Last Wednesday night (12 November), the 2nd Annual All Ireland Live Poetry Championships took place at the White House, with 2 poets competing from each of the four provinces. Munster poet, Dónal Ó Siadhacháin, was the outright winner with a powerful rendition of his poem in celebration of Nelson Mandela. It proved a very entertaining night indeed with a huge range of poetic voices and styles on show.

The competition itself was followed by the usual “Open mic” session at which 15 poets did their stuff. I read Epithalamion in public for the second time - I stress ‘read’ as I still haven’t committed it sufficiently well to memory to do it from memory.

Tomorrow the 18th November All Ireland Poetry Slam Winner 2008 Dónal Ó Siadhacháin will be featured on Newstalk along with Barney Sheehan, MC White House Poetry Revival and Stephen Smith from Dublin who came second at the recent championships held at the White House Pub in Limerick.
They will be on the Sean Moncrieff show between 3-4 on Newstalk 106 - 108 fm, there will be a pod cast if you miss the first airing.