October 17, 2020

The new poetry collection in the Poetry Jukebox is No Word for ‘Stay’. This selection of poems by poets from the north of Ireland who has lived experience of The Troubles, resonates with the language of loss, grief, and remembrance, but also with optimism.

There is a total of twenty wonderful poets and all of the poems are recorded in the poet’s own voices. The audio installation features poems in Irish, English, and Spanish from some of Ireland’s most accomplished writers.

The poets featured are Jean Bleakney, Colette Bryce, Ciarán Carson, Gerald Dawe, Celia de Fréine, Damian Smyth, Moyra Donaldson, Padraig Fiacc, Leontia Flynn, Alan Gillis, Dennis Grieg, Gearóid Mac Lochlainn, Gail McConnell, Paul Muldoon, Joan Newmann, Kate Newmann, Frank Ormsby and Lorna Shaughnessy.

Poignantly it also includes Derek Mahon’s wonderful poem, Everything Is Going To Be All Right as well as the momentous poem Ceasefire, by Michael Longley.

You can also listen to the poetry jukebox through their website.

In addition to visiting the jukebox and listening to the poems online, you can also enjoy a discussion panel event, featuring Professor Cliona Ní Riordáin (Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris), in conversation with poets Paul Muldoon, Moyra Donaldson and Gail McConnell which will be broadcast via Belfast International Festival and Centre Culturel Irlandais – details are available here and accessible via the festival YouTube Channel.

The Poetry Jukebox at EPIC is presented with Belfast International Arts Festival, Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris), Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Poetry Ireland.

Installations will be located at:

• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin from 17 October to 31 December 2020
• Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast from 17 October to 31 December 2020
• Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris from 4 January to 21 March 2021

STAY SAFE #Covid19

• Please follow COVID-19 Safety Guidance available on the jukeboxes, using a key or a pen as a proxy to press the button or
• Go hand’s free and scan the handy QR codes to listen via your mobile device

Follow @PoetryJukebox – Spread the words, not the virus!

Information Credit: The EPIC Museum