‘Crazy About Women’ - Celebrating the Poetry of Paul Durcan

A very special event presented by the Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland. For 50 years the poet Paul Durcan has explored and questioned a world both real and imagined. Steeped in the goings-on of Ireland and preoccupied with its concerns, he has delighted, enriched and unsettled his readers. His prodigious output of more than 20 collections bursts with poems that are courageously personal and passionately spiritual - a body of work that contains multitudes.

This evening will celebrate both Crazy About Women, a collection of poems inspired by paintings in the collections of the National Gallery of Ireland, and Paul Durcan - 80 at 80, a collection of poems published on the occasion of Durcan's 80th birthday.

Featuring the premiere of Michael Holohan's 'The Drimoleague Blues' for voice, guitar and piano. Michael Holohan, piano, Trudy Maguire singer and accordion and Breifne Holohan, guitar will also be performing a number of songs by Bob Dylan, Anna McGarrigle and Ralph McTell which have been specially chosen and relate directly to the paintings which Paul Durcan wrote about.

The event will be introduced by Niall MacMonagle, writer, critic and editor of Paul Durcan - 80 at 80. Poems will be read by actress Ingrid Craigie (The Dead), actor Mark O’ Regan (Angela’s Ashes) and meteorologist and former RTE presenter Jean Byrne.

Tickets

Gallery Friends Price: €20 (Public Price: €25). Booking Required. See National Gallery of Ireland.