We begin the week here on My Poetic Side with a look at the
winner of this years Irish Times Poetry Now Award. We also have the
celebrations that are being planned to mark the 179th birth
anniversary of Thomas Hardy.
2019 Winner of the Irish Times Poetry Now Award
The poet Derek Mahon, who is Irish born has been named as the
winner of this years Irish Times Poetry Now Award. This is the 3rd time that
Mahon has won the award. He won in 2008 with “Life on Earth” and in 2005 with
His winning work was
which the judges described as a masterpiece which was full of
style and with on
Mahon,
who currently resides in Kinsale was one of six poets who were shortlisted for
the award. The judges said
Mahon was
awarded with the €2,000 prize on Saturday in an event that took place at DLR
Lexicon which is located in Dun Laoghaire.
The Irish
Times Poetry Now Award has been running for the past fourteen years. Previous
winners have included names such as Seamus Heaney, Dorothy Molloy, Paddy
Bushe, Sinead Morrissey, and 2018’s winner Leontia Flynn.
Dorset Businesses and the Plan to Celebrate Thomas Hardy
This year will mark the 179th anniversary of the birth of the author and poet Thomas Hardy, and local businesses in Dorset as being asked to help sponsor the events that will be taking place.
A variety of different events have been planned to commemorate the
occasion including the Hardy Victorian Festival which will take place on 22nd
June in Dorchester.
It is expected that the event will attract many visitors, both
locals and those from further afield, to the town during the celebrations. The
Chamber of Business is hoping to enlist local businesses to help sponsor the
event. They will be given the opportunity to take part and also sponsor some of
the events that will take place
The annual laying of a wreath at the Thomas Hardy statue which is
located at Top o’ Town will also take place. This ceremony is carried out by
the Thomas Hardy Society and takes place with the aim of increasing people’s
knowledge of Hardy as well as promoting Dorchester as a tourist destination of
come interest.
The provisional programme for the day includes plenty of poetry
and plays by Hardy, there will also be heritage tours, live music, a Victorian
street market and Victorian tales, a steam engine and plenty of different
stalls including food and drink stalls. There will also be a dressing up
contest for those who might be interested and a 100ft Maypole. During the main
events, High East Street and High West Street will be closed off to traffic to
ensure the safety of those people attending the celebrations.
