Countdown to MacDonagh Hedge School
The first Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School takes place from September 20-24 in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum in Cloughjordan, and aims to be one of the highlights of the Museum’s 10th anniversary programme. Advance tickets are on sale now.
The Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School offers a unique opportunity to learn about one of Cloughjordan’s finest, the poet-patriot Thomas MacDonagh, as part of a fascinating poetry inspired programme of creative writing workshops, inspirational talks, interactive discussions, and poetry readings. The Museum is grateful to Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Creative Ireland, Tipperary County Council and UCD’s Poetry as Commemoration for their support.
Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School is curated by poet and writer Eleanor Hooker, the winner of the Michael Hartnett Award 2022. The programme, featuring distinguished academics and researchers, will address how their own research and writing offers an imaginative way to deepen our understanding of the past and explore a challenging period of Irish history in an open and inclusive way. The speakers will read from and discuss their own work. They will explore the impact of the arts in the shaping of our nation; the concept of ethical remembrance; and the consideration of poetry as commemoration with reference to their own and MacDonagh's poetry.
Highlights of the event include:
- Creative Writing Workshops for adults on Wednesday and Thursday, September 20 and 21, 11am-1pm in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum. Facilitated by award-winning poet Thomas McCarthy, participants will write poems using items from the Museum Collection that relate to the War of Independence and Civil War as creative prompts. Places are strictly limited, so early booking is essential.
- Culture Night 2023 forms part of the Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School programme. The museum is hosting an informal Poetry Slam on Friday, September 22, from 7-10pm with spoken word readings by the community and guests, of poems by Thomas MacDonagh and others. We are honoured to welcome special guest Stephen Sexton, Belfast-based author of If All the World and Love Were Young and Cheryl’s Destinies, to read a new commemorative commission ‘The Head of a Man’.