Cuisle Poetry Festival

This is the 16th Cuisle Festival, and it has grown from a small bi-annual event into one of the foremost literary festival on the annual calendar.

The festival has evening readings by international, national and local poets, a schools’ programme, and lunchtime readings to honour Limerick poets and their achievements on the literary stage.

Among the Irish poets in attendance in 2011 are Rita Ann Higgins, Mary O’Malley, Chris Agee, Vincent Woods and Máire Áine Nic Gearailt. Overseas visitors include Slovenian poet Jani Kovačič, poet and tranlator Veronika Dintinjana and from the USA, Allan Peterson.

The education strand has always been important at Cuisle, and there are readings and workshops for both primary and second level schools. The Young Poet of the Year, awarded at a ceremony during the festival, is an important recognition of the work of younger poets in Ireland.

There will also be discussions, plenty of time for socializing, nightly open mic sessions, book launches and the return of the very popular Cuisle Grand Poetry Slam. Each evening finishes with a gathering in the Festival club, in the Piano Bar at Bentley’s on O’Connell St.

Event Information and Location Map

A detailed programme is available at the festival website. Events are based mainly in the Hunt Museum (A) and the Daghdha Space (B) in John’s Square, with the Festival Club located at Bentley’s(C). Click markers for printable driving and walking directions.