Bringing global poets together for Poetry Day

Local poet Amy Barry is bringing together poets from all over the world on Poetry Day Ireland this Thursday, April 29, to celebrate the theme ‘Poetry is Borderless’.

Scribes from Australia, Romania, Turkey, Canada, England, Germany, Korea, Malaysia, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, USA, Ireland and France will participate in what Amy is describing as a transnational poetry film with music. This is in line with Poetry Ireland’s theme of 'New Directions: Maps and Journeys.

Amy, who lives in Cornafulla in South Roscommon, is collaborating with producer Tom A Rahman to make the exciting film which will be available to view on YouTube on Poetry Day Ireland this Thursday.

Tom, from Malaysia, is an experienced broadcaster of thirty years with a Malaysian radio broadcasting station.

Participating poets include Leyla Isik from Turkey, Canadian poet Pamela Vandall who has published four poetry collections, Res Burman from Cornwall, and Sven Kretzschmar, a poet from Germany among many others. He was awarded 1st prize in the ‘Creating a Buzz in Strokestown’ competition in 2018 and got a special mention in the Desmond O'Grady International Poetry Competition last year.

Local musician Angela Bannon is among the musical talent who will also feature in the film. She'll play the popular Dublin song ‘Molly Malone,’ while pianist/composer Matt Cohen from USA Trio feat with Cyrille Aimee will perform 'La Vie En Rose,’ and Rastom Malaysia, on cello will display the gorgeous scenery of Langkawi island, Malaysia.

Amy’s poems have been translated into many languages including Turkish, Azerbaijaini, Persian, French and Italian. Amy is the recipient of three local council bursaries.

She was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2021 for Poetry, and has featured Irish TV and RTE Radio One in recent years.

Amy Barry regularly organises poetry/music events in Athlone where she promotes local poets and musicians at the Dean Crowe, Athlone Library, Athlone Springs Hotel, Prince at Wales and other venues.

Her poetry film will be available to view on Poetry Day Ireland this Thursday, April 29 on YouTube via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZS_omjKpmU