The Bardwell Centenary
A Single Rose—an arts festival in two strands
A Single Rose—literary
November 11th, 12th, 13th, at the Model, Sligo. Tickets here. Programme here. The literary festival features poetry, prose, book launches and discussion. See image for names, see programme for times.
A Single Rose—visual
On display at The Model from Nov 1st to 29th. In this exhibition you will find twelve exceptional visual artists who were friends of Bardwell's and have kindly lent their work for this occasion: Sinead Aldridge, Eamon Colman, Michael Cullen, Diarmuid Delargy, Eileen Ferguson, Neal Greig, Eithne Jordan, Alice Maher, Seán McSweeney, Geraldine O'Reilly, Janet Pierce and Dermot Seymour.
Centenary Overview
Leland Bardwell was born on February 25th 1922. Therefore her centenary runs from February 2022 until February 2023. It is being marked in a number of ways.
Festival: A Single Rose at the Model, Sligo, November 11th, 12th and 13th
Publications: new books from Doire Press, Lepus Press and Salmon Press*
Events: Feb 25th a session in FemFest organised by MIC and UL in Limerick
Cairde Festival, Sligo, July 1st, an evening of readings and music
Book launches: Feb 27th: My Name Suspended in the Air: Leland Bardwell at 100, from Lepus, was launched at the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo. Next launch: The Heart and the Arrow at the Writers’ Centre, Dublin, November 2nd.
Radio: RTE’s The Poetry Programme, Arena and Sunday Miscellany had items on the Centenary. Here is an Example from Ocean FM. Here is the Sunday Miscellany piece.
Podcasts: look for “Books for Breakfast 47 Leland Bardwell at 100” now on all podcast sites, and also the Arts Council’s Curiosity Series episode 5 to be released on Oct 17th
The festival A Single Rose will feature readings and discussions from writers of prose and poetry, writers responding to Bardwell’s work with new work, visual art from Irish artists who had personal connections to Bardwell, readings, film, and newly commissioned music, as well as launches of the new books from Doire, Lepus and Salmon.
Bardwell’s birthday was Feb 25th 1922. This date in 2022 was marked with a symposium on her work at 3pm at The Halla, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, as part of FemFest 2022, with presentations from David Clare, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Lucy Collins and John McLachlan chaired by Dr. Ailbhe McDaid, followed by discussions.
*Titles of the new books: My Name Suspended in the Air: Leland Bardwell at 100, from Lepus, The Heart and the Arrow from Doire, and Collected Poems, from Salmon. The forthcoming Collected Poems will be a complete edition bringing together all the poems: from the five collections plus many placed in periodicals and a cache from her private papers.
My Name Suspended in the Air has 33 poems chosen by prominent poets and artists, each with their reason or response to it. The book can be bought on the Lepus Print website.
The Salmon Poetry and Doire Press publications and the Single Rose Festival are grant aided by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Additional support to the fstival from Poetry Ireland