Welcome
by An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Marie Baker
I am delighted to welcome you to the fifteenth annual dlr Poetry Now
International Poetry Festival 2010.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is committed to high quality arts and cultural programming and believes in the value of the arts and in the distinctive contribution they make to the quality of life of the county and its inhabitants. The 2010 dlr Poetry Now Festival is an integral part of the dlr arts programme which includes visual art, public art, music, artists’ residencies, education and the Festival of World Cultures.
Every year dlr Poetry Now provides an opportunity to hear some of the greatest poets of our era from both Ireland and abroad, read from their work. This year dlr Poetry Now is thrilled to welcome poets and speakers from as far as Albania, Mexico and the United States, as well as some of the best contemporary Irish poets, including winner of the 2009 Irish Times Poetry Now Award, Derek Mahon.
In addition the festival offers aspiring poets a chance to get involved in workshops with some of the participating poets. We are also delighted to have an education programme running in tandem to dlr Poetry Now with schools in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The festival also hosts the prestigious Irish Times Poetry Now Award and the Rupert and Eithne Strong Award.
dlr Poetry Now partners with many creative individuals and organisations and in particular I would like to thank the Arts Council, The Irish Times, the Strong Family and Instituto Cervantes for all their support.
On behalf of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council I would like to welcome all our participants and visitors to dlr Poetry Now and wish you all a most enjoyable weekend of poetry.