`Irish poetry has a big name and a good opinion of itself. We need to open up and challenge ourselves by translating the work of poets from outside Ireland." This is the belief of Paul Sweeney, one of the organisers of Cuisle, a festival of poetry and translation taking place in Limerick this weekend. Cuisle means "pulse or lifeforce", he explains, and this year's theme is "Words and Music". Events kicked off last night with a reading by poets Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill and Thomas McCarthy. Tonight, at the Belltable Arts Centre, there is a reading by the award-winning Belfast poet, Ciaran Carson, who performs with Elpee, a Breton poet and translator.
Cuisle is now in its fourth year, and expanding all the time. Limerick-based poet Ciaran O'Driscoll and Noel Burke (editor of the Limerick Poetry Broadsheet), were the founders of the festival. It is currently co-ordinated by poets Paul Sweeney and Mark Whelan. "Our mission includes making Limerick a centre for poetry, and bringing lesserknown European poets to Ireland," says Paul. "This year we have Elpee from France, and next year we hope to have poets from Hungary, Romania and Portugal."
The aim is to translate the works of the visiting poets for publication, he explains: "There is a lot of good poetry out there that doesn't get to the Irish public. We could do with more voices from abroad." Today at 10 a.m. there is a two-hour seminar on Poetry Translation at the Belltable Arts Centre. Speakers include Martin Sorrell of the University of Exeter, the aforementioned Elpee, and seannos singer Lilis O'Laoire, who teaches at the University of Limerick and will discuss the topic of translating contemporary Irish poetry. Later this afternoon, for those who like their poetry fast and furious, there is a Poetry Slam at 5 p.m. in Flannery's Bar, Catherine Street. And for late-nighters, there is a poetry reading with the FourFront poets (Ciaran O'Driscoll, Jo Slade, Mark Whelan and Paul Sweeney) and jazz with the Jack Hart Quartet in the Festival Club at Hanratty's Hotel at midnight. Get there early if you want to be sure of admittance.
Tomorrow at noon, local poet Art O Chonghaile will read at the closing party in the White House Bar on O'Connell Street, accompanied by traditional Irish music.
Paul Sweeney is delighted with the level of support the festival has received from sources as diverse as the Arts Council, the British Council and the French Embassy. He notes that the decision to specialise in translation has give Cuisle a distinct identity, which will, it is hoped, help the festival to have a long and healthy life: "It is essential for us to have our own slant. A festival must have a purpose to survive."
For more information, tel: 061-319709.