Launching Poetry Bus 3

Poetry magazines are precarious ventures at the best of times, so you have to admire and congratulate Peadar O’Donoghue, creator of Poetry Bus, a self-funding magazine which is launching its third number this Monday night, 23rd January at 8.30pm in the International Bar on Wicklow St. Admission is free.

So I’m all set for a great night of poetry, music and craic;and since many of the readers of this blog come from Russia, the States, Austrailia and elsewhere, I’m expecting to meet a very international audience.

PB3, an A4 format magazine, comes with an accompanying cd and will be mailed to anywhere in the world for a paltry 10€.

Poetree

Poetree. No, not poor spelling but a sculpture of a bronze tree with letters for leaves graces the cover of SHOp 31, a poetry magazine that exemplifies the best in poetry publication standards in this country. Don’t just take it from me:

'First class goods, beautifully presented. Congratulations from this confirmed SHOp-lifter.'
Seamus Heaney

'Unquestionably the most beautiful poetry magazine now in existence.'
Bemard O'Donoghue

But it’s hard times for such publications. Grants have been cut back, “and we are warned that the situation is likely to be worse in 2010” says the editor of the SHOp.

So here’s my blog, resuscitated to suggest that if you love poetry and if you want something with a bit style and imagination to put in a Christmas stocking, SHOp 31 is just out,(and it's just one of many hard-pressed poetry magazines). It’s beautiful, it's worthy and it’s good value.

(Poetree was sculpted by David McGlynn)