Our first visit to the US in almost 40 years. I visited New York in 1982 and my husband visited Baltimore where his sister lived in 1985.
At the first poetry reading by Poets Abroad which I organised at Books Upstairs in Dublin in 2016. Leslie Thomas came from the US and I suggested to Leslie that if she organised the reading in Minnesota in 2019 that I would definitely go as that would be my 60th birthday.
So, after 40 years we traveled by train to Dublin and with Are Lingus flew directly to Minneapolis St. Paul.
We stayed on Leslie and John's boat in a little town called Afton on the St. Croix river. We ran every other day and strolled up the road to the Afton Inn for flat bread and other local delicacies and beers or around the corner to the bike/coffee shop or Swirl wine bar.
We met a few of Leslie's friends including a sculptor/painter, Kate Sullivan who has a wonderful workshop where the local community meet to create together.
We visited Hudson, a short trip by boat or car. We traveled to St.Paul where we met up with our Wisconsin friend, Mary Broad at The Black Dog. There was an open mic/jazz jam where John Philip sang 'Lush Life'. We were entertained by various musicians for the afternoon/evening.
Our poetry reading on Sat 7th Sept in Afton Museum was well attended with only standing room available as our guest poet Thomas R. Smith started to read. The other readers were Frances Browner, Barbara deCoursey Roy, Bernadette Gallagher, Kay Lee Penton and Leslie Thomas.
Afterwards Thomas R. Smith said ' I can say honestly that it was one of the absolute best group readings I've been part of, every reader substantial and distinct.'
The audience was attentive and appreciative. Jim Rogers connected with my work and kindly gave me a copy of his 'The Collector of Shadows'. Jim (James Silas Rogers) will read at the Clifden Arts Festival along with Eileen Sheehan on 26th Sept. This will be a super collaboration by two fine poets.
From the left, musician and painter, John Philip Murray & poet Jim Rogers.
At the first poetry reading by Poets Abroad which I organised at Books Upstairs in Dublin in 2016. Leslie Thomas came from the US and I suggested to Leslie that if she organised the reading in Minnesota in 2019 that I would definitely go as that would be my 60th birthday.
So, after 40 years we traveled by train to Dublin and with Are Lingus flew directly to Minneapolis St. Paul.
We stayed on Leslie and John's boat in a little town called Afton on the St. Croix river. We ran every other day and strolled up the road to the Afton Inn for flat bread and other local delicacies and beers or around the corner to the bike/coffee shop or Swirl wine bar.
We met a few of Leslie's friends including a sculptor/painter, Kate Sullivan who has a wonderful workshop where the local community meet to create together.
We visited Hudson, a short trip by boat or car. We traveled to St.Paul where we met up with our Wisconsin friend, Mary Broad at The Black Dog. There was an open mic/jazz jam where John Philip sang 'Lush Life'. We were entertained by various musicians for the afternoon/evening.
Left to right: Frances Browner, Leslie Thomas, Bernadette Gallagher, Thomas R. Smith, Kay Lee Penton and Barbara deCoursey Roy.
Afterwards Thomas R. Smith said ' I can say honestly that it was one of the absolute best group readings I've been part of, every reader substantial and distinct.'
The audience was attentive and appreciative. Jim Rogers connected with my work and kindly gave me a copy of his 'The Collector of Shadows'. Jim (James Silas Rogers) will read at the Clifden Arts Festival along with Eileen Sheehan on 26th Sept. This will be a super collaboration by two fine poets.
From the left, musician and painter, John Philip Murray & poet Jim Rogers.
