We are very excited to have lift off of the first ever Deep Routes Poetry Exchange. Some background: In 2020, fifteen emerging young writers from around the island were selected to participate in the first ever MOLI (Museum of Literature in Ireland) Edna O’Brien Young Writers Bursary. Pandemic notwithstanding, the writers brought their creative energies together, produced some great work and formed friendships that have endured.
With the support of Poetry Ireland, the bulk of the group has come together again for this new project. The Deep Routes Poetry Exchange, inspired by Narrative 4‘s ‘Story Exchange’, involves the writers coming together in pairs, each presenting a significant personal story from the past year for their fellow writer to express through poetry. The fruits of their labours, namely transforming lockdown stories into spoken word magic, will be performed at an online event on Poetry Day (April 29) and published in an online and printed anthology. Also contributing to the project is 2021 Edna O’Brien Young Writers Bursary Fellow, the acclaimed Dublin writer Sarah Maria Griffin. Project coordinator is Wexford girl Sinéad O’Reilly, a student at Loreto Wexford.
Original artwork for the project is provided by artists and Aosdána member Michael Mulcahy. Writer, poet and arts p.r. person Tom Mooney (Táin PR) and Donald MacDonald Graphic Design and illustrator David Mahon have advised on layout and design. Printing is by Hogan Print, Wexford. Michael Duggan put the launch video together.
The event is grant-aided by Poetry Ireland and Wexford Arts Centre, along with Greenacres Restaurant, Winestore & Gallery and Frank’s Place (both Wexford). It is also supported by the organisations Narrative 4, MOLI (Museum of Literature Ireland) and the Museum of Childhood.
deeproutespoetryexchange.wordpress.com 