Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to host Irish poetry night

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Poetry lovers and Celtic aficionados can enjoy a night of literary excellence and culture at the upcoming “Night with the Irish Poets: Where Wit Meets Wisdom” at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on May 4. A Hibernian Society of Utah annual event for more than 40 years, the poetry night is usually held close to St. Patrick’s Day – around the first Saturday in March – but had to be rescheduled this year due to a snowstorm.

The upcoming event will feature about 15 members of the local Irish American community and Hibernian Society in Utah reading a variety of verses from Irish poets across the ages, including William Butler Yeats, Eavan Boland, Louis MacNeice, Patrick Kavanaugh, Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill  (Ni Dhomhnaill writes in Irish; English translations of her work will be read), along with Irish-American poets such as Billy Collins.

Local musicians Greg Doyle, Mike Bennett and Gavin Heneghan will entertain the audience with Irish music at the beginning of the evening and during intermission.

“The Hibernian Society is all about fostering community through education and celebration of Irish history, culture and tradition,” said Molly McDonough Murray, who is organizing the event along with her brother Roger McDonough. “Ireland has a rich literary tradition and poetry is part of that literary tradition.”

In Utah’s Irish American community members celebrate their culture with Irish poetry and music at the end of special events such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, and at wakes.

“I think Irish poetry is moving because Ireland has a really tumultuous history,” Murray said. “There has been a lot of oppression of Irish culture, language and religion. There’s been centuries of rebellion against tyranny, famine, mass emigration and lots of pain in Irish history. I think that the pain really hones that identity, and the Irish express that through those literary traditions of poetry, storytelling and music.”

This free event is for Hibernian Society members, but membership is free, and anyone may join at irishinutah.com in advance or at the door that evening.

WHAT: A Night with the Irish Poets

WHEN: Saturday, May 4, Doors open at 7 p.m.; the reading begins at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 670 South 1100 East, SLC

Note: This event is only open to Hibernian Society of Utah members. Join for free at irishinutah.com or at the door that night.