Click HERE to listen in on a discussion about poetry and poets, and writing in general, held in The Twisted Pepper Cafe, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin and organised by The Seven Towers Agency in August 2011. Participants include Eamonn Lynskey, Oran Ryan, Helen Dempsey, Bob Shakeshaft, Anne Tannam, Mary Wogan and Delta O’Hara and Ruairi Conneely.

Click HERE to listen to author Gearoid O’Dowd talk about his new book ‘He Who Dared and Died’, which is a facinationg account of a fascinating man – Gearoid’s uncle, Chris O’Dowd, who ran away from home in Galway in 1939 at the age of 18 to join the British Army (not a popular career choice at the time, although chosen by many thousands of Irishmen). A real-life adventurer, he was one of the first soldiers in the (then) new elite force The Special Air Service’, famous far and wide (some say notorious far and wide) as the SAS.

Gearoid provides an insight, not only into the man and his background but

also into the writing of the book and the difficulties thereof. As you can imagine, there were lots of things that he would like to have found out but the SAS, being the SAS, it really seems to have been a case of stiff upper lips and silence. However, sharing some of his uncle’s tenacity, Gearoid winkled out enough information to create a thoroughly interesting story about this extraordinary man whose courage and intrepid spirit earned him the prestigious Military Medal (MM) and who was tragically killed in action in Italy in October 1943. We talk in the programme also about the way that men like Chris O’Dowd, and the many like him, who ‘fought in foreign lands’ were for so long ignored in the telling of Irish history and about the recent changes for the better in this regard.

Click HERE to listen to my ‘Behind the Lines’ programme on Liffey Sound 96.4 FM radio

featuring poet Richard Halperin talking about his new book ‘Anniversary’ (published by Salmon) and about the many places, things and people that inspire his work. Richard lives in Paris and has behind him a substantial body of work published… and more to come!

‘Behind the Lines’ is broadcast every Tuesday from 8.00-9.00 pm. Available on the www and localy in the Lucan area on 96.4 FM

Click HERE to listen to the irrepressible Delta O’Hara talking with me and reading from her works

on the ‘Behind the Lines’ programme on Liffey Sound FM. Delta has an amazing range of voices which lends great colour to her reading. The programme ranges over her writing in Ireland and in San Francisco, where she spent some years, and in many other places. Also you can hear of her adventures as an X-Factor candidate!  You can also catch Delta at venues around the city from time to time performing her work. She is a great believer in live performance and has organized many events over the while, for herself and others.

Poet Asling Fox gave me an interview some time ago on my radio show on Liffey Sound FM (Behind the Lines’: every Tuesday 8.00-9.00, available on the web: see our website) which proved popular as a podcast. Some problems developed re accessing it so I have put it up again on this blog and you can access it by clicking HERE. It was a great interview with Aisling in great form (as always) and explaining here view of poetry and music and the potential for both art forms to work in unison.

Click HERE to listen to poet Helen Dempsey talk about her work on Liffey Sound FM 96.4 in the ‘Behind the Lines’ programme with Eamonn Lynskey. Helen is a member of the Ardgillan Writers Group and has lots to say on the importance of interaction with fellow writers. And can a study of Theology help in the writing of poetry? Yes it can! (Hello Barack). Listen to Helen expound on this subject and others with perceptive comments and a lively sense of humour.

Click HERE to listen to poet Pauline Fayne talk about her new book ‘Mowing in the Dark’ on the Liffey Sound radio programme ‘Behind the Lines’ and many other matters to do with her poetry. Our discussion ranges widely over her life and times and her writing over the years, going back to her grandfather, a contributor to Dublin’s long-disappeared ‘Evening Mail’ newspaper, and who’s writings were an initial inspiration for her work.