The Luain Press Poetry Club

Luain Press Poetry Club

A message from Lee Sheridan:

For the last three years, the Luain Press Poetry Club has taken place in the Maynooth Community Library. Despite never exceeding 10 members, it has flourished in its own way, fostering its own regulars and identity.

The meetings follow a similar format each time. I always begin by inviting people to share a poem - whether it's their own work or that of someone else. This usually gives way to a discussion before I follow up with a creative writing activity. The real fun begins when we go for a few post-meeting pints, usually in Brady's pub.

I have immensely enjoyed leading these meetings over the past three years, but life moves on, and I'll be moving to Donegal. While I'll be sad to leave these meetings behind, I'm happy to say that, for the forseeable, at least, they shall continue - led by a few of the regulars that have been coming for the last few years.

I'll continue to promote the meetings from afar as best I can, and - all going well - have plans to begin another poetry club in Donegal - so for anyone living up there, keep an eye out!

Our June meeting will be the last that I shall host in Maynooth. I'd like to thank the Maynooth Community Library for facilitating the meetings over the last number of years, including the book launch of Basil McBride's Word of the Week as part of the Kildare Readers Festival in 2024 (The Lord knows that Basil put the sign-language interpretors through the mill with his lengthy digressions; to those great women, on his behalf, I can only apologise!)

Finally, I'd like to thank Rita Edwards, Bríd Connolly, and Juan Carlos Brandao Peña for their continued support and encouragement over the years.

If inclined, stop by the library on the 2nd of June, 2026 from 6-7 p.m. - all welcome!