Literature
A Night of Poetic Brilliance as the Munster Poetry Slam returns to Limerick
Kemi George-Simpson being announced the winner of the 2024 Munster Poetry Slam
The historic White House Bar played host to an unforgettable evening where Kemi George-Simpson won the 2024 Munster Poetry Slam
The Munster Poetry Slam, absent from Limerick City for nearly a decade, made a triumphant return on Wednesday, September 4.
Drawing an impressive crowd of poetry enthusiasts and performers alike, 15 talented poets from across Munster competed for one of three spots representing the province in the All Ireland Poetry Slam this November.
Fifteen talented poets from across Munster took to the stage, each vying for one of three coveted spots to represent the province at the All Ireland Poetry Slam in Dublin this November. The atmosphere was electric as competitors poured their hearts and souls into their performances, tackling a diverse range of themes and styles.
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Emerging victorious from the field of talented poets, Cork’s Kemi George-Simpson produced a beautifully crafted villanelle in round two which left the judges and audience in awe.
George-Simpson’s command of this challenging poetic form, combined with her powerful delivery, set her apart from the competition.
The judging panel was made up of accomplished writers and poets, they were: Sarah Clancy, a renowned poet and activist from Galway; Eoin Devereux, Professor of Sociology at the University of Limerick and an accomplished writer; and Tommy Collins, a respected figure in Limerick’s literary scene and poetry editor at Revival Press.
Their expertise and discerning ears were put to the test as they evaluated each performance on criteria including content, delivery, and audience impact.
The remaining two spots for the All Ireland Poetry Slam final went to Tipperary’s Mel White and Cork’s Ciaran MacArtain, both delivered stellar performances that earned them spots alongside George-Simpson in the upcoming Dublin finals.
It was a significant moment in the cultural calendar for Limerick as the event wad more than just a competition, held in the White House Bar – a home for poetry in Limerick – it was the first time in a decade that the competition was held in the Treaty City.
The success of the evening was due in no small part to the efforts of several key individuals and organizations: Ronan Deegan served as the event’s MC; and Limerick Writers’ Centre and Lime Square Poets co-hosted the event as part of their ‘First Wednesday Series’.
Kemi George-Simpson, Mel White, and Ciaran MacArtain can now look forward to representing Munster in the All Ireland Poetry Slam in Dublin this November, bringing their performances to the national stage.
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