The 25th Anniversary Strokestown International Poetry Festival kicks off this Thursday on Poetry Day Ireland and running right throughout the weekend, before coming to a close on Sunday evening.
The extremely popular festival will feature a stellar line-up of poets, writers, and filmmakers with most of the talks, readings, and workshops taking place at Strokestown Park House.
Established in 1999, the Strokestown International Poetry Festival takes place annually on the first weekend of May, in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.
Organisers say the festival provides a world-renowned forum for excellence in poetry while Strokestown is famous for the large audiences that attend all readings.
“Allied to the welcome, the friendliness, and the scenery, the weekend is an unforgettable experience and a thrilling immersion in contemporary poetry,” the organisers say.
“Our mission is to showcase contemporary poetry, local, national and international, foster the development of emerging writers and consolidate poetry in local cultural life bringing it to the widest possible audience”.
This year’s festival will feature the premiere of ‘Bealach an Fhéir Ghortaigh/Hunger’s Way’ a new film by Edwina Guckian and Vincent Woods featuring new poetry about the legacy of the Famine and the landscapes around Strokestown.
The reception to launch this year’s 25th Strokestown International Poetry Festival will take place immediately after the film premiere.
This year’s festival will also feature readings by renowned poets, book launches, film screenings, and children’s events.
Tickets are available now from www.strokestownpoetryfest.ie with an all-inclusive weekend ticket just €75, tickets for Friday’s events just €25 and Saturday and Sunday tickets costing €30 each. Alternatively, visitors to the festival can book single event tickets with most readings costing €8/€10 and Adult Poetry Workshops priced at €45
