KW25 Kavanagh Keynote and Annual Poetry Award

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre in association with the Patrick Kavanagh Society are delighted to announce the launch night for the annual Kavanagh Weekend. This year adjudicator Victoria Kennefick will announce the winner of the 53rd annual Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award.  We are also delighted to announce Declan Gorman as this years Keynote speaker. Declan is a theatre practitioner and arts producer whose career goes back over 30 years. Declan has developed productions such as The Dubliners Dilemma, the Big Fellow and the Green Fool amongst other myriad highlights.

The Patrick Kavanagh Lecture is one of the highlights of our year and Declan follows in the footsteps of Seamus Heaney, President Michael D Higgins,  Antoinette Quinn and Evelyn Conlon amongst others.  The lecture will be followed by a public interview with journalist Frank McNally.

Since its inception in 1971, the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award has been a crucial milestone for emerging Irish poets on their journey towards recognition and publication.  We are delighted to continue this tradition of support.  Acclaimed poet Victoria Kennefick has kindly adjudicated and will announce the winner and highly commended entries.  A pamphlet publication ‘The Monsters Back’ with a selection of these entries will be available to purchase on the night.

The opening night event will be preceded by a reception in the centre at 7pm with music by the Sean Walsh trio.  Once complete the audience will be invited to participate in a Procession of Light through the village all the way to the Round Tower Church, wherein a very special late night concert featuring the legendary Armagh Rhymers will begin.

OPENING EVENT @ PATRICK KAVANAGH CENTRE

Friday 26th Sept

Doors from 7pm (guests required to be seated by 7.30pm)

Tickets €20 (this ticket includes access to the Armagh Rhymers at the Round Tower Church).

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