DCU’s St. Patrick’s Campus becomes temporary home to Poetry Ireland
Dublin City University welcomes Poetry Ireland to its new temporary home in the Cregan Library on the St. Patrick’s campus in Drumcondra. The relocation allows Poetry Ireland to continue its work, dedicated to poetry and poets, while refurbishment and development takes place at its historical headquarters at 11 Parnell Square East.
This move also represents a new exciting partnership between DCU and Poetry Ireland with both organisations planning poetry initiatives as well as hosting launches and live events on campus in the coming years, for loyal audiences of poetry and spoken word lovers as well as the DCU university community.
Poetry Ireland’s relocation comes at a time when DCU has opened its new state of the art library Woodlock Hall on All Hallows Campus; has signed a new agreement with Children’s Books Ireland to preserve and make available their archive; created a new Writer-in-Residence position in partnership with the Arts Council and celebrates record numbers of students in the School of English.
It also strengthens links spanning over many years between DCU Institute for Education and the Writers in Schools programme. Writers in Schools is organised by Poetry Ireland.
The announcement of the move was marked today by a series of readings on St. Patrick’s campus by poet and Poetry Ireland Board Member Paula Meehan, poet and Assistant Professor in English Kit Fryatt, Creative Writing Student and poet Kathleen King and guest poets Ciara Ní É and Will Keohane.
Speaking today, Prof Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University, said
“We are delighted to provide a ‘home from home’ to Poetry Ireland at DCU. The presence of such an active and important cultural body on campus will be of great addition to the cultural life of the university. I believe that interactions with staff and students at the DCU School of English will be of particular mutual benefit.”
Niamh O’Donnell, Director of Poetry Ireland, said
"We are very excited that Poetry Ireland has its new temporary home at the wonderful Cregan Library at DCU St. Patrick's Campus and thank the university for being our kind host. We are very much looking forward to planning events on campus with DCU and being able to welcome, once again, live audiences to enjoy poetry and spoken word."
John McDonough, Dublin City University Librarian, said
“DCU Library has always been a place of welcome and creativity, where imaginations are given room to grow through engaging with the thousands of voices on our shelves and spaces to share, challenge and inspire. We look forward to working with Poetry Ireland to build an exciting and engaging programme of events for everyone on and beyond our campus.”
About Poetry Ireland
Poetry Ireland connects poetry and people, and is committed to achieving excellence in the reading, writing and performance of poetry throughout the island of Ireland. The non-profit organisation combines its role as a promoter and supporter of poetry with advocacy for poets, advancing the art form through solid development goals.
Poetry Ireland is one of the few organisations that receives funding from both Arts Councils on the island.