Between the Lines Poetry Festival in Carrick

A new poetry festival celebrating memory, language and shared experience will take place in St George’s Church, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday, June 27th.

'Between the Lines' will bring poets, readers and audiences together for a day of readings, conversation and performance. The festival will conclude with an evening reading and conversation featuring acclaimed Galway poet Rita Ann Higgins, whose sharp, witty and deeply human work has made her one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Irish poetry.

Ahead of the festival, audiences are invited to share the poem that has stayed with them through the festival social media channels or by email. These contributions will help shape The Poems We Keep, a festival session exploring why certain poems remain with us throughout our lives.

Festival organiser Phyl Foley said the committee wanted to create a festival that felt welcoming, thoughtful and connected to people’s everyday lives.

“Many people carry a line of poetry with them, even if they haven’t opened a poetry book in years. We wanted to create a festival that begins from that place of memory, recognition and connection.” 

The programme begins at 10 a.m. with The History of Connacht in Five Poems, where Niamh MacCabe explores the history of the province through poetry.

At 11.15 a.m. writer and publisher Brian Leyden will lead a session on publishing, contemporary writing and bringing work into print.

From 1.30 p.m. Poets on Stage, facilitated by Gerry Boland, will feature a range of new and established voices reading their work.

At 3.00 p.m. The Poems We Keep, led by writer and facilitator Rhona Trench, invites audiences to reflect on the poems that have stayed with them from schooldays, family life, weddings, funerals, friendships and everyday moments.

The festival will close at 7.30 p.m. with an evening reading and conversation featuring Rita Ann Higgins.

One of Ireland’s most celebrated poets, Ann Higgins has spent more than four decades creating work that is instantly recognisable for its honesty, wit and distinctive voice. Most recently, her poem No One Mentioned the Roofer, from Jiving with Wasps (Bloodaxe Books, 2026), was selected for Poems on the Underground in London. Whether you are a lifelong reader of poetry or simply curious about the power of language, the closing event offers a rare opportunity to hear one of Ireland’s most important contemporary poets read from and reflect on her work.

Poems can be submitted through the festival website or by email to betweenthelinespf@gmail.com 

Tickets for the festival are available via Eventbrite at betweenthelinespf.eventbrite.com.