Poetry Jukebox - Changing the Message

The Poetry Jukebox

I was honoured to be selected as one of the twenty poets for Ireland's first ever Poetry Jukebox with my poem This Place Meant, which I wrote as a response the unfolding horrors of the global refugee crisis. What is the Poetry Jukebox you ask? It's a public installation, shaped rather like the smokestack of a ship that plays recordings of poets reading their work at the push of a button and is part of the Qoutidian – Word on the Street project which seeks to put poetry into public space.The dynamic duo behind the project are poets and writing mentors Deirdre Cartmill and Maria McManus, who were interviewed by the Irish Times about it and do a way better job than I do of explaining what it is.

Before the launch the participating poets were invited to do a video recording of their reading. I was asked to go to the HQ of poetry Ireland, a beautiful Georgian building on Parnell Square, Dublin (see front door and fireplace below) You can see my video here.

The launch was held at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre, a bustling creative hub with a great cafe housed in a stunning four storey listed building. Each poet read their piece and there was a reception afterwards. I really enjoyed being back in Belfast and reacquainting myself with the warmth of its people.

Crescent Arts Centre

Me, reading at the launch

Here is the full list of the poets on the Poetry Jukebox

Joan Newman
Michael Longley
Eavan Boland
Celia de Fréine
Stephen Sexton
Mark Granier
Paula Meehan
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin
Katie Donovan
Padraic Flacc
Mary Montague
Adam Trodd
Adrian Fox read by Matthew Price
Nessa O'Mahony
David Brazíel
Seanín Hughes
Olive Broderick
Eamon McGuinness
Afric McGlinchey
Glen Wilson