Strokestown International Poetry Festival

Join us for the Strokestown International Poetry Festival 2025, taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday, May 2nd, to Sunday, May 4th, in the picturesque surroundings of Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.

Now in his fourth year as festival director, Joe Woods has curated an exciting and diverse line-up for Ireland’s longest-running poetry festival. The weekend will feature a rich blend of local, national, and international poets, offering bilingual readings, poetry book launches, film screenings, workshops and an open mic & music night.

Among the twenty featured poets, many will be presenting new books or debut collections, including: Katie Donovan, Mark Granier, Luke Morgan, Trish Bennet, Patrick Chapman, Noelle Lynskey, Enda Wyley, Sam Furlong, Bernadette Gallagher, Eilish Martin, James Harpur, Lawrence Kessenich, Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, Noel Monahan, Kate Newmann, Peter Carpenter, Vona Groarke, Paddy Bushe, Nuala O’Connor, and Gerard Smyth.

The festival will also welcome recent winners of poetry awards such as the O’Shaughnessy Award and the Katherine & Patrick Kavanagh Award, alongside previous winners of the Strokestown International Poetry Competition. Vona Groarke will read from her book Hereafter and her forthcoming ninth collection, Infinity Pool, as part of a special ‘Poetry and Prose’ event where poet, Peter Carpenter will present Bowie Land, walking in the footsteps of David, a poetic exploration of Bowie’s life, marking its first Irish launch.

Festival Highlights:

• Arlen House 50th Anniversary Celebration: Featuring the launch of Washing Windows V, a landmark anthology honouring Catherine Rose and the late Eavan Boland. This volume is the largest collection of Irish women’s poetry ever compiled, bringing the total number of participating poets to over fifty.
• Strokestown International Poetry Competition: Judged by Jane Clarke, with winners announced during a dedicated event on Sunday.
• Joan McBreen Lecture: Delivered by Peter Sirr, The Life of the Poet offers an exploratory and adventurous look at poetry.
• Cyphers Literary Journal Launch: The festival will host the milestone 99th issue of Cyphers.

With a full weekend of engaging events, you are encouraged to secure tickets early. Weekend passes, single-event tickets, and workshop bookings are available now at strokestownpoetryfest.ie

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For more events at Strokestown Park Visit here

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