To celebrate the publication of his first book of poems, Growling at the Gate, Horseleap poet Patrick Carton will be reciting poetry in the Aiden Heavey, Library Athlone at 4pm on October 3. This is part of National Poetry Day celebrations.
This will be a busy day for the poet as he is also scheduled to appear in Tullamore Library at 6.30pm also as part of National Poetry Day festivities. Then it is back to the Dean Crowe Theatre bar where Patrick will participate as one of the guests in an informal poetry event.
Patrick Carton has been composing poetry for as long as he can remember. He has appeared at the All-Ireland Festival Fringe in Athlone on a number of occasions. He really got started as a performance poet when he was a mature student living in Galway. He was often to be heard at traditional Irish music sessions “declaiming blasts of bardic brilliance across crowded barrooms”.
In 2002 he released a spoken word CD Now You're Talking - he devised a one-man-show which he performed at several venues at home and abroad.
In 2012 he was involved in the inaugural Kilbeggan Knighthood festival both as an actor and script-writer. The Kilbeggan Preservation and Development Association agreed to sponsor his book of poems and this has finally come to fruition in the shape of Growling at the Gate - the poems have rhythm and rhyme and they include meditations on the impact of the motorway on small towns, a tribute to Joe Dolan, a paean to the GAA, and an elegy on the death of Rusty his dog to name but a few.
When Patrick Carton recites poetry it is a hugely entertaining experience. As well as his Athlone and Tullamore appearances, he will be officially launching his book in his home village of Horseleap on October 5 at 8pm in Ryan’s Pub and he will be doing a full theatrical show in Tuar Ard Theatre, Moate on Friday October 18 at 8.30pm.
