Strokestown International Poetry Festival

What? Strokestown International Poetry Festival -takes place over the first weekend in May and aims to provide a forum for excellence in poetry, of different types and in both English and Irish, and to create new audiences for poetry.

The weekend consists of readings from poets across the spectrum, we ll-known and new voices - approximately twenty readings over three days. For these it commands large audiences - even at 10.30am!

Where? Strokestown, historically known as Bellanamully (Irish: Béal na mBuillí), is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N5 National primary route and the R368 regional road in the north of the county.

Notable features include one of the widest streets in Ireland and the Strokestown Park House, an 18th-century mansion with the longest herbaceous border in Ireland

When? 30 April - 2 May, 2010

Who? Enda Wyley, Sebastian Barker , Paul F. Cummins, Rody Gorman,Paddy Bushe, Aonghas Macneacail, Hilary Davies, Dennis O’Driscoll and more

How Much? TBA

Festival Website? Strokestown Poetry Festival

Recent years - Maura Dooley, John Wedgwood Clarke, Penelope Shuttle, George Szirtes, Theo Dorgan, Paddy Bushe, Sheila O'Hagan. Below: Peter Fallon, Seamus Heaney, Louis de Paor, Peter Sirr, Michael Schmidt, Vona Groarke, Padraig Rooney, Joseph Woods.