Poems for Patience XV at Cúirt International Festival of Literature

Poems for Patience XV, an exhibition of poems selected and introduced by Michael Coady, will launch at University Hospital Galway on 24 April 2018 hosted by Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust in association with Cúirt International Festival of Literature and supported by Poetry Ireland.

Each year, a poet who is appearing at Cúirt International Festival of Literature selects poetry suitable for display in waiting areas of University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital. The poet chooses 22 poems which are then framed and displayed in the Art Corridor, University Hospital, Galway during the festival. An official launch takes place and the poet introduces the poems that they have chosen.

Poems for Patience is a collection of varied thoughtful poems by celebrated Irish and International poets. Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust is hopeful that the poetry disseminated throughout the hospitals will give people pause for reflection and space for hope in both those joyful celebratory moments as well as the all too often times of pain or worry. This year Poems for Patience is selected and introduced by Michael Coady.

In conjunction with the Poems for Patience project, Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust has held an annual poetry competition since 2013. This year, the winning poem by poet Ruth Quinlan is titled Small Acts of Anticipation. Poet Kevin Higgins will introduce the 2018 winner and she will read her winning poem at the launch. The poem will be included in the Arts Trust’s Poems for Patience poetry collection.

Finally, Poetry Day Ireland takes place on Thursday 26 April and we will be previewing this years Menu of Poems edited by Michael Coady, titled Encounters. Menu of Poems is a joint initiative by Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust and members of Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland. Poetry is circulated on meal trays in health settings nationally on Poetry Day. This project is kindly supported by Poetry Ireland. Several hospitals and healthcare settings will be taking part in the initiative including the seven hospitals in Saolta University Healthcare Group. The project is co-ordinated by Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust.

Michael Coady has received the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award (1979) and the O’Shaughnessy Poetry Award (2004). His most recent book from Gallery Press is Given Light which integrates poetry, prose and photographs.

Poems for Patience XV Launch  
Date: Tuesday 24 April 2018
Venue: Arts Corridor, UHG
Time: 11.00am
All welcome

For further information visit www.cuirt.ie/event/poems-patience-michael-coady/