The latest plaque on The Galway Poetry Trail was unveiled this afternoon at The Claddagh Basin, featuring the poem ‘Lockdown Aubade’ by distinguished poet Mary O’Malley.
The poem is inspired by Mary O’Malley’s first walk out after lockdown, when she passed the Galway hookers and gleoiteogs moored in the Basin, and watched sails being raised. The scene symbolized liberation and escapism for her and she thought especially of her father whose gleoiteog had been built by a Claddagh man.
The plaque was unveiled by acclaimed author Donal Ryan, whose play “From a Low and Quiet Sea” is currently running in the Nun’s Island Theatre as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.
This is the 28th plaque to be added to The Galway Poetry Trail - a series of plaques dotted around the city which feature pieces of writing about the places in which they are situated. Plaques can be found in locations such as on the wall of Richardson’s Pub in Eyre Square (featuring the poem ‘Men with Tired Hair’ by Rita Ann Higgins ), at Nimmo’s Pier in the Claddagh (featuring ‘Galway’ by Louis McNeice ), and on the Salthill Prom (featuring ‘Fear na Lasraí’ by Máirtín O’Direáin and ‘Haiku’ by Little John Nee ).
The Galway Poetry Trail is organised jointly by Kennys’ Bookshop and Galway City Council and in conjunction with Cúirt International Festival of Literature and has been added to annually since the first plaque was installed in 2005.
You can find brochures with a list of the plaques and their locations in Kennys Bookshop, Liosbán or visit www.kennys.ie/galway-poetry-trail
Would you like unlimited FREE access to all that the Galway Advertiser has to offer? Find out more here!
