Rhyme Rag
Rhyme Rag 2006 Issue 2
Kilkenny County Council's Arts Office is delighted to announce the launch of the second edition of Rhyme Rag, a poetry publication featuring the work of young Kilkenny writers. Close to 250 poems by 218 writers were submitted for inclusion in edition 2 of the Rhyme Rag making the editors decision a good read but a difficult choice. 31 poems from young people aged between 12 and 21 years who have little or no previous writing experience were selected in this year's publication.
As the numbers were so great, this years Rhyme Rag will take the form of a comic book, containing a poem per page. The illustration of the comic will be undertaken by artist Ale Mercado. Ale's original illustrations, which will be based on each poem, will also be printed up in large format for an exhibition at No. 72, John Street and there will also be a limited edition of the prints available.
Rosemary Canavan is the editor for this years Rhyme Rag. Rosemary is a writer and visual artist who was born in Scotland and brought up in Ireland. Her first collection of poetry, 'The Island', was published in America in 1995 and was shortlisted for the Vincent Buckley Poetry prize at the University of Melbourne, Australia. A second collection, 'Trucker's Moll' is due for publication by Salmon Press in 2007. She has also published two children's books, and recently completed a novel. Anthologies she has edited include 'Breacadh, An Anthology of Kerry Writing', and 'A Safe Harbour?', a collection of writing by asylum seekers, for Cork 2005. She is currently Poetry Editor of 'Southword'.
Editor Rosemary Canavan praises this literature publication and young writers in saying "Good writing is usually done in solitude, and writers risk becoming isolated unless they can meet those who share their interests. This is especially true for young poets, who pass through a school system which tends to reward analytic thinking and sporting prowess above individual creative expression. Kilkenny Arts Office have put a huge amount of energy and inspired thinking into the publication of 'Rhyme Rag', an event which will recognise the achievement of young writers, and give them the opportunity to meet and share their work.
Kilkenny is well known for its hurlers, and its design centre, but is not generally thought of as a centre of writing. Perhaps this is about to change, for the response to the poetry competition for this year's Rhyme Rag was truly amazing. When I opened the first of the bulging packages from the Kilkenny Arts Office and began to hear the voices of the young poets speaking to me through their work, the feeling of excitement grew in me. It takes courage to write truthfully and passionately about your innermost thoughts and feelings, and the best of the writers have done this. They allow us to experience the intense pains and joys of young adulthood, through poems of exceptional quality that range in theme from loss and love to the terrors of modern war, the excitement of scoring a goal, of waiting for Halloween.
'Can a moment change a life forever?' asks one of the poets. Be warned: some of these poems may change your life."
The launch of the Rhyme Rag and the exhibition will take place at No. 72, John Street on Friday 10th November 2006 at 5pm. The Rhyme Rag exhibition will run from November 10th until December 8th.
For further information on Rhyme Rag and other literary events please contact the Arts Office, No. 72, John Street, Kilkenny on 056 7794138 or e-mail niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie. / mary.butler@kilkennycoco.ie
Arts Office opening hours 9am - 1pm + 2pm - 5pm
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