Poemathon with Older People

Poemathon with Older People brings a spotlight to their voices, imagination and creativity 

Poetry Ireland with the Global Brain Health Institute (Trinity College Dublin) and Neuroscience Ireland is inviting older people across the island of Ireland to write a line of poetry for a Poemathon with Older People.  

The contributions will be combined to form a longer poem that captures the thoughts and imaginings of older people right now in society. John Sheahan, one of Ireland’s best known musicians and member of The Dubliners, has penned the opening line of the poem: “Intrepid intruder, stalker of unwashed hands”.  

He will also be contributing the final line of the poem, which will be curated and edited by poet and editor Seamus Cashman.  

John Sheahan said, “The Poemathon with Older People is helping to give a voice to an older generation - a wonderful way to bring us together creatively from all parts of the island of Ireland in a collaborative poem. I look forward to seeing how each contribution steers the poem, meandering like a river, towards its final destination when the finished poem is launched in March.”    

Submissions to the Poemathon can be made through the Google form below from 18 January until 5pm on 12 February. 

**Please add an email address and your name below so we have a log of all submissions - your email address will not be used for any communications outside of the two permissions outlined below, which you can opt into if you wish.

We will randomly draw from the entries one person to receive a book bundle with titles from Poetry Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. We'll email this person and announce their name on Poetry Ireland social media channels at the time of the draw during February/March 2021.

**If you have any questions about this project, please email education@poetryireland.ie**