Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
The Irish Poetry Reading Archive (IPRA) is a central repository that holds recordings of Irish poets and writers, reading their own work and giving a very brief overview of the context and circumstances that influenced the writing of their poems. Many of the readings are accompanied by handwritten copies of the poem, created by the poet especially for the reading. This collection aims to capture and preserve the rich and diverse landscape of poetry in Ireland. It includes the voices of: established poets; emerging poets; performance poets; avant-garde poets; English and Irish language poets; and Irish diaspora poets.
‘Woman of the Atlantic Seaboard’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Breda Wall Ryan gives the 'everywoman' a backstory.
‘A Wet Summer’s Evening’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Joseph Woods evokes an all too familiar image, that of a rainy Irish summer.
‘The Light Fantastic’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Kate Dempsey takes whimsical look at an everyday occurrence in rural Ireland.
‘The Inner Poet’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Mark Roper talks about the voice that everyone has that instills doubt in the worst possible moments.
‘Luna’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe explores the associations between the female body and the moon.
‘Daughter’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Mary O'Donnell looks at a mother's anticipation of her daughter's arrival.
‘Dublin You Are’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Stephen James Smith looks at how Dublin is a city made up of many different elements.
‘The Lost Boys’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Mary O'Malley's poem looks at how homelessness is an ever-present problem on the streets of Dublin.
‘The Darwin Vampires’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Patrick Chapman's alternative take on the classic vampire legend.
‘The Singer’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Medbh McGuckian looks at how being a poet requires making certain sacrifices.
‘Daniel’s Duck’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
In Kerry Hardie's poem, an unfortunate duck provides a child's first encounter with death.
‘Observance’
Irish Poetry Reading Archive
Anne Casey examines how relationship with those that have passed can inform our experience of the present.