Renowned Dundalk writer Jaki McCarrick publishes her first poetry collection
Now, her arm is almost healed and the collection, published by Dedalus Press is due to hit the shelves of most bookshops and from the publisher's online system.
"Thankfully I had the bulk of the work done when I had that cycling accident,' she says,
Better known for her plays and fiction, Jaki says she has been working on this collection of poems on and off for about twenty years.
'There was no real theme to it but a few years ago I wrote Sweeney as a Girl, which was included in a collection with other local authors.'
"I've always loved the story of Sweeney, the king who goes mad. He has inspired so many other writers including Flann O' Brian and Seamus Heeney,' she explains. 'I thought it would be interesting if I took that story and flipped it so that Sweeney was a female.'
She notes that in the tale Buile Shuibhne, which sees the 11th century Irish king turned into a bird, no one knows the gender of the bird.
Jaki then built her collection around her poem Sweeney as a Girl, setting poems in Oriel and the Mournes which are mentioned in the original story.
"I decided to pin it here, set it here. I remembered how interested I was in Sweeney and would go back to the story and also how it inspired non-direct works like Flann O'Brian's At Swim Two Birds.'
She also learned that Paula Meenan had written a play called Mrs Sweeney in which she had given the king a wife who lived in Dublin.
The result is a set of Sweeney poems which provide a framework for work that explores modern life as well as well the lives of many women from history, more recent and mythical.
ADVERTISEMENT
Once she had put the collection together, drawing in old and new poems, she sent the manuscript off and was delighted when Dedalus Press said they'd love to publish it.
Jaki will be reading from the collection at the Cork International Poetry Festival on May 15 and and will also read at the launch of Sweeney as a Girl in the Basement Gallery of An Tain Arts Centre on May 30.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
Ireland to become one of the first countries to clamp down on AI deepfakes
Ireland is set to follow Denmark in becoming one of the first countries to clamp down on the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes, has learned. It comes after the Danish government announced this week plans to change copyright laws to grant people ownership of their voice, body, and facial features. Sources this weekend said Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan has requested a meeting with his Danish counterpart, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, to discuss ways to strengthen protection against digital imitations of people's identities. Patrick O'Donovan. Pic: Leah Farrell/ The Government is increasingly concerned about the use of AI-generated deepfakes in criminal activity. Irish writers have also lobbied the Coalition amid criticism of tech giant Meta, which has harvested or 'scraped' the written works of high-profile authors including Sally Rooney, John Banville and President Michael D Higgins. A Government source confirmed Minister O'Donovan will meet with Mr Engel-Schmidt in the coming weeks. Minister for Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt. Pic: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) They told 'The Minister has reached out to his Danish colleague, and he will be meeting him shortly to see what can be done. 'It sounds quite interesting what Denmark is doing. They [the Danish government] are figuring out ways to deal with this in a way that is effective.' The source said discussion of what new laws can be introduced here to combat deepfake scammers will be at the top of the agenda. Deepfakes. Pic: Shutterstock The new Danish legislation comes amid some growing concerns across Europe about rapidly developing AI technology that has made it easier than ever to create a convincing fake image, video or sound to mimic the voice or features of another person. Once approved, the changes to Danish copyright law will give individuals the right to demand that online platforms remove such content if it is shared without consent. The legislation will also cover 'realistic, digitally generated imitations' of an artist's performance without consent. Violation of the proposed rules could result in compensation for performers who are affected. The Danish government said the new rules would not affect parodies and satire. Asked if they supported the introduction of similar legislation and penalties here, a spokesman for Ireland's media and online safety regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, said: 'The questions are quite technical… I will have a response on Monday [tomorrow] definitely.' While Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is responsible for policing tech giants whose European headquarters are based in Dublin, also did not respond to queries asking if similar laws should be introduced in Ireland. A spokesman would only say: 'Individuals can complain to the Data Protection Commissioner where they believe their personal data has been breached in some manner. 'The Data Protection Commission receives complaints from individuals in relation to the processing of their personal data.' The DPC can also order the removal of online images of people if they have been posted without their consent. It can fine tech companies up to 4% of their global turnover if they refuse to comply with its orders. However, the DPC has faced criticism at home and abroad for its perceived failure to enforce laws to protect individuals' data rights from big tech companies. In January, the European Court of Justice ordered the DPC to pay the legal costs of a doomed case that it took against the European Data Protection Board. This came after the EU data watchdog criticised a DPC ruling against people who made complaints against Meta and its popular message-sharing platform WhatsApp.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish The Chase star shares 'genius' method to get rid of flies in your home
With summertime here, many will be experiencing the annoyance of flies flittering around their homes. There is a way to stop that, however, and Irish The Chase Star Darragh Ennis has a "genius" method of doing so. Darragh, who is best known for his performances on ITV game show The Chase, studied entomology which gives him a particularly impressive level of knowledge on the subject of insects. Nicknamed The Menace while quizzing, Darragh recently shared a video on his popular TikTok account that revealed a sure-fire way of keeping flies away, especially if you have houseplants that insects are drawn to, The Express reports. The 44-year-old explained how in the warmer months of the summer, small black flies may get into your home and pester you with their constant flittering. Darragh admitted it can be "really hard" to get rid of the flies, which often live on people's houseplants. In his video, Darragh explained: "If you've got little insects flying around your house, it can be really annoying. Now, I'm an entomologist so I love insects, but I still don't want those tiny little black flies all over my house, and they're really hard to get rid of - especially when they live in your houseplants. "They're called fungus gnats because they live in compost and stuff, and they're a big pest in mushroom growhouses and things. Getting rid of them with chemicals is really hard." Rather than giving up and getting rid of your houseplants altogether, there is a way to keep them and eliminate the scourge of flies in your home. It may be a new method to you but Darragh recommends using nematodes. He continued: "You've probably never heard of them, but they're little microscopic worms that live in the soil. They're probably the most common animal on the planet, but we can't see them. There's billions upon billions upon billions of them." He added: "One type of them crawls inside insects and kills them. Now, it's a bit gruesome, but it's a natural way of killing them. "You can just order these online. You just put these into a watering can and then pour them on your house plants. The best bit about this is that they crawl through the soil and hunts through the larvae and everything so they're gone. "So if you want to get rid of those little flies and you don't want loads of chemicals, buy some nematodes. I studied them for my PhD, and now they're useful in my house." Darragh then showed his followers a packet of nematodes that he bought online. These were labelled as Sciarid Fly Nematodes, which can be bought online on Amazon for around €15. Other natural remedies that can help keep flies out of your house includes using herbs and plants that insects are not attracted to such as basil, lavender, mint, bay leaves and marigold. You can also make an essential oil spray by mixing one cup of water, 10-15 drops of an essential oil like peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, or lavender, and one tablespoon of vodka (optional, but helps oils mix) into a spray bottle and spraying it around windows, doors, and other entry points in your home. Another common way to deter flies, particularly small ones like fruit flies, is to make a homemade trap. You can do this by mixing apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a bowl, covering it with cling film, and then poking a few small holes in the top.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Two young musicians awarded bursary in memory of true stalwart of the Wexford stage
The bursary was established in 2023, a year following Betty's sad passing. The award was an apt way to honour Betty's memory given her long history in the musical societies of Wexford. Betty was extremely well-known for her work with the likes of Wexford Light Opera Society (WLOS) and Wexford Festival Opera, as well as volunteering experience stretching back to 1968 with the Wexford Festival Opera. Betty served as chairperson for Music for Wexford from 2007 until her passing in 2022. The bursary in her memory will go on to help classical guitarist Dean Glynn and Irish harpist Mollie Carroll, two exceptionally talented young artists from County Wexford. Dean Glynn began studying classical guitar at the age of 6 at the County Wexford School of Music under David Creevy. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying under Peter Katona. Dean's accolades include winning the Bach Guitar Prize at Feis Ceoil 2024, and being a finalist and prize-winner in the inaugural Maeve Broderick Prize for Strings, where he received awards for both Most Original Programme and Best Audience Engagement. He has also performed at ChamberFest Dublin and on the main stage of the National Opera House, and serves on the Music for Wexford Youth Committee. Mollie Carroll has played the Irish harp since the age of eight. Music has always been a central part of her life, and she uses the harp as a way to explore both tradition and innovation. While her heart lies in traditional Irish music, she loves fusing styles, experimenting with pop, rock, and classical genres to shape her sound. Mollie performs with the Wexford Harp Ensemble and is a member of CCÉ Gorey/Ballygarrett. The bursary audition panel consisted of Beth McNinch (Viola), Aisling Ennis (Harp), Caitriona Frost (Percussion), and Eamon Sweeney (Guitar). Speaking on the award, artistic director Beth McNinch said: "Both young musicians showed outstanding musical talent and connection with the audience in their auditions, and the panel felt that together they would provide a really interesting concert to close out our Summer Season." Music for Wexford believes it is vital to offer young musicians paid performance opportunities, which can be difficult to find outside of school or college. To address this, the organisation has dedicated its July programming to supporting emerging artists, with lunchtime concerts on July 2, 9, and 16 at 1 p.m. in St Iberius Church, featuring musicians from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Cork School of Music. ADVERTISEMENT These concerts promise a vibrant mix of wind, brass, piano, voice, and strings. In addition, all bursary applicants are invited to 'take over' Music for Wexford's Culture Night programming each year, curating and performing their own concerts. This initiative provides a unique and valuable learning experience for the next generation of performers. As part of their award, Dean and Mollie will perform a lunchtime concert on Wednesday, July 23 at 1 p.m. in St Iberius Church, Wexford, closing out Music for Wexford's summer season. Audiences can look forward to a refreshing blend of classical, traditional Irish, and contemporary arrangements. Tickets can be bought on the official Music for Wexford website.
