Poems On A Sunday Afternoon Returns To Down Arts Centre

With the return of the Brent Geese, comes the return, after a short break, of the popular Poems on a Sunday Afternoon to Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, on Sunday 29 September at 2.30pm.

[caption id="attachment_42561" align="alignleft" width="270"]Maria McManus will be reading from her new book, We Are Bones Maria McManus will be reading from her new book, We Are Bones[/caption]

“We are very excited to re-open Poems on a Sunday Afternoon with a reading by Maria McManus from her recently-launched second collection, published by Lagan,” said Denise Griffiths, Down Arts Centre manager. Maria is a founding member of Write! Down and has a long track record of affirming the importance of writing in this part of County Down.

“Her new collection, We Are Bone, sees Maria McManus returning to her native Fermanagh and her family to explore and affirm with warmth and vigour what it means to belong to a place, a people and a time. Music will be provided on the afternoon by Belfast-based singer-songwriter Jack O’Neill, who will be performing his own material.

“The heart of this event has always been creating a friendly space to share your work, and as always writers, readers and singers are invited to join us in celebrating the written word in all its forms.  We hope that as before, those gathered will share a piece of their own work, or perhaps a favourite poem.”

Poems on a Sunday Afternoon is a free event organised jointly by Down Arts Centre and Write! Down.

Maria McManus is a poet and playwright. Her most recent work is the Cello Suites (Lagan Press 2009), which has been recorded with an original score composed and played by cellist Tom Hughes.

Reading the Dog published by Lagan Press in 2006, her first collection of poetry, was runner up in the 2007 Strong Awards at the Poetry Now International Festival and was also shortlisted for the 2007 Glen Dimplex New Writers Award.  In 2008, she co-wrote Bruised for Tinderbox Theatre Company.

In 2006/7, Maria was playright on attachment to Tinderbox. Previous theatre credits include His n Her’s and Nowhere Harder for Replay Theatre Company and the Black-Out Show for Red Lead Arts.

For further information please contact Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 0747 or writedown2005@yahoo.co.uk.

The complete Down Arts Centre Season Programme is available to download at www.downartscentre.com

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