So , tour update! So far we've presented books to the mayor of Rennes and read to lovely audiences in Maison de l'Europe, Nantes, and the absolutely beautiful Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, and tonight we're just about to read in St Gaudy Cafe, Berlin. Tomorrow the Munich Readery. We've met lots of poets, and the work of creating communication and a network between women poets across Europe is well underway. In the coming months we'll be collecting submissions for an anthology of European women's poetry to follow the tour and to work towards further, more extensive European literary linking events, so spread the word! Women writers are constantly written out (pardon the phrasing) of literary history and maybe creating stronger links between ourselves is one way to combat that.

Once the Ban Fili tour is over I'll be hosting some events at World Book Festival in Cork, so come along and spread the word!
BRADSHAW SHOWCASE READING:
Cork city library, 7pm Wed April 24th, myself and poets Annette Skade and Jennifer Matthews will be reading at a wine reception;
YOUNG WRITERS WORKSHOP:
Cork city library, 3pm Wed April 24th, a free, all-welcome writing workshop for young people.

'Exquisite Corpse' is an automatic writing technique where the first person writes a line, then folds the page so only their final word is visible to the next person, and so on. Look at this incredible poem just written using this technique by my UCC group on their final day - I've changed nothing:

In April we celebrate
Easter drags its disobedient bones
out into the air
good clean air everywhere,
everywhere
and around they gathered.

Silent O Moyle be the roar
of mice, of men
Never mind, over
matter unformed, unshaped
mutating from ugly duckling to
swansong for the best in us all, shouted
above the
wingbeat spreading sweet
scented perfume in my heart
beating, pulsating, tremendously
throbbing
whole hearted perfectionism
but who
cares
less is more
Don't ever close that door.

Next week myself and two other Irish women poets - Ann Egan and Cork Literary Review Manuscript Competition Winner 2011 Cliona O Connell - will read in various arts centres throughout Europe as part of the Culture-Ireland funded Ban Fili tour - the second such tour brought about by Tigh Fili. Watch this space for tour updates and news on European contacts made!

Modern myths at the first of my Ardmore workshops:

The first of my Gathering Festival workshops took place today, and yielded a fascinating discussion on the myths of Ardmore and how we make myths out of our own lives and journeys. All especially intriguing with the sea howling over the wall in the background! The second workshop will take place tomorrow from 7-9, when the tide is at its highest, and I think we'll have no choice but to engage with it's fearsome, ancient rage - all welcome! Contact me through this site to book a place and look out for more Ardmore workshops in the summer.