A wordy cause
Leeside word lovers may find themselves gravitating towards Barrack Street this weekend as the finest in local poetry, writing, spoken word, and storytelling prepare to gather for a truly special event.
Taking place at Elizabeth Fort this Sunday, POP is a free outdoor literary-themed event for all ages running from 1-6.15pm.
The event is part of the POP Arts event series and the Cork World Book Festival.
As well as some spectacular views out over the city, visitors can expect a showcase of both up-and-coming and established writers, poets, and spoken word performers through readings, live music, poetry performances, drop-in workshops, and more.
The Pop-up Book Fair will give visitors the opportunity to browse a wide range of literary finds from some of Ireland’s finest booksellers.
For the poetry lovers, Vital Signs Poetry SOS Sessions will see award-winning poet and writer Eleanor Hooker offer 10 minute sessions as a “poetry pharmacist”, selecting and prescribing a Vital Signs poem that participants can bring home and read at their leisure. Vital Signs is an anthology of powerful and courageous responses to the human experience of illness and healing published by Poetry Ireland. These short sessions are on a first come first served basis.
Elsewhere at the fort, enthusiastic young readers will have the chance to meet with the friendly Book Doctors from Children’s Books Ireland. They’ll offer advice to young readers, sending them home with a list of potential new books to read and discover. Children (with their parent/guardian) are invited to drop by for a “consultation”.
Pop-up poetry will take place at 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.20pm and 3pm. Curated by award-winning poet Molly Twomey with readings from Molly herself, Cork writer Lauren O’Donovan, Cork-based poet and multi-disciplinary artist Michelle Delea, and Dean Browne.
For the younger folk, Nature Tales, inspired by stories of Irish wildlife, will be held during drop-in sessions by Arran Towers at 2pm and 3.30pm who will guide visitors in making clay creatures inspired by the stories. Kids will also enjoy the free pop-up playground from Let's Play Cork with a variety of games for the young and young at heart. Open from 1-3pm.
There will be live music from 1.15pm on the main stage by Citadel, a group of international musicians formed in the Kinsale Road Accommodation centre in 2018, who will be performing music from Burundi, South Africa, Ukraine, and Angola and Tanzania. Citadel is followed by one of Ireland’s leading guitarists Colin McClean who will perform from 2.45pm.
Later in the day there will be two hour-long performance events starting with Cork City Spoken Word Open Mic from 4-5pm. Curated by Cork’s renowned monthly poetry event Ó Bhéal, it will showcase spoken word performances from four regular Cork city poetry events. It’s a rare opportunity to deep dive into Cork’s living and breathing poetry scene.
Featured performers will include: from Sling Slang, emcee Richard Pierce, and poets Philip Spillane and Joanne Hackett; from Ubuntu, emcee Outsider YP, and poets Cliff Masheti and Raphael Olympio; from The Underground Loft, emcee Cian Walsh, with poets Em Egan Reeve and Ciarán Shanahan; and from Ó Bhéal, emcee Rosie O'Regan, and poets Jim Crickard and Cathal Holden.
The second performance event, Lifting the Gate by poet and spoken word artist Ben Mac Caoilte, runs from 5.15-6.15pm. Lifting the Gate is a storytelling, performance poetry, and music show that has been performed at venues across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. Mac Caoilte supported Declan O Rourke on his Irish Tour 2023. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance on eventbrite.ie. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
POP is facilitated by Cork City Council Arts Office in association with Cork World Book Festival, Cork City Libraries and Promenade.
Michelle Carew, Arts Officer for Cork City Council, said: “Our outdoor arts event will appeal to anyone with an appreciation for books, writing, storytelling, and poetry and I think people will be amazed at what a vibrant arts community within these genres we have on our doorstep here in Cork.”
Patricia Looney, Acting Cork City Librarian, added: “The aim is to showcase what can be achieved when communities come together to create literary outdoor arts performances. The talent that will be on show at this event can be something we are all very proud of, and what better setting than the wonderful Elizabeth Fort for all to enjoy! The event will also hopefully encourage more appreciation of both written and spoken word as a form of artistic expression.”