Poems for the Lockdown - romance in a Galway bookshop
Mon, Jun 15, 2020
THE FINAL of my nine Poems For The Lockdown is from my third poetry collection, Frightening New Furniture, which was published by Salmon Poetry in 2010. It was inspired by an interaction I observed in a famous Galway bookshop. Any resemblance to Charlie Byrne’s is entirely deliberate.
Read more ...What Do You Mean You Haven't Read?
Thu, Jun 11, 2020
Anna McCarthy, lead singer/songwriter with indie-rock band, Dott
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - chatting up girls in Galway
Mon, Jun 08, 2020
IN THIS poem from my 2005 debut collection, The Boy With No Face, I take a comic look at my mostly unsuccessful attempts at wooing a person of the opposite gender in night clubs such as The Oasis in Salthill.
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - the changing face of Galway
Mon, Jun 01, 2020
THIS POEM was written in 2002 and features in my first collection of poems, The Boy With No Face, published by Salmon in 2005.
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - Merlin Park Hospital
Mon, May 25, 2020
THIS IS the title poem from my most recent poetry collection, published by Salmon last summer. It was inspired by my visits to the Infusion Unit at Merlin Park Hospital, where I am a regular.
Read more ...What Do You Mean You Haven't Read?
Thu, May 21, 2020
Paula Healy, station manager, Flirt 101.3 FM
Read more ...I dream I am in my favourite pub...
Thu, May 21, 2020
Days and nights play out like a loop. It begins with a dream. I am in my favourite pub. Tígh Neachtain, Cross Street. Writers, painters, actors, singers, the whole lot of us, locked in and making merry.
Read more ...Cocooning with my books
Thu, May 21, 2020
Due to the suddenness of the lockdown in Ireland, I found myself suddenly cocooning at home with little or no contact with the bookshop.
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - Bohermore cemetery
Mon, May 18, 2020
I WROTE this poem in 2014 after the English poet Helen Mort, who, as well as being an excellent poet, is an accomplished cross country runner, asked me: "And do you run?"
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - Eyre Square
Mon, May 11, 2020
THIS POEM was written for a poetry competition the Galway City Council organised on the theme of ‘Eyre Square’ and it featured in my fourth poetry collection, The Ghost In The Lobby, published by Salmon in 2014.
Read more ...What Do You Mean You Haven't Read...?
Thu, May 07, 2020
Rev Lynda Peilow, rector, St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Read more ...Poems for the Lockdown - Recession once again?
Mon, May 04, 2020
THIS POEM was written over the June Bank Holiday weekend in 2008 and featured in my third poetry collection, Frightening New Furniture, which was published by Salmon in 2010.
Read more ...What Do You Mean You Haven't Read...?
Thu, Apr 30, 2020
Fred Johnston, poet, author, critic
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