Decade of Centenaries Poetry Manuscript launches at the Jackie Clarke Collection

Mayo County Council, in partnership with the Jackie Clarke Collection, has announced the official launch of a Decade of Centenaries publication entitled ‘The Banks of the Moy His Heaven – New Ballina Poems’. 

To commemorate the Decade of Centenaries, Mayo County Council’s Arts Service, in partnership with the Jackie Clarke Collection, undertook a Writer in Residence programme with poet Martin Dyar last year. 

Now, the culmination of the residency will be marked with a poetry reading and reception on Culture Night, September 20, where the Bófield Céili band and the Atlantic Rhythm School of Dancing will also perform.

_{Official poster for the launch of 'The Banks of the Moy His Heaven – New Ballina Poems’}

The Decade of Centenaries was initiated in 2012 with a focus on the many significant centenaries occurring over the period 2012 to 2023,  including the struggle for Independence, the Civil War, the Foundation of the State and Partition.

The aim of the project, which was funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, was to ensure that this complex period was remembered appropriately.

Throughout the course of the residency, Mr Dyar engaged with the Jackie Clarke Collection, a group of local writing enthusiasts and students from Muredach’s College.

All of those engaged with the project produced their own poems in response to the theme of ‘New Ballina Poems’.  

Contributors to the manuscript include Marie Loftus, Catherine Gilmartin, Mike Absalom and Bridie McAndrew. 

For further information, contact the Mayo County Council Arts Service on 09490 64666 or email Katriona at mayoarts@mayococo.ie.