Atlantis - Modern Irish Poets from the West

Working with Brian Mooney is tricky for me. 

Brian isn’t a blogger, nor is he a twitterer, facebooker, or even emailer…  He does do the telephone, but not the mobile.  We’re about as far apart as it’s possible to be technologically.

But he’s the heart of the idea of Atlantis.

I have to revolve round him and his quill pen.

Now living in Cheltenham, UK… Author of Chora published by Templar Poetry.

Paul O’Mahony met him at O’Bheal on Monday evening and told him the gist of Atlantis.  Will email him more information.

He may be a good contact for linking with Donegal poets.

There will be news soon…

Last night Paul O’Mahony went to O’Bheal in The Long Valley bar in downtown Cork.

He started to tell Aine Ui Fhoghlu about the plans for Atlantis gathering in November.  He also mentioned it to Paul Casey to see if Paul already knew about it: he doesn’t.  Must fix that soon.  Paul Casey established O’Bheal.

It’s time now to bring this blog out into the open and build up an audience for it.

Today I had a useful phone conversation with Brian Mooney.

Brian has been  beavering away, making Atlantis happen.  He’s been in touch with Dominick Taylor, Patrick Stack, Coole Park, The Friends of Coole Park, Fred Johnson and others…

We are talking about the organisation of a gathering of poets from what we will call "the West". But it’ll include Waterford & Cavan (in other words, all but the Dublin- Belfast corridor).

Brian Mooney and I are serious about this.  We intend to gather an organising ‘committee’ and move this into practicalities.

I remember well the ‘visioning’ discussions we’ve had and it was great to be back in touch with Brian again.  He’s not into blogging, twittering, facebooking and all the social networking media I use.  This means that we make a good team.

At this stage the only news is that we are planning on November for the gathering.  We are open to suggestions as to format and process.

One good thing is that I don’t know any of the politics of the poetry scene in Ireland.  I can blunder on regardless of history and personal agendas & ambitions.  I certainly intend this to be an open inclusive event.  I also want it to make a difference to the status quo - however you’d define that.

I’d like to admit that I think the only Donegal poet I know is Matthew Sweeney.

And Matthew now lives in Cork, so I don’t think that counts, do you?

About time I got to know a few eh…

 

It would be good to construct a comprehensive list of all poetry websites and blogs from the west.

Wouldn’t it?

What’s missing?

Help please.

I’m sure a great time was had by all.

But, when I used google blog to see if anyone had blogged the Cuirt Festival from Galway, I found very little.  Perhaps we could do more to put blogs to work and spread the literature round the world.

What’s the point of hiding your light under a bushel eh?

We are gearing up to run this blog with energy…

On Sunday 29 March, The Hunt Museum in Limerick displayed paintings by Michael Reeves. 

They’re in the restaurant.

At the launch of the exhibition, Murdoch Lothian spoke.

Brian Mooney read a poem.

Patrick Stack read one too.

As did Arthur Watson.

Michael, Murdock, Brian, Patrick & Arthur are all members of Three-legged stool poets from Clare.

Paul O’Mahony from Cork joined in, with a poem he’d written on the day.

There was no time for discussion about the potential of "Atlantis", but Patrick Stack & Paul O’Mahony vowed to keep in touch about this blog, and other matters.