"...a strong and deep collection which demonstrates Dardis’s skill and ability to tackle almost any subject and write about it sensitively, and with passion."

Many thanks to Ink Pantry Publishing and Claire Faulkner for this review of my poetry collection 'the x of y'.

I've be heading for the high seas and reading some maritime poetry at Titanic Belfast's August Arts and Animation Festival, from 1.30-2.30pm on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August, alongside Amy Wyatt Rafferty, Geraldine O'Kane, Ross Thompson (Saturday only), and Mark Cooper (Sunday only).

PLUS we've have OPEN MIC slots for anyone wanting to share a sea shanty or set sail on a sonnet! Just bring a poem with you on the day, come along and join in.

World Poetry Movement is organising a worldwide poetry action called Return to the People, in defence of poetry and culture assaulted by unjust and exclusive systems, protecting free speech, and speaking out against regimes who oppress artists and writers.

Belfast Book Festival and Poetry NI are running a Belfast event for WPM on Friday 24th August, 7.30pm at Crescent Arts Centre, hosting a great line-up of poets reading work in unity of this movement, including Nathan Armstrong, Mark Madden, Geraldine O'Kane, Willetta Fleming, Patricia Devlin-Hill, David Braziel, and myself.

​EastSide Learning are running a Family Fun Literacy Day at C.S. Lewis Square on Friday 17th August, a free event "full of activities to help keep reading fun and engaging for all the family".

As part of the event, I will be running some family friendly poetry workshops at Hollywood Arches Library, for young ones to try out some fun activities and exercises exploring poetry, enabling you to create your very own haiku, a short Japanese form of poetry.

The sessions are:
10:45-11:30, 11:45-12:30, 12:45-1:30, 1:45-2:30.

To book a place, contact [email protected] or send a direct message via the EastSide Learning Facebook page.