Mountmellick recently celebrated Poetry Day Ireland with an event at the Hare’s Corner in the MDA Business Campus.
Mountmellick made it a poetry-filled afternoon on April 28 – each poem and song a star shining, a reminder of the power of language to move, uplift and inspire.
In July of 2021, Poetry Ireland announced details of Poetry Town, a new all-island initiative, which saw more than a hundred free poetry-related activities taking place in 20 towns across the island of Ireland between September 10 and 18.
During that week, the concept lit a spark and fanned a flame. Mountmellick’s poets, both with profiles as writers and without, stepped up and had their voices heard, and Dr Arthur Broomfield was named Town Poet Laureate.
The week culminated with Culture Night, when a creative partnership, 9 months in the planning, devised a celebration of the heritage of textiles in Mountmellick.
Last week, the team from Culture Night Mountmellick, 2021 used this auspicious day for their event (entitled “Cinniúint”), that was somewhat of a trinity: a commemorative booklet of Culture Night was unveiled, Dr Arthur Broomfield’s poem entitled The Spirit of Mountmellick Speaks went on permanent display, and the audience was treated to music and verse from Arthur Broomfield, Ann Egan, Stephen Comerford, Collette Dunne, & Declan Furlong, together with local singer-songwriter Adam Culleton.
Contributors on the day were Nina Horan, MC, Muireann Ní Chonaill, Arts Officer and Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council.
A large attendance showed up for the afternoon including two of the newly arrived Ukrainian residents to the town; Tatiana Petrovets and Trina Vivhristenko. The Chairman of Laois County Council, Conor Bergin welcomed them.
Following refreshments, attendees were treated to a free tour of Mountmellick Embroidery and Heritage Museum by Chairperson, Ann Dowling.
This was an afternoon of light and lore. The legacy of Poetry Town was recalled, while the sense of destiny and hope for the future was inspired.
The organisers would like to thank the team at the Hare’s Corner, Paddy Buggy of The Webmill, and everyone who came.
They also want to acknowledge the support of Laois County Council Arts Office and Poetry Ireland.
Photographer Michael Scully was present on the day and he captured some great images:
Author/Poet , Dr. Arthur Broomfield
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