Poetry NI+

17/06/2024

A few photos from the Brian Bailey Memorial Cup slam at the Belfast Book Festival 2024. Thank you to everyone who came along to listen and to read. It's always a highlight of our poetry calendar and this year was no exception. See you soon xx Team PP

06/06/2024

The Brian Bailey Memorial Cup awaits its next winner... it could be YOU if you enter our Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam 2024 this Friday night!

https://crescentarts.org/events/poetry-slam

31/05/2024

Are you an aspiring writer? Would you like to share your work in a relaxed atmosphere? Then join us for the next Aspects Festival Club in Bangor's Imperial Bar on Wednesday 12 June. 🎤

You are invited to take part and read a short passage of no more than three minutes. There will be an invited guest and then the floor will be open. We welcome a wide spectrum of writing including prose, short stories and poetry.

Our theme for this session is 'Summer.'

Everyone is welcome – if you are a writer wishing to share your talent maybe for the first time in front of a small informal audience or if you are someone who is there to listen and support.

📍 Imperial Bar
📅 Wednesday 12 June
⏰ 7.30pm

🎫 Free event - Registration Essential

For more info and to register, visit:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/andculture/aspects-festival-club/e-jbmljj

28/05/2024

We are back at Belfast Book Festival on Friday 7th June for our annual Poetry Slam extravaganza!

Might YOU be our 2024 Slampion?! Grab your poems and enter, or just come along and enjoy sla night of brilliant and diverse voices.

Poetry NI presents the Belfast Book Festival Slam 2024!  Open to all poets of all styles and experiences, we invite you to take the mic and...

07/05/2024

The John Hewitt Society presents a joint reading with Lynda Tavakoli (who was guest judge at our Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam last year) and Robyn Rowland, at The Linen Hall on Friday 24th May.

“Melting Difference: Poetry That Unites” A Poetry Reading With Robyn Rowland and Lynda Tavakoli. Friday 24 May 24 May 7, 2024 by Director JHS Friday 24 May 1.00pm – 2.00pm. The Linen Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GB Tickets £8.00 at Door or book online here… Robyn Rowland is an award-winning poet of ...

06/05/2024

Moon Tell Me Truth - art and poetry exhibition

An exhibition of art and poetry from the children of Gaza. Saturday finale of music, art workshops and a coffee morning for all the family.

The free art and poetry exhibition and an drange of art activities is open to the public from Tuesday 7th May. Open for visits from school groups - contact the office. Saturday finale is a day of art, poetry, music and a coffee morning. Suitable fro all ages.

Housed in the beautifully renovated St. Comgalls, Falls Community Council, Belfast. There is free parking to the rear of the building.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moon-tell-me-truth-art-and-poetry-exhibition-tickets-891538905867?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

06/05/2024

So Purely Poetry peeps, that was our bank holiday weekend open mic! A huge thank you to Mr Mark 'long listed for the Heaney Award' Cooper for stepping into Colin's hosting shoes and saving the night as Colin became sick, you did a grand job!

We were treated to a few brave new souls taking to the mic and once again we had visitors from afar who had perfect poetry ounagi, landing in Belfast right on time!

We were so mesmerised by some of the pieces we forgot to either take photos or write down lines but one of our favourites of the night went a little like this...

You can eat stories if you have to ... you can sing stories ... you can sit down inside a story ... follow your instinct to renew again...

You brought some beautiful stories and the audience were right there with every word. Thank you to all who came to read and support and for all your well wishes to Colin, it made him feel much better!

Roll on June it's the Belfast Book Festival Brian Bailey Memorial Cup Slam, not to be missed!

Purely Poetry Team 💜💜

30/04/2024

Purely Poetry Open Mic is back on at Crescent Arts Centre this Friday night. Share some poems, listen in, and revel in the appreciative and amiable ambience! (alliteration is optional)

https://crescentarts.org/events/purely-poetry-open-mic-night-may-24

Then, looking ahead to June and the Belfast Book Festival, we are back for our annual Poetry Slam! Who will be crowned our 2024 Poetry Slampion?! (actual crown not guaranteed, but you can win a cup!)

https://crescentarts.org/events/poetry-slam

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

09/04/2024

Poet Trudie Gorman launches her debut collection from Dedalus Press: Poetry from Ireland this Thursday.

In Trust the Damage, Gorman explores the connection between class, poverty, and illness. Journeying from a council estate in the 90s to the fractured ecosystem of the present day, she contends with the grief of losing her body to illness, whilst also finding hope and connection.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/belfast/no-alibis-bookstore/trudie-gorman-book-launch-trust-the-damage/2024-04-11/18:00/t-pqxlyvl

07/03/2024

An irregular set of posts, weaving an intricate pattern around culture and technology. Alan ... in Belfast, Northern Ireland

07/03/2024

Meath County Council Arts Office presents Hoor - An exhibition of poetry and illustration.

Featuring the work of Belfast poet Jim McElroy, winner of the MCC Cultural Services Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2020 and winner of the International Book and Pamphlet award 2021, and Kells born, Berlin based illustrator Ann Kiernan, Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year 2020 and AI40 selected winner 2021.

Juxtaposing Kiernan’s vibrant illustrations with the powerful writing from McElroy, this exhibition Hoor promises to supply an array of aesthetic and linguistic delights to excite the senses.

📅 6th March to 31st May 2024
📌 Kells Courthouse Tourism & Cultural Hub, Headfort Road, Kells, Co. Meath
⏰Opening Hours: Mon- Fri: 9:00am – 5:00pm (closed for lunch 1:30-2:00pm)
⏰Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm (closed for lunch 1:30-2:00pm)
🎟️Entry is Free

07/03/2024

Our April - June Course and Workshop programme is now available to book!

Courses can be found here --> crescentarts.org/courses
Workshops here --> crescentarts.org/workshops

Go take a peek and join us for creative activity this Spring.

04/03/2024

What a treat Friday's Purely Poetry was, we were laden with synchronicities and themes running through the night, making the energy palpable. There was a gorgeous mix of light hearted pieces alongside beautiful streams of consciousness. With a wonderful mix of newcomers, people who have been there from the start, some who travelled in just for the night and those who were just there to appreciate the poems on offer. We had a lovely array of people reading the work of household poets alongside their own works. You guys take our breath away. We are so grateful to each person who trusts us to be delicate with their words and the emotions that come with that sharing. We look forward to seeing you back at the Crescent Arts Centre on 12th April.

Much love, Team PP

10/02/2024

Last night saw the return of Purely Poetry at the Crescent, we weren't sure if the good poetry people of Belfast had laid down their pens and taken up some other forms of expression such as interpretive dance. We need not have such thoughts of whimsy, you lot have been busy burrowing away in the world of words and we were delighted you came to share them with us!

We were treated to everything from the serious to the sublime and everything in between. Animals played quite a part in the events of the evening from angry geese, dogs who like to play mind games, talking birds and snails, robotic wolves, spiders as metaphors. Grief was the other over arching subject that has been casting a shadow on your pages. And in between we had a good dose of Northern Irish humour, just for the craic!

Thank you everyone who came to listen, whoop and cheer and to those who trusted us with their words.

We would like to ask you on another date so if you're free on March 1st, we'd love to see you again. Love team PP 💜💙

09/02/2024

Purely Poetry open mic returns TONIGHT at Crescent Arts Centre. Tickets available via Crescent box office or pay at reception on the night. It's been a while since our last event, so we are hungry for your poems!

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

05/02/2024

We're back in Crescent Arts Centre this Friday night for Purely Poetry, but here are some further dates too!

Belfast’s long-running open mic night, Purely Poetry, returns to the Crescent Arts Centre. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to old pros, we foster an open, laid back and encouraging atmosphere for

30/01/2024

Purely Poetry, Belfast's long-running open mic night, returns to Crescent Arts Centre on Friday 9th February.

Open to poets of all styles and experiences, from first timers to old pros, we foster an open, laid back and encouraging atmosphere for people to read their work, and to listen in comfort. Quite simply, we want your poems, and we want you to enjoy the experience of reading them to us!

Tickets available through the Crescent box office.

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

17/06/2023

As the song says "oh what a night" but we only have to go back as far as last night to the Belfast Book Festival Brian Bailey Memorial Cup poetry slam (Brian would love that the title is so long). Poets really do love a cup! We were packed, had to turn away readers, had a very enthusiastic crowd, a whole heap of first time readers and splendid regulars, amidst the gorgeous backdrop of the festival graphics.

We love seeing poets grow and there was so much confidence on that stage last night we were blown away. Slams are whirlwinds you just don't know what's going to land on the mic, last night was no exception, we were lead through a whole spectrum of emotions; one person's grief is another's lack of Nutella, how the jack of all trades just becomes 'the man' we willing let into our homes, the pain of war on families, we went on a unique jaunt through the alphabet, we learned dolphins are whales and cumbers are not a fruit, we were asked to consider 'what if we just said no, to death?', we were treated to some beautiful bilingual pieces and the winning piece took us on a journey through Jane Eyre's 'mad' women, brought to us by Helen Hastings who managed to retain her Slampion title from last year.

Many congratulations to all who took part, we appreciate your bravery, to the finalists Helen Hastings, Mal Farrell, David Mitchell and Melissa Scott. Thank you to the Crescent Arts Centre and the Book Festival and their sponsors for allowing us the opportunity to give poets a space to be heard. We were honoured to have Lynda Tavakoli as our guest judge and reader, it's never an easy job. Until next year keep creating!

16/06/2023

Collecting the cup from last year's joint winner Helen Hastings. If you want to look this happy then come along tonight and try to win the Brian Bailey Memorial Cup...it's not just our hat that has magical randomness, our cup holds some mischief too!

12/06/2023

The Belfast Book Festival starts this week, with our annual Poetry Slam on this Friday at Crescent Arts Centre!

Enter to become our 2023 Festival Slampion, or just come along and catch some great poetry.

Tickets are pay-what-you-want, available at https://belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on/poetry-slam-

02/06/2023

Remember, no Purely Poetry open mic on tonight - instead we have our Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam happening later in the month!

01/06/2023

It's June time, which means it's almost Belfast Book Festival time, and our annual Poetry Slam!

Join us on Friday 16th June at 7.30pm in Crescent Arts Centre. Open to all poets of all styles and experiences, we invite you to take the mic and share your work in front of a lively and appreciative audience, with first-time entrants always welcome. Poets will be marked on composition and delivery as scored by our panel of judges. The winner will receive the Brian Bailey Memorial Cup and be our 2023 Festival Slampion!

Poetry NI presents the Belfast Book Festival Slam 2023. Open to all poets of all styles and experiences, we invite you to take the mic and share your...

10/05/2023

Seaside writing courtesy of The Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre and Anne McMaster!

"Waves of inspiration await at our seaside writing course with Anne McMaster 🌊📝

Let's learn from each other and grow as writers!"

​Finding Ourselves - Creative Writing and the Sea
SAT 13 MAY at Magilligan Point, 11am – 1pm
Book Now - https://roevalleyarts.com/workshops/finding-ourselves-creative-writing-and-the-sea

Waves of inspiration await at our seaside writing course with Anne McMaster 🌊📝

Let's learn from each other and grow as writers!

​Finding Ourselves - Creative Writing and the Sea
SAT 13 MAY at Magilligan Point, 11am – 1pm
Book Now - https://roevalleyarts.com/workshops/finding-ourselves-creative-writing-and-the-sea

08/05/2023

"All are welcome to this free event. Come along, read your work or a favourite piece or listen and join the craic."

All are welcome to this free event. Come along, read your work or a favourite piece or listen and join the craic.

05/05/2023

Tonight! We're back in Crescent Arts Centre for another open mic, our last one before our slam at Belfast Book Festival in June. Tickets available at reception. See you all soon!

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

03/05/2023

We've got THREE open mic happening in May!

We welcome readers of all styles and experiences, and for our Downpatrick and Limavady events, we're opening the floor to ALL WRITERS: not just poetry, but flash fiction, memoir, novel excerpts, etc.

Co-hosts Geraldine O'Kane and Colin Dardis will be going short headline sets at Down Arts Centre and Roe Valley Arts Centre, before passing the mic to YOU! Come along, share your work or just listen in and enjoy.

Purely Poetry
Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
Fri 5th May at 7.3pm
https://crescentarts.org/whats-on/purely-poetry-open-mic-night-may-23

And Our Next Reader Is...
Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick
Thursday 11th May, 7pm
https://nmd-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173628381

The Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady
Friday 19th May, 7.30pm
https://roevalleyarts.com/events/geraldine-okane-and-colin-dardis-and-our-next-reader-is

Find an event in Belfast at The Crescent - purel

10/04/2023

A new home for Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry) in Great James Street - support your local bookshop!

28/03/2023

Remember, our Purely Poetry open mic night is on THIS FRIDAY, a week early due to the Easter break. See you soon...

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

23/03/2023

Remember folks, the next Purely Poetry open mic is a week early due to Good Friday - we will see you on Friday 31st March at Crescent Arts Centre!

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...

04/03/2023

Big love to all our readers and listeners at last night's Purely Poetry in Crescent Arts Centre: we had alliteration, audience participation, elation,celebrations and Yeats recitations!

Remember, our next event is Fri 31st March (early due to the first Friday in April being Good Friday).

Join Poetry NI and The Crescent as we present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night. Welcoming readers of all styles and experiences, from first timers to...