Poetry wall is a huge success
OVER 30 poets responded to the call to write poems about ‘My Place’, and their work will be displayed at locations around Greystones.
Poet and tutor Frances Browner created the initiative, which was founded prior to the Covid-19 crisis, but turned out to be a wonderful way for people to cope during lock-down, and reflect on their beautiful surroundings.
Initially, the aim was to display poems in seven frames in Theatre Lane, at Whale Theatre. That has now been expanded town-wide, as there was such a large response to the call for submissions.
Poet’s Wall was erected on Friday, May 8, with the first seven poems mounted. The remaining work will be displayed all over the town.
‘I had seen something similar in Limerick before, for the month of April,’ said Frances. ‘I thought Theatre Lane would be a lovely place for the poems to be displayed.’
She contacted Ross McParland of Whale Theatre with her suggestion. ‘He jumped into it straight away,’ said Frances.
‘We decided that on the theme “My Place” and asked people to write about this place - Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany and Charlesland.’
They invited people who live in the area, those who maybe grew up and moved away, or maybe some people who visit regularly, to put pen to paper.
‘We got a great variety of entries,’ said Frances.
She said that Ross has a number of frames around the town normally used for advertising. ‘With coronavirus and all that they’re not being used,’ said Frances.
‘Ross suggested expanding a little bit. Not with another call, but by using all the poems received.’
The poems are printed out, with appropriate art work included in the design.
‘The next set will be four closer to the theatre entrance,’ said Frances.
She said that one of the groups to submit was St Kevin’s National School. ‘I was meant to give them a poetry workshop and was very disappointed that unfortunately it had to be cancelled,’ said Frances.
‘I asked the teacher Ms Lambkin to give them a prompt - “Greystones is” and they came back with fabulous lines.’
Some more works will be displayed near Bear Paw deli, and more in front of the old La Touche Hotel.
‘Of course we never would have timed it this way, but it has coincided with the Covid-19 crisis. It’s something positive and people are enjoying it,’ said Frances.
She said that hopefully there will be a Zoom launch to celebrate the exhibition, which is expected to run until the autumn, and hopefully again next year.
The majority of the featured poets have never before been published. They were able to pause and reflect on their own small part of the world, and will pass that gift on to the readers who absorb the works displayed.
‘People will have time to stop and read them now, rather than rushing around,’ said Frances. ‘I am delighted with the fact that there are a lot of different voices and subjects, even though there was just one theme.’
Frances runs a writing group for Greystones Cancer Support, and that is currently continuing online.
Usually, on the last Wednesday of each month, she hosts ‘Poet’s Parlour’ in Mrs Robinsons, which is closed at the moment. She also teaches a number of classes for Dun Laoghaire ETB
Although writing for many years, it is in the last four that she started with poetry.
‘It’s a whole new world of writing,’ she said, adding that it come with a fantastic social life. ‘You could be going to something every night of the week reading poetry! I even google “poetry open mic” when I go somewhere on holidays.’