Attended roughly half the readings, as I can't do a full 2 days of poetry, some of them very samey, some quite refreshing. Highlights for me were Helena Nolan, who was shortlisted for the main prize, Cathal O'Searcaigh (seems to have changed a lot since he was in the Undertones) and in particular Sebastian Barker, who I had never actually heard of but who delivered poetry of incredible beauty that quite won me over. (Paddy Bushe actually bought the last of Sebastian's books as I was asking my wife for money to do the same!!)
I also caught Dennis O'Driscoll for the first time. My God, what dry wit and deadpan delivery! Very very funny.
Simon O'Faolain won the Irish language prize for a second time. The main poetry prize went to Lawrence Kessernich who travelled over from Boston for the weekend and was, I think, a deserved winner. All the shortlisted poems can be read here
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