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Poetry Ireland in 2020
As we approach the close of 2020 and look towards heralding a new year, it’s important to look back and consider our activities in order to give thanks for what we’ve achieved but also, importantly, to consider what we might do differently or try to do better.
This overview of our year will give you a snapshot of some of the memorable events that took place over the past 12 months. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to our main funders, the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and to all the donors, sponsors, organisations and individuals that we’ve worked with during the year.
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Thank you also to everyone who is part of our community and who has
supported the work of Poetry Ireland. Those interactions have been especially important during the last year.
The dawning reality of Covid-19 and the unsettling impacts on our daily lives has resulted in a challenging and emotional year for us all. Throughout 2020, Poetry Ireland reshaped and reformatted our activities. We codesigned, co-planned and partnered in order to support our communities and to do our upmost to maintain shared experiences, and supports for poets. Inclusion, diversity and equity are at the very heart of what we do in Poetry Ireland and a touchstone for us when we plan our activities and supports.
Samuel Beckett once said “You’re on earth. There is no cure for that’” but we feel we have an effective salve. Our salve, our antidote is our work. Through our work, we encourage people to stop and to notice, to meet and talk and to listen. We tell stories. Human stories which help to build understanding and shatter stereotypes. The ability of art, particularly poetry, to bring joy and to move and change people might be mysterious but it’s undeniable.
Poets are noble observers and their work functions as a counsellor, offering interaction and discovery, curiosity and hope. Their work provokes thought and reactions when we truly, deeply need responses. Their work does not change the world, but it does change the people who change the world.
We look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Best wishes, Niamh O’Donnell Director, Poetry Ireland
