Episoder

  • Mass is in session this week on the podcast with banger poems replacing hymns.

    Now we've both watched and essentially been shook by the movie Small Things Like These, we get into why that movie hits so hard and wind poetry around the experience of the film to help us understand how to navigate that tricky world of church and religion in Ireland.

    Before that, as Leon had spent 24 hours in Sligo and Ryan had been watching the show 'Rivals' where rough and ready Declan O'Hara enjoys reciting poetry from WB Yeats, we thought we'd share a poem from him, recited by Cillian Murphy.

    We get into the history of the Irish church and box that off with a poem written by Leon. Warning: This isn't a light one.

    It's not all bad with the church in Ireland so we try and add meat to that bone with the poem 'Solitude' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Hopefully that helps as we navigate the blessings and historical curses around religion in Ireland.

    Nate Gladdin from the Whiskey And Ink podcast gave us a belter of a poem that takes us right into a world where a town used to be something and isn't now. Apologies for any County Clare folk but we dig out the town Tulla in this chat, don't hate us.

    One of the highlights of the year we've had living and breathing poems was seeing Rachel Mulqueen perform at the storytelling tent Seanchoíche. We share her poem and tribute to her male friends 'A Belated Thank You To My Boy Friends (remix)' a reboot and homage to Hollie McNish's poem of the same (ish) name. Lovely piece.

    We received an Agony Aunt all about longing love and missed opportunities so enjoy that one.

    If you'd like to join our second read-along, sign up to our patreon and get involved. We have teamed up with The Winding Stair Bookshop for the read-along with the team there picking the collections moving forward and giving us a discount on the books if you buy from them. Means we can join the excitement of not knowing what we're reading, savage.

    Let us pray. Amen. Blessed be the fruit and all the other stuff they say in church.

    Ryan and Leon

    Poems from the show

    WB Yeats - When You Are Old (read by Cillian Murphy)
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43283/when-you-are-old

    Leon Dunne - Raimcha na blathnana
    Instagram - @nomanticz

    Ella Wheeler Wilcox - Solitude
    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/solitude/

    Nate Gladdin - French Valley
    https://open.spotify.com/show/4nNbc0ImIHdGjYpmQOcS1J

    Rachel Mulqueen - A Belated Thank You To My Boys (remix)
    Instagram - @rach_mulqueen

    Patreon for read-along:
    https://www.patreon.com/c/thepoetrysdeadpodcast


    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • If you're here for the cheese addict, stay 'til the end ;)

    And if you do, your heart and soul will be filled with a myriad of hopeful poems to bring you through the change in weather as you sniffle your way through the start of winter.

    We shine a light on men's mental health on the show this week, starting with the Movember campaign that poet Daragh Fleming is an ambassador for. Every day this month he's been sharing poems to raise awareness on men's mental health, and he shares one of his favourites on the podcast.

    Playright David Gilna gives us one of his belters about youthful friendship and bonds with his poem 'The Boys From The Jacko'. Yup Swords IYKYK.

    Barry Currivan, a Dublin poetry scene favourite, gives us a poem from his upcoming collection 'If Not If, What' all about staying young at heart.

    We share a piece from Belfast poet Paul Muldoon after our trusted source Suzanne Meehan recommended we have a read of his work before Ryan shares his poem about the unfortunate side effect of falling in love through his piece 'He Let Himself Go'.

    Our agony aunt this week comes from someone who is suffering from a lack of restraint when it comes to Gouda. Not really a problem, just a supported hobby in our eyes

    Poems from the show:

    Stephen Downey - Man Of The House
    Instagram - @stephendowney

    David Gilna - The Boys From The Jacko
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/24-Hours-Day-David-Gilna/dp/1915502918

    Barry Currivan - We Make Things Old
    Instagram - @barry_currivan

    Paul Muldoon - The Loaf
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47992/the-loaf

    Ryan Duggins - He Let Himself Go
    Instagram - @ryanduggins

    Agony Aunt - The Dairy Dilemna


    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

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  • The title is as wide ranging as show this week guys but stick with us!

    Over 1 million people were on the streets of Dublin last weekend to support the runners taking on the city's marathon, and we think only 800,000 of them were there to perv over Colin Farrell! Leon ran it and has a poem for us.

    The next day, Ryan went into The Secret Book Store for the first time, picked up a random poetry collection, opened it at a random page when enjoying a pint at Devitts on Camden Street in a journey that proves that poetry will see you before you see poetry. Enjoy this piece from the late Patricia Monaghan.

    We get into the weeds of Irishness next with the work of James Clarence Mangan as Leon has been reading Finding Mangan by Bridget Hourican, a devil of a book going into the deeps of his life. On the flip-side, a man who got a lot of inspiration from Mangan was Shane MacGowan. Ryan is reading his pub-crawl book 'A Drink With Shane MacGowan' at the moment so we share poems from both, and spar over the history of Ireland and the ignorance of education in England about what happened.

    We have a lovely end to the show through a short and sweet piece about love by Shiv Hickey. Beautiful work.

    If you like the show and would like to join our monthly read-along or would just like to show your support, join our Patreon on the link below:

    https://www.patreon.com/c/thepoetrysdeadpodcast

    Stay sexy
    Ryan and Leon

    Poems from the show

    Leon Dunne - What Are You Running From?
    Instagram - @nomanticz

    Patricia Monaghan - The Butterfly Tattoo Effect
    https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Chaos-Salmonpoetry-Patricia-Monaghan/dp/1903392276

    James Clarence Mangan - Dark Rosaleen
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50353/dark-rosaleen

    Shane MacGowan - The Dunes
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5UH3Iik8Jg

    Shiv Hickey - Loved Out Loud
    Instagram - @whisperedwordsaftermidnight

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • For all the men over 30 who listen to the show, we apologise for the intro music.

    It's Halloween though, so we had to scare you a little bit and what better way to start the show than with the scariest music ever recorded, the entrance music that wrestler Kane.

    Poetry still to this day is hard to come by in popular culture, but The Simpsons in 1991 did something incredible. The creators took Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven' and trusted it to be the centrepiece of their Treehouse Of Horror episode. We wanted to share that this week, narrated by James Earl Jones.

    We bounce between ghouls, skeletons, bonfires, murder and throw in a mention of 'THAT' jump scare video where the car drives around the lane. You know the one.

    Leon has his own ghost story too that will keep you awake for sure.

    If you're in Ireland you'll get this on a bank holiday, so go wash last night's fake blood off that face, go for a walk and take us with you.

    (We do not own the rights of any content shared on the podcast)

    Poems from the show:

    The Raven - Edgar Allen Poe
    Taken from The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror 1991

    Porphyria's Lover - Robert Browning
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46313/porphyrias-lover

    The Visitor - Ian Serallier
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011lgcd

    Suzanne Meehan - The Gurrier's Rite
    Instagram - @suzie433

    Mary Karr - Field Of Skulls
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43134/field-of-skulls

    Theresa McCormack - If I Was A Ghost
    Instagram - @theworldaccordingtot

    Leon Dunne - A Ghost Story
    Instagram - @nomanticz



    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • It took 6 months for us to mention the movie 'Dead Poet's Society' so give us a break!

    On the show this week, we have love, former loves, and all that life offers you in-between so settle in for 40 minutes of poetry and giggles.

    Leon had travelled out to Scotland for a wedding between two poets who had set each other a task of writing each other a poem during the getting-to-know you stage of their relationship. We share those poems on the show. Beautiful stuff.

    Ryan, from his posing position in Merrion Square, with a notepad in hand wrote a poem that he shares on the show that will put a smile on your face for sure.

    We mentioned Allen Ginsberg on the show last week, and the lads didn't know too much about him. We fix that with a poem and a short backstory of that 'Beat Generation' of American poets

    Menna Siwan treats us with a poem that sends thanks to someone who crawled back from the edge with a piece called 'For You'.

    Our Agony Aunt this week is all about who keeps the friends after a break-up. Spoiler: You might need a few new friends

    We have the read-along now live and kicking so if you'd like to join us, sign up to our Patreon. We have a new book every month so get involved you absolute ride.

    Poems from the show:

    Dave and Sophie McIntyre - Wedding Poems
    Instagram: @sm_gruber and @davidrobertmcintyre

    Ryan Duggins - My Favourite Day
    Instagram - @ryanduggins

    Allen Ginsberg - When The Light Appears
    https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html?oref=login

    Menna Siwan - For You
    Instagram - @mennasiwan

    Agony Aunt - The Split

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • The days are the shorter, and we're here to keep you company

    It's getting colder, but the leaves are looking mighty fine out there so take us with you on that walk this week, but grab a scarf.

    Georgie Jones gives us a poem this week that paints a picture of a world that we will never see: the feminine power of the women's bathroom.

    Seems just yesterday that Dublin was practically on fire and LUAS trains being destroyed, but it was a year ago would you believe. Those dark days are shared through a poem by Sean Walsh.

    We are lucky enough to have a lovely community following the show, and luckily for us, poems are always coming out of our folk so we wanted to share poems this week from two very talented community members, Joao Coimbra and Muiris Cloherty.

    We received an agony aunt problem since the last show that we just didn't feel qualified at Poetry's Dead HQ to help with, so we drafted in a specialist in the form of the Ireland Poetry Grand Slam champion Anna Doran, who delivers one of our favourite pieces of the show so far.

    We also have the voice of Ethan Hawke, funeral chat (It is an Irish podcast afterall) and a confession that could lead to Ryan losing his university degree.

    Our read-along is now live for our Patreon subscribers, so if you'd like to join us read a new poetry collection each month and get an exclusive show about it, you can join us here - https://www.patreon.com/thepoetrysdeadpodcast

    Stay savage and enjoy
    Ryan and Leon

    Poems from the show:

    Georgie Jones - Ode To The Ladies Loo
    https://www.tiktok.com/@georgiejonez/video/7205734276208332038

    Sean Walsh - Grief
    Instagram - @sean.walsh.96

    Muiris Cloherty - The Daylight Atheist
    Instagram - @muiris_cloherty7

    Joao Coimbra - Good And Empty
    Instagram - @joaowrites

    Anna Doran - Matrescence
    Instagram - @annad.poetry

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • After a few weeks apart, the boys are back with a drop of malbec and some bleeding whopper poems for you.

    Anyone who dropped into the Leinster Slam poetry competition last week would have witnessed the power of Cormac Fitz, so it only made sense that we celebrated his win on the show with a poem from the man himself.

    Rupi Kaur is up next, as Ryan shares the story of when he received her collection from his sister for Christmas as a present, seemingly one of the better gifts he's received from her over the years.

    Over in Liverpool, Cilla Black is apparently not the only red-head to wow the crowds as we share spoken word artist Hayley Gordon on this week's show and share the power of the stage as a way to find yourself.

    Michelle Bosonnett has her collection coming out this year, published by Luain press, and we wanted to bring one of those poems to the show, and luckily she has sent us a lovely poem about longing.

    We woke up our Agony Aunt this week after a few weeks off to help us with a listener problem all about one-side love.

    Our Patreon community are going to be treated with a special monthly episode and a read-along with us, so if you'd like a push to get back into reading, sign up to our Patreon for more details.

    Loves ya,
    Ryan and Leon

    Poems from the show:

    Cormac Fitz - Waiting
    Instagram - @cormfitz

    Rupi Kaur - City
    https://rupikaur.com/

    Hayley Gordon - Lines
    Instagram - twistedtales.hlg19

    Michelle Bosonnett - Rambling Memories
    Instagram - wildflowergirl81

    Agony Aunt - Dancefloor Blues


    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • What a special episode we have for you this week!

    We have taken the time to throve through the archives to bring you some of the best bits of the podcast to date. So sit back, put the kettle on, and take off those shoes, as you relax into 46 minutes of entertainment gold! Or nonsense.. or both..

    Poems from today's episode:

    Oscar Wilde - The Ballad Of Reading Goal (an exert)
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45495/the-ballad-of-reading-gaol

    Imelda May - Liberty Belle
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQrWiGFtHpw

    Jan Brierton- 'You Got Back Your Funny'
    https://www.newisland.ie/poetry-drama/what-day-is-it

    Ryan Duggins - There Is No Problem
    Instagram - @ryanduggins

    Leon Dunne - Around Town Most Days
    Instagram - @nomanticz

    John Cooper Clarke - Bed Blocker IBlues
    https://www.clc.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/?p=387

    Paddy Downey - Dublin Zoo
    @poemsbypaddy On Instagram

    Lisa Downey - My Daddy Paddy

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • Today we celebrate the unsung hero of The Poetry's Dead Podcast, our Agony Aunt.

    Since we started the show, our resident helper has been penning poems to support all problems we get sent in by our listeners, so today we are putting them all in one giant, whopper Agony Aunt episode.

    Do you have a problem you'd like a poem for? You know what to do! Email us at [email protected] or if you click our linktree we have an NGL that you can use to send a message anonymously. Just head over to our instagram @thepoetrysdeadpodcast

    Stay sound!

    Ryan and Leon and our Agony Aunt

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • If you were born before 1995, you'd have felt the loss of James Earl Jones.

    The father of our childhood and the king of the monologue left our world for the next on the day of recording, so we wanted to share his voice on the show. He does a belter of a rendition of a Christina Rossetti poem that we hope you enjoy.

    Ryan's been losing his mind over reading Frankenstein for the first time, so we delve into the world of novels that we think we know the story of, but not quite. We also share a Shelley poem, lovely.

    Shelley and Lord Byron would have been rubbing shoulders back then, and when Byron wasn't dipping his wick into anything that moves, he did write a poem now and again. We share one on the show.

    Polina Cosgrave then gives us a solid reminder of what to watch out for when picking a potential lover with her poem 'Don't Make Love To Them If They Don't Dance'

    We wrap up the show with one of our favourite listener poems with the words of Nicola Clare. You're gonna love this one.

    As always, thanks again to everyone who listens and share the show with their pals. If you do share the show, let us know asap so we can gush over you.

    Poems from the show:

    A Birthday - Christina Rosetti
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/poems/a_birthday.shtml

    Mary Shelley - Oh Listen While I Sing To Thee
    https://www.best-poems.net/mary-shelley/oh-listen-while-i-sing-to-thee.html

    Lord Byron - So, We'll Go No More a-Roving
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43845/so-well-go-no-more-a-roving

    Polina Cosgrave - Don't Make Love To Them If They Don't Dance
    https://gallerypress.com/authors-published-b-the-gallery-press/a-to-f-gallery-authors/polina-cosgrave/

    Nicola Clare - Psychiatry Gave Me PTSD

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • We know. We agree. Last week was an absolute sausage fest.

    Too many misters and not enough sisters if you ask us, which is why today's episode we are celebrating the powerful women of the Electric Picnic who had blown us away with their poetry over the festival.

    We both felt very 'seen' when Tess McKevitt performed her poem all about the red flags and pitfalls of falling for a 'Mammies Boy', so we had to start there and discuss the poem.

    Lizzy Byrne had the audience eating out of her hands on stage at the festival, but it was her piece 'The Festival Of Life' that brought us on a beautiful journey and we couldn't wait to share with you

    Caoimhe Weakliam packs a punch anyway when she performs, but her spoken word poem 'Storm' will, and excuse the pun, blow you away. Brace for impact.

    Anna D has magic in her veins anyway, but how fitting for her to give us the piece 'Droaicht' to share with you, which as you know already, is Gaelic for magic.

    We wrap up the show with a tribute to Ryan's grandmother through the wonderful words of Wendy Cope and her poem, Names.

    A warm welcome to our new Patreon subscribers Barbara and Muiris who have joined the family. Please feel free to support the show if this brings a little joy on a Monday morning for you.

    Poems from today

    Tess McKevitt - Fear And Lusting
    https://www.tessmckevitt.com/

    Lizzy Byrne - The Festival Of Love
    Instagram - @lizzybyrneandthelymphnodes

    Caoimhe Weakliam - Storm
    Instagram - @caoimheweakliam

    Anna D - Draoicht
    Instagram - @annad.poetry

    Wendy Cope - Names
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wendy-cope

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • We survived Electric Picnic. Just.

    As we were doing our best to thrive over the weekend at Ireland's biggest music festival, we also grabbed a few poetry peeps to lend us their ears for a whopper episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast!

    Jan Brierton hadn't met Stephen James Smith before their in-conversation chat at the Manifest stage, so we did the honours and hosted their first meet! We talk about life on the road, fame and making sure you keep your circle close.

    David Hynes, the brains behind The Word stage at EP where we both got to perform, dragged himself away from hosting duties to join us for a chat with UK poet Polar Bear and Unorthodox Coolock himself, Craig Doyle for a conversation that celebrated the importance of art in the world of the working class.

    James 'Jimbo' Dillon and Daragh Fleming then join us to discuss the scene in Dublin and Cork respectively as well as share how poetry is a solid antidote to mental health struggles.

    We end the show with a show-stopping interview with The Scauldy Ones. The Poet Geoff, Emmet O'Brien and Heavy Kevvy are three of the countries best performers, and after we were treated to a banging ensemble performance from the lads, they joined us to discuss how creating poetry works, crafting the perfect set and the relationship between the performer and the audience.

    With so many new faces to the show making an appearance or receiving a name drop, next week we'll do a showcase show sharing the stories and poetry of the newcomers to the The Poetry's Dead Podcast.

    Thanks again for all your support, and we hope you enjoy our window into the more arty side of Stradbally Farm.

    Ryan and Leon

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • The robots are taking over lads, and they are starting with this podcast!

    We wanted to see whether or not AI could put together a couple of decent verses, and you know what, we are regretting inviting AI on as it's shown just how bloody easy writing a few verses is.

    Before that, inspired by a trip to Paris, we discuss one of France's most iconic raconteurs Marcel Lucont and share his poem 'Wine In A Can'

    We then get into the scary world of Chat GPT, as we set it the task to write its own version of one of Ryan's poems and then one of Leon's. We'll call a taxi now.

    Electric Picnic is around the corner with a lot of special performances across the whole weekend. We preview all the goings on at 'The Word' tent as well as share poetry from Gerard Devine and Steven Camden (AKA Polarbear)

    Bonny Tyler then ends the show with a message of support. No, you aren't drunk, the actual Bonny Tyler

    Come and say hello to us at the festival next week, and if you're reading this and not going, sad times.

    Poems from the show

    Marcel Lucont - Wine In A Can
    https://www.tiktok.com/@marcellucont/video/7397405703473810721

    Ryan Duggins - On Days When There Is Fuck All On
    https://www.tiktok.com/@ryandugginspoet/video/7400690121160346913

    Leon Dunne - Capitalism Rap
    Instagram - @nomanticz

    Chat GPT - Two AI Poems
    https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/

    Gerard Devine - Don't Wait
    Instagram - @gerard_devine_poetry

    Steven Camden - Poem from the collection Everything All At Once
    https://www.bearstories.org/

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • Because you're there for me toooo, oooohh!

    Yes ladies and gentleman, we were too worried about copyright law to use the Friends theme song for the intro, but today we are in the feels and talking about the value of friendship.

    Muhammad Ali, when he wasn't being the best fighter that ever lived, was also a very talented poet and we kick off the show with his poem about friendship. We'll share more of Ali's work down the line, incredibly talented man.

    Before we get all soppy, we received an Instagram message from someone last week after we asked out community the question: 'Why Do You Write?' The answer was not just an answer, but a poem. And a really good one from Tiiffany Hannon.

    Leon shares the story of the DMC club at Crossfit Santry. The gym have been pushing their member to open up to each other and have created a meet-up for the male members to be vulnerable. Leon and the other members created something beautiful which we are delighted to share with you.

    Emily Brontë had written one of the best novels in the English language with Wuthering Heights, but she also wrote some great poems. We share her poem comparing romantic and platonic love called 'Love And Friendship'

    Sean Watmore's new collection Buried Beds And Bicycle Frames is out now, and amongst the bangers in the collection is his poem about long-lasting friendship called 'Time Spent Turning'

    Friend of the show Andy Porter then wraps it up with a poem of celebration for the show itself, which is really just two mates being mates.

    Thanks again for all the love and support, and make sure to tell your friends how much you love them after listening to the show

    Poems from the show

    Muhammad Ali - Friends
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV1O7CNTY7s

    Tiffany Hannon - Why I Write
    Instagram - @tiffanyhannon_poetry

    Crossfit Santry - DMC Club Poem
    Instagram - @crossfitsantry

    Emily Brontë - Love And Friendship
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50537/love-and-friendship

    Sean Watmore - Time Spent Turning
    Instagram - @seanwatmorepoetry

    Andy Porter - Poetry's Dead
    TikTok - andyspangles

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • You Shall Not Pass...without listening to this episode!

    Ian Mckellen and his BBC Radio 2 interview where he discusses the value of remembering Shakespeare's sonnets have pushed us to jump into the brain of Bill Shakespeare and see if we can pick a sonnet each that doesn't give us PTSD of having to study those bloody plays at school

    After Ryan took a day off the session with some friends in Germany to read Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea, we talk about pro's and con's of Hemingway as an influence on the modern man, but also gush over the quality of his writing and share one of his poems

    Andy Porter writes us a lovely email of support and the gift of a poem all about that bloke that can't leave his tools alone.

    We also welcome the return of our agony aunt who helps answer a question on how when we write, we judge our own thoughts and experiences. Interesting one this.

    Poems from today

    William Shakespeare:

    Sonnet 25
    https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/25/

    Sonnet 55
    https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/55

    Ernest Hemingway - Advice To A Son
    https://allpoetry.com/Advice-To-A-Son

    Andy Porter - Death Of A DIY Man
    https://www.tiktok.com/@andyspangles/video/7394401037815254304?lang=en

    Agony Aunt - The Imposter

    *Introduction clip taken from BBC Radio 2's interview with Ian Mckellen

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • Yo, dawg! Whattup, homey! Whatcha...geezer?

    It didn't take us long to to run out of rap slang terms for friend as you can see, but we wanted to get you into the spirit of the show early as this week's episode is a special on rhythm and poetry, or as you lot would know it better as, RAP!

    We have left the library this week and entered the basement rap battle scene as we explore the work of modern wordsmiths that prefer to have their voices alongside hip-hop beats to give us an easier way to experience their stories.

    We discuss our early experiences of hearing stories we were way too young for, the value of rap in general for understanding the human experience and share a verse or two.

    After we flip our caps the right way round and pull our jeans back up, we discuss one of Dublin's greatest current spoken word performers Emmet O'Brien who comes through with a magical piece about where our words go when they leave us.

    James 'Jimbo' Dillon shares his letter of caution to his larger pal in his poem My Fat Friend, which is a belter of a poem, and we end it with the words of last week's competition winner Anna Nixon

    So. Yeah. Word to your mother!

    Poems from the show

    Kendrick Lemar - DNA
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6uBHPGfSs

    Wretch 32 - Freestyle from Fire In The Booth
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nnLBzzQk-I&t=435s

    Emmet O'Brien - Untitled
    Instagram - @emmet_obrien_poetry

    James Dillon - My Fat Friend
    Instagram - @jimbosmyname

    *Intro was taken from the YouTube channel for Rocawear with the video titled JAY-Z "Rap Is Poetry

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • And the winner is..

    On today’s episode, we reveal the winning poem for our competition in collaboration with The Poetry Edit. It’s been incredible to read the pieces that have been submitted, and we can’t wait to share all three finalist’s with you.

    As well as the competition, we talk about THAT interview between Jools Holland and Grian Chatten as we get a real-life example of how a poet can twist and turn normal folk into knots. And we loved it.

    Fontaines D.C are one of our favourite bands, and we talk about Grian’s inspiration through poetry and the story of how his father introduced him to the world of verse

    We’ll definitely have to do another competition so watch this space!

    Poems from the show

    Luke Kelly - For What Died The Sons Of Roisin
    https://open.spotify.com/track/2skM6PxyViYGfP2FGIaxG9?si=5ce5da046d1b42b5

    Grian Chatten - Big
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiLk6G5N-3Y

    Sapphire Allard - I’m Flicking Past News Stories Like Men on Dating Apps
    Instagram - @sapphirerosewriter

    Miles Pascall - I Wonder
    Instagram - @milespascall

    Anna Nixon - A Stabbing By Numbers
    Instagram - @annanixonwritings

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • It was sunny. There were beers. But, most importantly, there were poems!

    We spent the weekend bumping between music tents and food vans down at Beyond The Pale Festival, hosted in 'The Garden Of Ireland' Glendalough, County Wicklow

    Amongst a backdrop of pretty landscapes were the two fellas, a microphone and their poems. We grabbed anyone we could to share their love of poetry, and have some great stuff for you on our first on-location show.

    We have conversations with Seanchoiche's very own Daniel Galvin about his passion for storytelling, Aine Budds and her life mixing food and words to create art and Jessie Flood was kind enough to give us some time and a lovely little poem too.

    Leon had been running a workshop with food critic and journalist Ali Dunworth and poet Aine Budds called The Bards Banquet at the Beyond The Plates stage. The creative audience members started writing and gave us three absolute beauties.

    We will definitely be getting out and about more. Maybe Electric Picnic? Who knows...

    Poems from the show:

    Jessie Flood - The Pear
    Instagram - @jflooders

    Daniel Galvin - Google Prayer
    Instagram - @_ggallyy_

    Aine Budds - Compartmental Condiments
    Instagram - @flowerbuds

    Leon's 'The Bards Banquet' workshop poems:

    Hannah - Filthy Heart
    Nedd - Curing The Breathalizer
    Joe - Battered Lips



    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • This one is a little loose people, so get ready!

    Reason being: The sun was shining and we enjoyed a few garggles before going into the world of poetry this week, so if you fancy grabbing yourself a scoop before you listen, you'd be absolutely so welcome.

    Speaking of enjoying yourself, we start the show with the iconic 'stand and stare' line from the poem 'Leisure' by W.H Davies. You have to enjoy yourself people, and the Welsha 'supertramp' makes sure we know it.

    Weirdly, pirate life gets a few mentions on today's show. No idea why, but adding to that 'Yo Ho Ho' vibe is the 'The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (I know, we are bloody cultured on this show, and so are you for listening) and his tale of spooky goings on aboard the ship.

    Sean Urell shares his frustration about that one guy that loves using all his words when he could just use one with 'The Overexplainer'. This ones a right giggle so stick around for it.

    We were also ever so grateful and thankful for the words of speech writer Alison Mooney who gives us a lovely intro for the show as well as shares her poem 'Europa' as a reminder of how important it is for nations to be on the same page. Such a good poem.

    Our Agony Aunt poem this week is to help someone who just doesn't want to be on the dating apps, but wants to find love. We have a little chat about love in the digital world, as we like to do.

    We also have a final call for The Poetry's Edit competition which wraps up this week so get over their Instagram and get your poems. Such a great response so far.

    Thanks again for all your support, we are always grateful you're here

    Poems from the show

    W.H Davies - Leisure
    https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/leisure

    Samuel Taylor Coleridge - The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43997/the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-text-of-1834

    Sean Urell - The Overexplainer
    Instagram @SEAN_U.R.L

    Alison Mooney - Europa
    Instagram - @alison_mooney_

    Leon Dunne - Back On The Grindr
    Instagram - @nomanticz




    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

  • The Poetry’s Dead Podcast x Leaving Cert Special!

    Well. Kind of. We couldn’t do a whole bloody show about it, that would be as dull as doing the actually exams.

    But! We’ve got a few leaving cert stories from Leon, poetry from Eavan Boland @eavanbolandpoetry (anyone over 22 that just got a shot of PTSD, don’t worry, you don’t have to do the leaving cert again) and the defining poem of this apparently life defining time called Leaving Cert from Leon himself

    We get a reminder of the how fun running can be with Josefin Anna Friberg @josefinlequeen, feel the disappointment of opening a biscuit tin and finding bloody knitting equipment with the help of Eva Mary Lucy @evamarylucy and a very special segment on Irelands only, current living mythical being and wizard, the incredible Pat Ingoldsby (thanks to @seanwatmorepoetry) for his help on this one.

    We also give a nudge about our poetry competition running in association with @the_poetryedit, head over to their page for all the info ❤️

    Released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and load of other places Monday morning. All the links are up in the bio (including Ryan’s book, our Patreon and the competition so have a gander)

    Best of luck to all the amazing students across the next two weeks, and give us a listen yis belters

    Poems from the show

    Josefin Anna Friberg - Runners High
    Instagram - @josefinlequeen

    Pat Ingoldsby - Welcome To Our Woe
    https://winding-stair-bookshop.myshopify.com/products/poems-so-fresh-and-so-new-yahoo-by-pat-ingoldsby?_pos=9&_sid=3e6ca9bfb&_ss=r

    Eavan Boland - The Black Lace Fan My Mother Gave Me
    https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/the-black-lace-fan-my-mother-gave-me

    Eva Mary Lucy - The Biscuit Tin
    Instagram - @evamarylucy

    Leon Dunne - Leaving Cert
    Instagram - @nomanticz

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey