Local poet to host May Day poetry event

An evening of poetry, storytelling and music will be held at The Athlone Bookshop on Thursday, May 1, to mark May Day.

The event, May Day Lyrical Sunbursts, will be hosted by poet Amy Abdullah Barry and will also feature poetry readings by five students from Clonown NS. Seanchaí Eugene McGivern will explore May Day themes in nature, ancient traditions, folklore, and community. A local singer will perform traditional Irish songs.

Lyrical Sunbursts provides a platform for young people to engage with reading, writing and sharing poetry. The event will be held in a vibrant space dedicated to the theme, May Day, to sow seeds of creativity and connection through the power of poetry.

This event is a collaboration between Amy Abdullah Barry, The Athlone Bookshop, and Clonown NS. It will be held at The Athlone Bookshop at Burgess Village from 5.30pm until 6.30pm on Thursday, May 1, and entry is free.

Amy Abdullah Barry, originally from Penang, Malaysia, is resident in Athlone for more than 20 years. Widely published in journals and magazines, Amy’s works have been translated into a multitude of languages. Amy’s debut book will be available on the day.

Lyrical Sunbursts is supported by Poetry Ireland through the Bright Ideas Bursary.

Poetry Day Ireland is an all island celebration of poetry taking place on Thursday, May 1, with the theme of 'May Day'. Visit poetryday.ie to find events near you and learn how to get involved.