If there’s one thing that Ireland is renowned for, it’s poetry. The Irish legacy is filled with poets, from Seamus Heaney to WB Yeats, Patrick Kavanagh to James Joyce. And that legacy continues to live on, and celebrate modern poetry, through Poetry Day Ireland on Thursday 27^th April.

A one day festival celebrating Irish poets and poetry at home and abroad, Poetry Day Ireland hosts live events and educational activities all around the country. In 2016, almost 100 events took place, with 2017 set to be even bigger.

The theme for this year is Poetry Connects…

“Poetry has the power to connect. Words matter: they can build bridges or burn them down. Poetry’s “delicate dance between the said and the unsaid”* has the power to connect friends, lovers and family. It has the power to help us look inward and understand ourselves, and the power to transport us across borders and through frontiers. It connects us with our memories and springboards us to our future. We need the power of words now more than ever.”

The Doyle Collection is one of the sponsers of the event, and The Croke Park is joining in the fun on the day itself. All guests staying in Deluxe Rooms and Suites will find a copy of “Pillow Poems” on their pillow come turndown.

There are plenty of events taking place in Dublin tomorrow. Here are a few that you might want to check out… 

A Poet’s Rising - Film Screening

The 30 minute film ‘A Poet’s Rising’ features six poets and their work, commemorating 1916.

• Thursday 27 April, 1pm, 3pm & 6pm 
• Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
• Tickets: Free 

Leonard’s Corner perform for Poetry Day Ireland

This special performance of the songs of legendary singer and poet Leonard Cohen is going to be held at the Pearse Station.

• Thursday 27 April, 5-6pm 
• Pearse Station, Dublin (Southbound Platform)
• Tickets: Free

Spoken Words Poetry Evening with Eithne Cavanagh, Mary Guckian and Phil Lynch

This evening of poetry is sure to be inspiring.

• Thursday 27 April, 6.00pm
• Pearse Street Library 138-144 Pearse Street Dublin 2 D02 HE37
• Tickets: Free

And if you’re stuck at home or in the office, tune into the Facebook Live broadcast at 1pm, with people like Vice President Joe Biden, Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, activist Sinéad Burke reading their favourite poems.

You can find out more about all of these events on the Poetry Ireland website.