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As part of the Clonmel Junction arts festival the old Super Quinn building in Market Place, which has been empty, gathering dust since 2016, has been transformed into a community theatre experience called “Everything Must Go "Countrywide reporter Mary O Donnell visited the Tipperary town to find out more.
Today we look at one of the most famous poems of the twentieth century as we consider Ian Sansom’s brilliantly entertaining book about the poem and the poet, September 1, 1939: W.H. Auden and the Afterlife of a Poem . We’ll also be looking at the latest novel by Elena Ferrante, The Lying Life of Adults. This week’s Toaster Challenge guest is Mary O’Donnell, whose poetry collection Massacre of the Birds has just been published by Salmon Books. The Toaster Challenge choice is On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean VuongIntro/outro music: Colm Mac Con Iomaire, ‘Thou Shalt Not Carry’ from The Hare’s Corner, 2008, with thanks to Colm for permission to use it.Artwork by Freya SirrTo subscribe to Books for Breakfast go to your podcast provider of choice (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google etc) and search for the podcast then hit subscribe or follow, or simply click the appropriate button above. If you want to be alerted when a new episode is released follow the instructions here for iPhone or iPad. For Spotify notifications follow the instructions here.
Great Conversations features interviews with authors and writers, exploring books, writing and literary culture from Australia and the world.Today's episode features Christine Bell discussing his debut novel No Small Shame.1909 - In the mining town of Bothwellhaugh, Scotland, Mary O’Donnell and Liam Merilees promise each other that they will make something more of their lives than the tiny town has to offer.Four years later and the families have emigrated to Australia and the equally small town of Wonthagee. When Mary arrives Liam is changed. No longer the carefree friend of their youth. So what remains of their dreams and what can they make of the promise Australia offered?
Poetry/Lyrics by Mary O’Donnell from “Reading the Sunflowers in September”. Melody from the “Cantigas de Santa Maria”. Lyrics: Who will survive? There will be hoardes. Hunger will consume them. Then? There will be others. But no more temples. Morning and evening, scorched days, grave-silent nights. Memory will survive, as with us. Will they smelt the spider wisps that chrystal harvest grasses? Yes. They will grid on phantom soil. I plant sun-flowers in the spring, eat the seeds in autumn. They will not stretch broad stems, bear yellow faces for the sun. This woman’s grandchild birthed a son last night. They drank from silver goblets. He might tease beetles in his infancy. The old woman laughs - her soul sips fourfold joy. She is saved and will soon sleep. What of our prints, our songs? I guard rare books, ochred pages. Even books betray. You did not learn. I am moist with wanting. My skin is naked. Your shadow marks you even in the night. My love? What of his beauty, his young neck and curling hair, his want sunning on me? I sleep in his skin, he in mine. You must leap together.
A chance to hear again an episode from June 2019 of Words Lightly Spoken, a podcast of poetry from Ireland. Mary O’Donnell reads her poem My Mother’s Irish, Risen At Easter, to be published in her new collection Mary of St Médiers. Mary’s work is published by Salmon Poetry and Arc Publications UK. This episode of Words Lightly Spoken was funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Mary O’Donnell reads her poem My Mother’s Irish, Risen At Easter in this episode of Words Lightly Spoken, a podcast of poetry from Ireland, funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. The poem will be published in Mary’s new collection Mary of St Médiers in 2020. Mary’s work is published by Salmon Poetry and Arc Publications UK.
Mary O’ Donnell was the subject of a viral video over the weekend. She shared her story with Ryan.