Bringing it All Back Home An Evening with Paul Durcan, Paula Meehan & Belinda McKeon

Poetry Ireland, in association with St Patrick’s College, sponsored an evening of readings by three well-known Irish writers on 29 November in the Auditorium at the College in celebration of Dublin’s recent nomination as a UNESCO World City of Literature. The writers participating in the event were poets Paul Durcan and Paula Meehan, along with novelist and journalist, Belinda McKeon. Director of Poetry Ireland, Mr Joe Woods, welcomed a large audience comprising members of staff and the general public to the reading and spoke about the important links between Poetry Ireland and the College, highlighting the immense value of common initiatives between literary groups and higher education institutions.

The main part of the evening was chaired by former Dean of Research at the College, Dr Mary Shine Thompson, who set the work of the three writers in the context of the theme of the evening, ‘Bringing it all Back Home’, before introducing each writer and their work to the audience.

Belinda McKeon read a recently-written short story with a Christmas theme and neatly captured the essence of family life at that time of year through a lively reading of interpersonal dialogue and familial interaction. Paul Durcan held the audience spellbound with an enthralling reading of several poems including his famous ‘Six Nuns die in Convent Inferno’. In a masterful performance he illustrated once again the importance of the art of the public reading of literary work.

Paula Meehan concluded with a suite of poems, some written over the last few years and others, including ‘Occupy’, written more recently. The latter was inspired by the ‘occupy the streets’ protests across many world cities and thereby showed how literature can be both of the now as well as the past.

The writers and audience gathered after the reading for a reception and spent the rest of the evening in extended conversation about the poetry and prose and savouring the various nuances of the writers’ performances.

St Patrick’s College is grateful to Poetry Ireland for its on-going support of various literary initiatives and wishes to record its appreciation to the participating writers and all those involved in organising the evening. The College also acknowledges the key role played by UNESCO in recognising Dublin as a World City of Literature and in helping to draw further attention to the work of its writers and poets.

 

 

Last Updated: Tuesday December 06 2011