Ennistymon in County Clare was among the Poetry Towns, which saw more than a hundred poetry-related activities take place in 20 towns across the island of Ireland between 10th and 18th September 2021. Poetry Ireland, in conjunction with Clare County Council Arts Office, appointed Grace Wells as the Poet Laureate for the town.
Grace is an award-winning eco-poet, author, re-wilder, and yoga teacher, who says she is very proud to live in Ennistymon. All Poet Laureates were either from the respective local area or have strong connections with it, and were commissioned to write a poem honouring and reflecting their Poetry Town and its people.
As part of the week-long Poetry Town celebrations in September 2021 Grace presented her poem to the people of Ennisytmon at a series of flagship online events which also featured contributions from other local poets, artists and musicians.
Further activities included a series of poetry events involving local poets; poetry workshops; public poetry displays, including ‘Poetry Underfoot’; and a range of physical activities called ‘Poems that Move You’, which varied from town to town. Local businesses, including cafés and chemists, also participated in the activities to celebrate their towns by distributing ‘pocket poems’ to customers.
As part of the legacy of Poetry Town Poetry Ireland have announced a series of bursaries for new and established poets.
Poetry Town was an initiative of Poetry Ireland in partnership with Local Authority Arts Offices. It was made possible with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland’s Open Call funding, and was also supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Poetrytown Film by Fergus Tighe of Gallivanting Media
Pictured at the launch of Poetry Town, a new all-island poetry initiative from Poetry Ireland, is Aidan Byrne (10). Poetry Town will see more than a hundred free, poetry-related activities take place in 20 towns across the island of Ireland between 10th and 18th September 2021. To find out more, visit poetrytown.ie. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan.
