Muirann spent the week with us at Belfast Print Workshop developing these excellent three-colour screen prints.

Stencil screen printing on Irish linen ☘️

Had a fun time attending a printing on linen scarf workshop at Belfast Print Workshop 🖤💀🌼

Thank you😁❤️❤️❤️❤️

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall Visit Ireland - day 2

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall headed to the Republic of Ireland this week for a two-day visit before departing for a trip to Northern Ireland, and the couple saw everything from traditional Irish dancing to blooming botanic gardens –  and a few cute canines along the way.

The Duchess of Cornwall meet with an organisation that provides potentially life-saving services in Belfast.

Camilla, 71, teamed a knee-length print skirt with a pleated details with a matching single-breasted jacket for her day out in the Northern Irish capital

Prince Charles, donned a blue velvet kippah as he attended a service at the Belfast synagogue as part of the couple’s official visit

Warm welcome! The Duchess looked in great spirits as she greeted well-wishers who had lined the streets of Belfast to greet the royal visitors 

The Prince of Wales during his visit to Brownlow House, home of Lugan District Loyal Orange No.6, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland

Prince Charles waved to well-wishers during an impromptu walkabout after a reception at the Grand Central Hotel hosted by The Spirit of Belfast on the second day of the tour 

Pairing the navy suit with a pale pink shirt and deep blue tie, Charles later met members of the community

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales met a woman rescued from the Nazis on the eve of the Second World War as he visited a synagogue in north Belfast.

Ruth Kohner was just two years old when she was part of the Kindertransport in 1939 which brought thousands of Jewish children to safety in the UK. Charles was at the synagogue with UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he attended the installation of the Torn From Home Windows project, which is designed to reflect the diversity of the migrant community in Northern Ireland.

Ms Kohner, 82, said the prince had asked questions about her experience fleeing the growing menace of Adolf Hitler’s expansionist Germany and growing up on a farm near Belfast in Co Down.

She reflected: ‘It saved our lives, it must have been very difficult for my parents, who had travelled 10 days by train, to bring me and my sister to escape, but they saved our lives.’

Charles was introduced to Ruth Kohner, 82, who was part of the Kindertransport in 1939 which brought thousands of Jewish children to the UK in the Second World War, during a visit to Belfast Synagogue

Her father lost many relatives in the concentration camps, left his mother behind and knew he would never see her again. Ms Kohner spent the war at the farm in the village of Millisle along with other rescued youngsters, and went on to run a family clothing business for many years.

The stained glass windows installed at the synagogue feature symbols like a dove and were made by local people as part of a project supported by the European Union. They were made by members of the Travelling, Jewish and Chinese communities, people of mixed ethnic backgrounds and various Christian churches.

Designer David Esler, 67, from Ballyclare in Co Antrim, said: 'It is a wonderful opportunity to listen to others, to step outside your comfort zone. 'Someone said you are enriched rather than diminished by cultural identity, and I think that is exactly what the windows are trying to do and the opportunity to use art as a way of communicating those stories.’

Camilla spoke with a number of homeless women who come to the centre every day to use its services and learn to upcycle furniture for sale in the shop

During her visit, Camilla was guided around a charity’s shop by chief executive Sandra Moore and met a number of its staff, volunteers and clients before seeing the workshop where items of furniture are upcycled for sale. She also spoke with a number of homeless women who come to the centre every day to use its services and learn to upcycle furniture for sale in the shop.

'That’s so important to restore your confidence,’ she told one woman, who had described to her how much the charity’s services mean to her life. It gets you on the path, and once you are on the path you’re going. You are all very brave to talk.’

She also met Lee-Maria Hughes, whose sister Catherine died at the age of 32 on the streets of Belfast

The duchess was then invited to try her hand at some craftwork before being presented with a 'Belfast Newsie’ cap crafted from traditional Irish tweed. She also met Lee-Maria Hughes, whose sister Catherine died at the age of 32 on the streets of Belfast. 

Ms Moore said the organisation was over the moon about its first royal visitor. She said: 'The organisation started as a community-based project 20-odd years ago, but has taken on a life of its own over the last decade when we have introduced additional services.’

The duchess was then invited to try her hand at some craftwork before being presented with a 'Belfast Newsie’ cap crafted from traditional Irish tweed

'We do street outreach on the streets from 7am to 2am the next morning. The Welcome Organisation is known for working with people who are very hard to reach, those with extremely complex issues and chaotic lifestyles.

'We try to engage people. It may sound small but we got our first person into employment last week through this part of the scheme (upcycling furniture), and the people we do employ are people who have maybe been long-term unemployed and have come to us because they struggled with skills or confidence. This project works very well in building confidence as well as everything else.

'This visit is a great accolade for the Welcome Organisation. Everyone involved has been really excited to meet the duchess.’

Meanwhile, Charles continued his day of activities with a showcase of nitrate-free pork during a tour of a factory in rural Northern Ireland.

The Prince of Wales poured a glass of Belfast Black made by Whitewater Brewer during the reception at the Grand Central Hotel hosted by The Spirit of Belfast to celebrate those involved in delivering the success of the tourism and artisan food sectors in Belfast

A number of guests took the opportunity to speak to the Royal during the reception at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast 

Bernard Sloan of Whitewater Brewery joined Prince Charles as he sipped on a glass of Belfast Black in celebration of those involved in delivering the success of the tourism and artisan food

The Prince of Wales met Denis Lynn (pictured left) at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the Royal couple’s visit to Northern Ireland

Following a morning in Belfast city centre, the prince travelled to Co Down to Finnebrogue Artisan’s base. Charles was officially welcomed to Downpatrick by Lord Lieutenant of Co Down David Lindsay and Finnebrogue chairman Denis Lynn. During a boardroom meeting the prince heard how Finnebrogue launched the first nitrate-free bacon in 2017 before he got sight - and smell - of freshly cooked sausages and bacon from the company’s range.'The last time we met was 11 years ago in Belfast,’ Mr Lynn told the prince.

The Royal beamed as he spoke with Kerry Lynn pictured holding her 9-month-old daughter Margot Dixon, with Esme Dixon, 2, and Denis Lynn

Mr Lynn pictured right, at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the tour reminded the prince that they had met 11 years ago

'We were a small artisan business, our turnover was about £3 million. Eleven years and two days later we are still a small artisan business doing exactly the same thing, but we have just got a bit bigger.

'Thank you so much for coming, I have really appreciated it, I have really had a great time talking to you about your understanding of the environment. I think we are really together on this.’ As the visit drew to a close, Mr Lynn presented the Charles with a hamper full of Finnebrogue products, joking it was'better’ than the prince’s own Duchy range, to which Charles chuckled, telling the other guests present: 'he’s longing to say that’.     

The Prince of Wales pictured blowing a whistle as referee during an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh

The Prince of Wales later played referee for a symbolic match between teams representing both sides of Northern Ireland’s religious divide.

Charles was visiting the Palace Demesne, home of the current offices of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, where he blew the starting whistle for a 'game of two halves’ which brought together young rugby and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players.

One overzealous young player skidded across the pitch and landed at the feet of an impressed Charles before the game had even begun.

GAA is predominantly played in schools run by the Catholic Church in Northern Ireland, while rugby had traditionally been associated with state schools, where Protestant children are more likely to attend.

The match in Co. Armagh was a symbolic moment for players from both sides of Northern Ireland’s religious divide 

The Prince of Wales was given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after the engagement at Palace Demense 

Prince Charles spoke at length with Mr McGeeney about the skills involved in the sport

The GAA was represented by St Patrick’s GAC Armagh and the rugby team came from the Armagh Royal School. Vice-chairman of Ulster GAA Ciaran McLaughlin said the game was 'extremely symbolic’ of the future of Northern Ireland, moving away from previously held stereotypes.

'The game is part of a community outreach programme, we have Ulster Rugby and Ulster GAA coming together to try out the skills from GAA and rugby in a fun environment and bringing children together through sport,’ he said. One half of the game will be GAA, the other will be rugby, and the children will be split into mixed teams to play against each other, we’re seeing more and more clubs doing it.

porting icons Rory Best and Kieran McGeeney joined students in attending the monumental occasion at Palace Demesne 

Hopefully it’s moving away from the old notions, I spoke to a few boys today from the Royal School who say they already play GAA, and the same applies the other way around - that would’ve been unheard of 20 years ago.

'It’s extremely symbolic and I think it’s why the council were so keen to highlight the good work that’s going on.’ Ulster and Ireland rugby star Rory Best and Armagh County GAA manager Kieran McGeeney were also present to meet the prince. Charles spoke at length to Mr McGeeney, appearing to ask about the skills involved in the sport.

The council has ambitious plans to build a new sports facility which can be enjoyed by the entire community, with both local rugby and GAA clubs lending their support to the new facility. Prince Charles completed his final appointment on the second day of his three-day trip to the island of Ireland at Brownlow House, home of Lugan District Loyal Orange No.6. 

The Prince of Wales signed the visitors book at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh with Armagh Lord Mayor Mealla Campbell, sitting infront of portraits of his ancestors King George III, and Queen Charlotte, painted by Scottish portrait-painter Alan Ramsey

Prince Charles took time to greet Irish dancers wearing traditional attire at Brownlow House during the second day of his tour 

Prince Charles met young people from across Northern Ireland’s divide celebrating their culture through the mediums of music and dance. He met members of the Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory, as well as school children from St Ronan’s School and Lurgan Junior High School, who entertained him with both Irish and Ulster Scots dancing.

The prince also met once of his youngest namesakes, DUP MLA Carla Lockhart’s two-week-old son Charlie. Charlie was born after his mother was suddenly rushed to hospital during the recent local government election count.

The Prince of Wales appeared in good spirits as he met individuals at Brownlow House including members of the Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory

Ms Lockhart said: 'The prince today was inquiring after him and what weight he was. It was just such an honour to meet Prince Charles today and little Charlie enjoyed it as well.’

The visit comes after the Prince of Wales took a guided tour through the stunning scenery of a botanical garden as his tour of the Irish Republic continued on yesterday.

Bookbinding tutorial at the Belfast Print Workshop

Appropriated Mentoring

Meet Lesli Kim - gifted specialist, watercolorist, and mentor from County Galway.

I completed a month back, in a virtual assembling, encouraged and arranged by the My Creative Edge Creative2Creative Matching Program

So I don't get that is meaning?

Everything considered the Creative2Creative individuals state 'Shared training makes a sublime opportunity to compose and attract worldwide associations like your own one of a kind business. It is a mind-boggling technique to arrange your own one of a kind work and meet comparable people with the probability of structure whole deal business affiliations.'

I express, it's to some degree like web dating for imaginative associations; I've met the astonishing Fiona, had a rummage around her online closeness (I understand she's done in like manner with me), an extraordinary see her work and managed a basic virtual date without any other individual, a long way from the careful, sensible and empowering eye of Creative2Creative.

In addition, we have a second data set.

We've found we share a significant sum for all plans and reasons...

We both show workshops and pitch an extent of work to suit every single budgetary arrangement. You can see a segment of Fiona's scene prints here

Likewise, we both live in regions of Ireland by and by playing with the European Capital of Culture assignments. Galway2020 will make waves in 2020 and with weare2023, Belfast, Derry&Strabane, and territories might want to do similarly, anticipating for the 2023 space. What that infers for minimal creative associations like our very own we haven't the faintest idea yet.

Also, we fight with fundamentally the same as things...

Being innovative isn't an issue; neither of us seems to fight with inventive blockages, it's a perfect chance to do all the including association that decimates the will. Fiona and her sidekick Martina Furlong will be at Art Source in the RDS on the tenth-twelfth November, so affiliation and getting ready is high on her inspiration. Control and focus that is what we need, and in a perfect world, with standard social occasions, we'll develop the sort of pleasant, carefully irritating and relentless relationship to push us both forward.

In the meantime, I've pulled a brush through my hair, fixed my meticulously picked 'not making a nice endeavor' outfit, all readied for our next date...

Project Statement ~

At the start of the Semester, we were asked to choose from 3 title briefs to base our project off of, I choose ‘Landscape and Memories’. I based my project off of ‘My Journey’ that I take every 2 weeks from Limerick to Dublin and finally to Belfast. As well as being asked to choose a brief title we also partook in different workshops every week, changing workshop every 3 weeks. Experimenting and exploring the Print Contemporary Practice that would help us learn more and what it is to be a Print Maker.

The first workshop we partook in was Lithography, I found this workshop the most difficult for myself as it was all very new to me, I made mistakes through the process but learnt from them. We were asked to draw up an image and etch it into the Limestone slab, for this process I drew the landscape the bus in which I travel in, in my journey to where I go. I thought this was a good image to start with as it is my main aspect of ‘My Journey’.

The next workshop we explored and experimented in was Etching, I found this workshop quite fun and tried to experiment as much as I could with this, we were asked to create another image to use based off of our project. I choose to combine an image I took in our photoshop/photography lessons, which was of my legs walking, showing the movement and other forms I use to get to my final destination. As if telling a story of where I am going, we etched this image onto steel plates inking them up and printing them onto paper. I tried to experiment with colour in my editions to show my emotions in my story of how I am feeling be it in the moment or to where I am going.

Finally, the last workshop we explored was Screen Print, I also found this workshop to be fun but was also quite interesting, we were asked to bitmap images we wanted to use that were associated I use previous photos I took of the interior of the bus and the blurred landscape passing by that I see while in the bus. I experimented and explored the different colour I could mix together and use as well as using a gradient effect.

Through this semester I learnt a lot more about print making, learning a lot from partaking in these workshops and researching as well as mistakes that I have made along the way and learnt from. When returning I would like to explore more colour and designs, I could create in etching and screen print.

Print class tonight @BPW #lithography #print #design #art #fun (at Belfast Print Workshop)

How & Where to Get Rid of Old or Broken Furniture

Is it time to give your room a makeover? 

Do you plan to buy the furniture you always dreamed of? 

But you have a pile of unwanted, broken, or outdated fittings and don’t know how to dispose of them? 

Don’t let your furniture decay in the landfill. Help low-income families receive much-needed household items. Check the guide from Homes Direct 365 and learn the popular ways to get rid of old or broken furniture. 

Be a responsible community member. 

Protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.

Aid people in need. 

Reuse, don’t dump.

Go to a Recycling Centre

Visit the local recycling centre to discard your rubbish. Also known as the tip, this centre focuses on sustainable waste management.  

Drop off household rubbish and bulky items like futons, cupboards, carpets and mattresses. Bring electronic devices: cookers, fridges, televisions, computers, etc.    

According to rubbish & dumpster expert Luke Hancock, you should beware and use the designated bins for household waste and electrical items. Place your rubbish in the proper bin, he adds. 

Check the recycling capacity of your local centre and adhere to the limits. Don’t dump more of your house than you’re allowed.  

Bring proof of address when you visit the council recycling centre. 

Check for vehicle and trailer restrictions. 

Read the access regulations. 

Carry a permit for commercial vehicles, as local authorities might demand it.

Book A Waste Collection Service

Do you stockpile waste but can’t transport it to the tip? Here is some nifty advice. 

There is a service called waste collection that helps with bulk rubbish. The council dispatches vehicles and staff to collect waste from your home. Book in advance as the typical waiting period is about 8 weeks. Check the service fees, they range between £20 - £25.

The collection service is very convenient if you have large furniture. Check the specifics and prepare your items. Remove all glass panels from the furniture. Secure with heavy-duty tape if you can’t take it off. 

Recycling centres don’t take mirrors, detach them from wardrobes and dressing tables. Disassemble furniture with loose parts, flatten the surface and remove all nails. 

The council accepts household furniture and electronic gadgets, but there are restrictions. Don’t bring your boilers, greenhouses, bathroom and kitchen modules. Throw your daily waste in the backyard bin.

Find Recycling Projects

Research about independent recycling projects. These campaigns serve for the community wellbeing or support charitable causes. Consider this as a convenient, social-responsible way to dispose of your old furniture. 

Donate your reusable furniture and electronic devices to the British Heart Foundation. The nationwide organization sells your items and distributes profit for charities. They offer a free and flexible collection service. The funds from the sales support medical research. Give away your old goods and help save a life. 

According to Gwinnett real estate experts Watkins Homes, you can browse through house listings in your area to not only admire beauty and looks, but learn more of how timber recycling helps saving the environment.

Trade, Advertise, Donate or Give Away

Call your friends, relatives, colleagues, and people next door. Check what they need and offer your items. 

Ask the local schools, hospitals, orphanages or social centres. They often need desks, chairs, tables and other furnishings.   

Post the unwanted furniture on social media. Spread awareness and ask your friends to share the post. Join online groups and chat forums dedicated to furniture recycling.

Contact the local newspaper and enquire about a printed advertisement. The ad gets good exposure, and it’s usually free if the content is short.

Visit the nearest charity shop. Ask if they accept bulk furniture and offer collection service. Due to safety regulations, some charity shops don’t accept electronic devices. Get familiar with the rules before you donate. 

Join a recycling community. Advertise your items in the community post board. If members like something, they come and collect it from your home. Likewise, if you find an interesting item, fetch it from the owner. 

Check Your Donation Options

We’ve prepared a list of social enterprises to make an informed choice. Donations go to underprivileged families and homeless people throughout the UK. 

Visit the Reuse Network website first. This association supports charities throughout the UK which accept furniture donations. They organise recycling events and collaborate with partners to spread their philosophy. Volunteers are welcome. Reuse and help people in need. 

Emmaus helps homeless people. Their mission is to transform household junk into a poor man’s fortune. Furniture gets a total makeover in their workshops. Afterwards, they sell second-hand items in community stores. Funds go for housing programs. 

Go to Recycle Your Furniture workshop in Byker to donate furniture. Explore their store, too. They offer vintage furniture, antiques and funky art pieces which can upgrade your home interior. 

If you own wooden items, donate them to East Belfast Mission. They repair and refurbish the wood and sell it in their shops.

Stroud District Furniture Bank offers a free collection service within certain areas. Their collection team works in pairs and does a heavy-duty lifting. They restore, repair and sell furniture at affordable rates to support low-income families. 

Repair Before You Dump

Try to repair your furniture. If you have heirloom items, visit The British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association. Choose a reliable handyman specialised in antique restoration.

Repair by yourself or engage friends and family. It’s fun, practical and a great way to bond with loved ones. Watch online DIY videos or check craft blogs for inspiration and helpful ideas. Learn innovative methods to turn shabby furniture into a modern, useful item. Be brave and take your chances. 

Final Words on Getting Rid of Old Furniture

Furniture recycling is a responsible and sustainable method to give a second life to your  unwanted household items. It aids the community welfare and supports the local economy. 

Reduce waste and recycle. Together, we make a difference!

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How & Where to Get Rid of Old or Broken Furniture is republished from Homes Direct365 Furniture

Viscosity Printmaking, a masterclass tutored by Josephine McCormick at Belfast Print Workshop. Wednesday 28th September 2022

CMY (no K) Screen Prints @ Belfast Print Workshop. March 2023

Posted @withregram • @belfastprintworkshop Get hands on experience with some of our renowned artists and join in on one of our upcoming classes. 💫 During September, BPW will be hosting several classes in a range of print techniques—with varieties of screen printing classes including CMYK Screen Printing and Screen Printing on textiles, suitable for a range of participants from newcomers to experienced printmakers. Check out the selection of classes coming up at ➡️ www.bpw.org.uk . . . #printclass #printclasses #belfastworkshops #belfastcreatives #creativegifts #screenprinting #screenprint #printmaking #printmakingart #printmakingdemonstration #printmakingdemonstrations #printmakingclass #printmakingclasses #printmakingworkshop (at Belfast Print Workshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chp_vP1MgFm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Some of my photos from yesterday’s shoot. Défi not as good as @gingervagabond our photographer but at least I tried 😆 thanks to @winiarskijasmin for agreeing to model in the freezing cold, in the rain. I owe you girl. @samantaradekdesign red skirt looks fab paired with my geometric print tee and Denim jacket with my little sustainable badge from our badge making workshop thanks to @hj.bruce #textileartdesignandfashion #belfastschoolofart #ulsteruni #belfastartist #fashion #fashiondesigner #yourbelfast #fashionphotography (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrV6HfRBWnU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fhajrt5f1bh1

Year 2 Getting my hustle back

The year started so quick and only gained speed as the weeks progressed. Between making decisions about workshop specialisation, finding a placement, getting my mind back to ‘work mode’ and sorting through some personal stuff, there wasn't really any time to catch up. 

But now with my 8 week placement finally finished, my first workshop completed and some spare time on my hands I can catch up with you guy.

Placement has been wonderful, I had my placement with Una Rodden a Belfast based designer and her team. Una has two boutiques, she goes to Paris to shop for incredible pieces and also gives a platform for other Belfast designers to sell their garments, she designs for a range of people varying from bridal to evening/ formal wear.  Within that she has different categories and price ranges. While running the boutiques and sewing shop, she also showcases at Belfast fashion week and any other fashion show based in NI, which keeps her very busy. Her team has though me a lot about hand sewing, pattern cutting and working directly with the client, while advising and mentoring me throughout the entire process. They have been a blessing, pushing me out of my comfort zone but never making me feel too much out of my dept. 

As for the workshop specialisation, I decided to pick Fashion and Print as my two areas of study.  First workshop being Fashion I felt terrified especially since first year has been such a bumpy journey with no professor to lead the classes. This year our ‘Professor’ was one of the resident student Jenna, along her side we had two new technicians which was amazing, all of us got a lot of one on one tutoring, something that we definitely required after last year. The Calico project was a brilliant idea, it took the pressure of us having to make a finished garment and gave us the time to play around. I decided to continue with a line up collection that I sketched out during the summer based on poppies. While doing my research and with Jenna’s help I came across the concept of fraying fabric from that on my ideas sprung rapidly. Sculpting on the mannequin enabled me to work directly on the human form and adapt different patterns and techniques to convey my initial concept. After making my calico design I went further one with my research and decided to use recycled denim for a final piece that I can put into my portfolio. 

Saturday night printing at Belfast Print Workshop. Artist proof at a soap ground copper etching inked with dense black hawthorn Ink on velin arches paper. #soapground #etching plate #intaglio #belfast #catherdralquarter #hawthornink #printstudio #artistproof #velinarches (at Belfast Print Workshop)

It’s sometimes said that the contemporary Irish poetry scene is something of an echo chamber. With an army of active poets, so many journals and competitions to submit to, and collections, anthologies, reviews and features to read, plus a plethora of launches, readings and festivals to attend, there is plenty to keep us busy. Much of the audience for poetry publications and events is other poets. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as the level of all-important mutual support appears to be pretty high, based on my own experience and that of my many poet-friends. However, there’s a lot to be said for branching out, away from ‘the usual suspects’, and finding new – or lapsed – readers for poetry. This is where the beautiful brainchild of Belfast-based poet Maria McManus comes in: the Label Lit project, run with the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, placed over a thousand poems and fragments of poems, written onto luggage labels, in public places on Poetry Day Ireland 2018, with the help of 65 poets in Ireland, the UK and further-flung places. First of all, I was delighted to be included in Label Lit, after knocking on Maria’s Twitter door, and was excited to receive my twenty blank labels in the post. But which work to disseminate to the unsuspecting Dublin public? My first decision was to use individual haiku for all the labels rather than fragments of longer poems. My second was to make them site-specific, having lived in Dublin all my life and written haiku set here for the last twenty years plus. My third decision was to place my haiku in three different locations: where I live (Inchicore / Ballyfermot), where I work (Rathmines) and in between (Dublin city centre). Choosing the twenty haiku was decision number four, which involved some trawling followed by thoughtful match-making of poems with places. My fifth decision was to type them up and print them onto address labels rather than writing them by hand, since I’ve had so many complaints about the legibility of my handwriting. Poetry Day dawned on Thursday 26th April and the weather conditions in our fair city were perfect: sunny and dry, with an occasional breeze to set the labels a-flapping. I was ready for some guerilla action! I started in my own neighbourhood and posted a few there, including one at the entrance to Lutyens’ Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge. I also tied a label bearing a bus-themed haiku onto the seat in front of me on the bus into town, where I placed a couple more, including one on the front gate of the Bank of Ireland in College Green, and one to a railing inside Trinity College.   After work, I posted labels to a few chosen locations in Rathmines. I started with Café Moda, where I get my takeaway latte each day (the manager decided she’d take it home at COB). Another destination was the approximate location of the original building where my maternal grandfather lived and worked when he first came to Dublin, from Shillelagh in Co. Wicklow, in the early part of the last century. Back in the city, I ventured across the Liffey, posting haiku onto the Ha’penny Bridge, at the GPO, and outside both the Poetry Ireland and the Irish Writer’s Centre offices. It was lovely to see other red labels fluttering in the April sunshine outside those two venues. At this stage I only had two labels left. I brought them to Cabra Library where I did an evening reading with Anne Tannam to a lovely receptive audience, some of whom participated in the open-mic half. I gave the second-last label to my cousin Mary to pass on to my aunt, who’s a great reader. I then gifted the very last one to my reading partner Anne who brought it back home, passing by the body of water that inspired it, the Grand Canal. The whole experience was more emotional than I had expected, a little like the feeling you get just before a book is published; a sense of exposure. I tweeted photos of the labels as I went along, and was delighted to see so many other tweets from such a range of places. In the following day or two, I checked back to see if my labels were still there – most of them had been taken. I wondered how their finders / keepers felt about them, and was left wondering since none of them made contact via Twitter or any other medium. Does this matter? Is it enough to know that your work may have touched, amused or even annoyed some random readers? And, if just one of them has never darkened the door of a poetry reading, or bought a slim volume of verse, isn’t that a positive outcome?

Biog: Maeve O’Sullivan works in further education in Dublin. Her poetry and haiku have been widely published, anthologised and translated. She is the author of four collections from Alba Publishing (UK): Initial Response (2011), Vocal Chords (2014), A Train Hurtles West (2015) and Elsewhere (2017). Maeve is a founder member of Haiku Ireland and the Hibernian Poetry Workshop, and performs with The Poetry Divas. Twitter: @writefromwithin

Maeve O’Sullivan: her LabeLLit Experience (2018) It’s sometimes said that the contemporary Irish poetry scene is something of an echo chamber. With an army of active poets, so many journals and competitions to submit to, and collections, anthologies, reviews and features to read, plus a plethora of launches, readings and festivals to attend, there is plenty to keep us busy.