Amazed to say I've been invited to read my NHS poem at the World Health Organization 2018 International Healthy Cities Conference in Belfast in October. 500 international delegates will be there, including the UK's Chief Medical Officers and the WHO European Director. It's possibly the most prestigious audience I'll have ever addressed! (Although of course every and any audience is important.)

Many thanks to NI Confederation for Health and Social Care and Arts Council of Northern Ireland for their continued support with this.

The Experimental Processes exhibition opening at Duncairn Cultural Arts Centre tonight, with wonderful print work by Lucy Turner, incorporating poems from the Words for Castle Ward Writing group.

Over the past few months, Lucy has been working with the group, explaining different methods of print-making, and allowing us to understand the process involved. My own poem was two haibun, focusing on the manual labour involved in the repeated dipping and twisting of fabrics. The resulting exhibition is an immersive and mesmerising experience, which compliments the pieces of writing perfectly. 

The installation on for the next two weeks, before heading to the Sunburst Gallery in Ards Arts Centre, from 4th to 27th October.

Geraldine O'Kane and myself will be facilitating a poetry workshop at Bray Literary Festival on Saturday 29th September 2018.

Designed to encourage and celebrate creativity, the workshop will provide the opportunity to experiment with writing in a supportive and constructive atmosphere, and is suitable for those already writing, or those who have a desire to write. Together, we will explore ideas and themes to draft and take home, as well as tips for honing your craft and creative process.

The workshop costs only €10. Please contact [email protected] to reserve a place on the class, pay on the day. Big thanks to Tanya Farrelly and David Butler for inviting us to be a part of the festival.