Little festival promises a lot of poetry

POETS and poetry lovers will gather for a feast of poetry in Ballyferriter this weekend as the village prepares for the annual Féile Bheag Filíochta.

This is the 12th year of the festival, which celebrates poetry and poets with an emphasis on Irish language poetry. As well as workshops and readings the festival explores poetry in the folklore of West Kerry and this year’s ‘Léacht na Féile’ – the festival lecture – is on the poetry of Blasket Islander Micheál Ó Guithín. The lecture it will be delivered by energetic Listowel poet Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin.

Development of poets and new poetry is central to the festival and the workshops by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Eileán Ní Chuilleanáin in Irish and English respectively are in high demand. The committee is examining the possibility of adding another workshop to cater for this.

Music is combined with poetry during the festival and the ‘Siar agus Aniar’ concert on Saturday will explore through images, poetry and music the connections between Irish poetry and the landscape and in particular how the landscape, people and culture of West Kerry have permeated the work of poets over the past 100 years.

Although the language of the festival is Irish, the organisers are providing simultaneous translations at the festival opening and lecture on Friday night and at the seminar on the future of poetry publication on Saturday.

Further information is available on the festival’s website www.feilebheagfiliochta.com or to inquire about the workshops contact Justin at 087 9405919.