Poetry, poetry. There's no shortage of it in the months ahead.The National Gallery will throw open its Shaw Room in September for poets Eavan Boland, Peter Fallon, Michael Ó Siadhail and Paul Meehan and a series of readings which will take place on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Starting this Wednesday, the events are free. Details: 01-6615133.
Meanwhile also in Dublin but further afield, in Dundrum, poet and novelist Mary O'Donnell from Co Monaghan and poet Jean Bleakney from Belfast will perform at the arts venue, Airfield, on October 5th in a programme titled: When the Red Hand Writes. A series of writing workshops is also on offer at Airfield this autumn. Details 01- 2984301. Website: www.airfield.ie
Libraries will be turning into polling stations again in October when children troop in to vote online for their favourite books. It's all part of the Children's Book Festival which takes place between October 16th and 31st and has a new co-ordinator, Irma McLoughlin. Another new dimension this year will be an Irish language day on October 17th with events for the four to 12 age group and a website (www.childrensbooks
ireland.com ) which will go live early next month.
Given the relatively small size of the Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association, members are justifiably proud that one of their number, Miriam Lee, has been voted onto the council of the International Federation of Translators. Until 2005, she will be secretary general of FIT which represents thousands of translators world wide.