Ballycastle to host Ulster poets

The event, which will take place on Thursday 10th February at 7.00pm, will be followed by a traditional music session in O’Connor’s bar, Ann Street, Ballycastle from 9.00pm.

A striking feature of this bilingual event is the uniqueness of each poet, displaying an array of influences, themes and styles. The three poets featured are Nuala Reilly, Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird and Gréagóir Ó Dúill.

Nuala Reilly is a native of Armagh and now lives in Derry City. Her collection of poetry, Magus Ballyrath was published by Coiscéim in 2008.

Her poems have appeared in various magazines, including: Feasta, Comhar, An tUltach and Irish Pages. She was awarded Duais Cholm Cille at the Strokestown International Poetry Festival.

Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird is from Árainn Mhór in Donegal and currently works as a school teacher in Letterkenny. He has published folklore, prose, poetry and books for children. His latest works are Rún an Bhonnáin (novel) and Faigh Greim ar an Ghrian (poetry). He was awarded first prize in the O’Neill Poetry Competition in 2010.

Gréagóir Ó Dúill was born in Dublin and grew up in Whitehead, County Antrim. He spends his time between his native city and Gort an Choirce, Donegal. He has published nine original poetry collections and was awarded the main poetry prize in the Oireachtas literary competition in 2010 for Dán Nollag faoin Samhradh. He edited the anthologies Filíocht Uladh 1960-1985 and Fearann Pinn 1900-1999. Among his prose works are short stories in Mar Atá and Samuel Ferguson’s biography, Samuel Ferguson

A joint project organised in association with the Provost’s Office of the University of Ulster (Coleraine campus), Causeway Coast Arts, An tUltach and Pobal an Chaistil, Ballycastle, these poetry readings are part of the Dalriada Festival, a programme of events currently being rolled out across North Antrim and the Causeway Coast and funded by Comhaltas Uladh. For further information on this event telephone 07716 369 439.