Granard poet to launch eighth book of poetry
Noel Monahan to launch Chalk Dust next week in Cavan town
The collection is published by Salmon Poetry, Ireland.
Poetry Style
Noel Monahan's work is never far removed from his native place and this new collection features work on a Billhead, related to Kiernan's store in Granard, 1944 and Granard's newly refurbished Buttermarket.
One of Ireland's established poets, Noel's poetry was prescribed text for Leaving Certificate English.
Many of the poems in this new collection have been published in literary magazines and journals worldwide and Noel has read his poetry in many universities throughout Europe and North America.
A number of his poems have been translated into Italian, French,
Romanian and Russian.
Poetry Lessons
Forever active in his native county, Noel has given mentoring courses for advanced practitioners of poetry in Longford.
The courses were organised by Fergus Kennedy, Longford's Arts Officer.
Noel has also been involved in the Goldsmith Summer School, The Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival and Granard Harp Festival.
He has visited many schools in Co Longford and given readings and workshops on poetry.
A number of such visits were organised by Mary Carleton Reynold, Longford County Librarian.
Literary Awards
Monahan's literary awards are numerous and include: The SeaCat National Poetry Award, organised by Poetry Ireland, the RTE PJ O'Connor Award, the Hiberno-English Poetry Award, the Irish Writers Union Poetry Award.
In 2012 , Longford County Council celebrated the Lifetime Achievements of Noel Monahan's literary career in Backstage Theatre.
His drama, 'The Children of Lir', was performed by Livin' Dred Theatre in Backstage Longford and toured throughout Ireland.
Read Also: Longford poet to speak in UK
This new collection, 'Chalk Dust', searches for identity and belonging, in the shifting shadows of modern Ireland.
The section of sonnets seeks a spiritual uplift out of the darkness and one of the sonnets deals with the reopening of St Mel's Cathedral, Longford, after the fire.
The poems written in Irish, with English translations further the quest for meaning.
New Book
'Chalk Dust', the stunning title poem, portrays Noel's five years spent in Cavan's local boarding school in the 60s: St Norbert's College, Kilnacrott.
Like many of the boarding schools of its time, Kilnacrott was an Irish Catholic boarding school, where sons of strong farmers and rural shopkeepers were placed in the ivory hands of priests, to be educated.
This long dramatic prose poem is episodic and follows the calendar of a school year, where trapped male energy erupts, under the strains of collective living and time alone allows the Chalk Dust to settle.
'Chalk Dust', will be launched by Niall MacMonagle, author, editor and broadcaster. The cover image of Monahan's collection is by Padraig Lynch, renowned artist.
Also read: Recalling some wonderful memories in Granard