The town of Lismore will play host to this year's Blackwater International Poetry Festival, with an exciting line up from August 1st to 4th. You'll find a full running order here. Chairperson Gene Barry, himself a widely published poet, and organiser Alan Murphy, whose also had work published, joined Mary in studio. Have a listen here..
"Summer Jammin" is a free event taking place in The People's Park, Waterford, Saturday July 27th between 2pm and 7pm. It's being staged by Manor Street Music, a youth group that organises music events for young people in waterford. Mary was joined On the Fringe by Amy Flynn and Ellen Fitzgerald, and you can listen back on their chat here..
Spraoi 2019 is now in its 27th year, and is bigger and better than ever. This year's theme for the parade is All at Sea - so you can expect lots of marine type creatures and plenty of colour! There's lots more happening besides, as you'll see here. Ollie and Mary visited the workshops to find out more.
Lafcadio Hearn spent his childhood summers in Tramore and went onto become a prolific literary figure in Japan, where he wrote folklore. A collection of his Japanese Ghost Stories has been published by Penguin Classics. The introduction was written by Paul Murray, a former Irish Diplomat to Japan, who dedicated much time researching the life and works of Hearn. He joined Mary On the Fringe and you can listen back here..
