Offaly poet and songwriter to read at Poetry Day 2025 event at in Tullamore

With Poetry Day 2025 just around the corner, Anthony Sullivan will be among the writers taking part in the May 1 event at Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore.

The Lusmagh native will read some of the pieces set to feature in his third collection - 'The Light of Hope's Ascent' - due to be published later this year.

One of the pieces he will share on the night is, 'For The Souls of Palestine', a poem he already feels to be among his most important works.

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"Certainly as far as my own time as a writer goes, I think this particular poem is one I'll always consider to carry weight as far as reflecting how I feel about the genocide we're witnessing in Palestine right now. Between the horrific reality of that, and the still ongoing war being waged on Ukraine by Russia, I think a lot of people find themselves feeling the same as me. And that's not really knowing what we can possibly do about any of it, or how anything we might try to do could possibly have even the most minor of impacts on such colossal situations anyway."

Sullivan continued, "And then, in knowing all of that, we have to try and go on living our own extremely privileged, utterly normal lives. That awareness, where it exists, really leaves you with a conflict between so many emotions. The ultimate ones being a mix of sadness, frustration, and almost guilt, because what can we do except bear witness to what's happening? For whatever that's worth. Because it definitely doesn't feel like it's anywhere near enough. But at the same time, poetry is at least one of the ways that we can bear witness to these crimes against humanity."

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Sullivan published his first collection, 'Under Star And Under Sun', in 2004, and followed that up with 'Pilgrim In The Heartland' - with a Foreword penned by Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan - in 2009.

His Poetry Day readings on May 1 will also include 'As Darkness Falls', a reflection on the return of Donald Trump to the political world stage, and 'By Nature', a poem about his love of and commitment to the old-fashioned art of rhyming poetry.

Sullivan has also written the forthcoming new single from the Wrafter Family Band, "That Tune", which is scheduled for a pre-summer release.

Poetry Day 2025 takes place on Thursday, May 1 this year. The Esker Arts Open Mic event will begin at 8pm on that date. Admission is free but booking is advised. Contact Esker Arts for further information.