Kerry 21st August
Words Move in association with Kerry County Council Arts Office
We have happy memories of coming to Co Kerry in 2020 for sessions at Tralee Town Park, and at Killarney House. Both lovely spots! This time, we're back visiting the Killarney Men's Shed in the morning, and then on for two more community sessions in the afternoon - more info to come soon. Victoria Kennefick will be sharing her gorgeous poetry, and will be joined by the brilliant Cathal Flaherty. What a day!
Victoria Kennefick
Little Treasure, Knee-High
Child, close your eyes.
Your wriggly toes are ready to take the weight
of you now that you’re tall as a knee.
Never doubt the ground beneath your feet.
WHERE'LL WE'LL BE
How to Book: our first session is for Men's Shed members, and then on for two more community sessions. We'll have more information soon. Meanwhile, you can find out all about arts events in Co Kerry with the great team at the Arts Office, by clicking the link below.
THE PERFORMERS
Victoria Kennefick
Victoria Kennefick is a poet, writer and teacher based in Co. Kerry. Her poetry collection, Eat or We Both Starve (Carcanet, 2021) was launched in March. Her pamphlet, White Whale (Southword Editions, 2015), won the Munster Literature Centre Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition and the Saboteur Award for Best Poetry Pamphlet. Work has appeared in Poetry, The Poetry Review, PN Review, Poetry Ireland Review, The Stinging Fly, The Irish Times, Ambit, Banshee and elsewhere. A recipient of a Next Generation Artist Award from the Arts Council of Ireland, she has also received bursaries from Kerry County Council and Words Ireland.
Cathal Flaherty
Killarney Singer/Songwriter Cathal Flaherty has been named “one of the most exciting new acts in Ireland” after receiving huge national and regional airplay of his debut single A Thousand Miles. Since then he has shared the stage with a number of well-established international acts including Tears for Fears, Bonnie Tyler, Shane Filan and Nadine Coyle. He presents his own radio show on Radio Kerry and has made a number of prolific television and radio appearances. His debut EP ’The Head & Heart’ reached number 2 in the Irish Albums charts on iTunes and he has toured all around the world including Germany, The UK and Canada.
POEM
Little Treasure, Knee-High
Child, close your eyes.
Your wriggly toes are ready to take the weight
of you now that you’re tall as a knee.
Never doubt the ground beneath your feet.
Child, feel the sun’s toasty rays on your face –
that sweet freckle on your cheek, its kiss.
In your ears the sound of bees being busy
in wildflowers, you know nothing of weeds.
Child, listen! The whole world whispers
your name; its seasons, the metronome of your heart.
The grass that tickles your ankles never forgets
the texture of your skin, or its milky scent.
O Child, did you fall? We all do –
scraping our knees, bumping our elbows,
losing teeth like change. Be not afraid.
Lie down here on this moss, soft and dark.
Child, take a deep breath in. Now, exhale –
know that you have always been this close
to the earth – its little treasure.
See, it’s holding you, even still.
Victoria Kennefick, 2021
More beautiful poetry always available on Poetry Ireland Here
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