verbal Arts Centre’s Reading Rooms project in Northern Ireland; and an interactive map of Dublin-themed Twitter poetry to enjoy on mobile phones.
Poetry Ireland will also distribute 40,000 poetry cards, including 9,000 poetry menus to patients in hospitals and healthcare settings in partnership with Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust and Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland, and a series of coffee- and chocolate-themed poems in Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
Poetry Ireland is also calling out to poetry lovers to flood Twitter and Facebook with poetry on May 7th with the hashtag #PoetryDayIrl.
