We look forward to welcoming poets Vivienne McKechnie and Jo Slade for an afternoon of poetry reading from their newest collections, Shades of Red and Once, respectively . Exploring a range of themes from loss and the Irish landscape, to trauma, the climate crisis, and what it means to be a poet and an artist in these times; these poems promise to bring us a reflective afternoon. All are welcome to attend.
Attendance is free but booking is essential.
ABOUT
VIVIENNE MCKECHNIE (nee Darling) was born in Dublin and now lives in Limerick. She is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and has completed an MA in Creative Writing in University of Limerick. Arlen House published Vivienne’s debut poetry collection, A Butterfly’s Wing , in 2013. Her poem, Letting Go, was published in Windharp, Poems of Ireland since 1916 , edited by Niall MacMonagle. Vivienne’s poetry has been published in Stony Thursday, Revival , read on Lyric FM and on Sunday Miscellany . Her poem Today featured on the English Leaving Certificate paper. Vivienne edited Dream of a City, An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry from Limerick City of Culture 2014 and, with Jo Slade, A Last Farewell Collected poems by Maeve Kelly in March 2016. Vivienne is on Limerick Literary Festival in honour of Kate O’Brien committee. Her second poetry collection, Shades of Red , was published by Revival Press in April 2026.
JO SLADE lives and works in Limerick. A poet and multimedia artist. Author of seven collections of poetry and two chapbooks of poems. Her most recent poetry collection, Once (Salmon Poetry 2025) Cycles and Lost Monkeys (Salmon Poetry 2019). The Painter’s House (Salmon Poetry 2013) Joint recipient of The Michael Hartnett Poetry Award 2014. City of Bridges (Salmon Poetry, 2005) Certain Octobers Poems and Paintings (Editions Eireanna Quimper, France 1997), a dual language English/French edition, awarded a publication bursary from Centre du Livre Paris France. Nominated in 2003 for Prix Evelyn Encelot, Ecriture Prize, Maison des Ecrivains, Paris. The Vigilant One (Salmon Publishing, 1994) Nominated for The Irish Times/Aer Lingus Literature Prize. In Fields I Hear Them Sing (Salmon Publishing 1989) Chapbooks: The Artist’s Room (Pighog Press Brighton UK 2010) The White Cottage. Poems and Art Work (T-A-R Publications Ireland 2016) The chapbook The White Cottage accompanied the installation/ exhibition of the same name, at The Sailors’ Home Limerick in 2016. Her poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Romanian, Norwegian, Russian, Italian and Slovenian. Her work has been published in national and international literary journals and anthologies. Awarded residencies in Ireland and abroad. Recipient of Arts Council of Ireland literature bursaries and awards. Travel Grants from Culture Ireland and Limerick City and County Councils. Mentor and facilitator, Words Ireland and Bealtine Festival 2024/25/26. New and Selected Poems, forthcoming 2027. Residue Joys a book of proems and images forthcoming 2027/28. She has exhibited her paintings, sculptures and multimedia work widely in both solo and group shows and her work is represented in public and private collections in Ireland, France, Italy and USA. Exhibition of paintings, sculpture and assemblages Nostos Courthouse Gallery, Ennisdimon, Co.Clare, 2020. Her most recent exhibition of paintings The Female Image Claimed at 6s&7s Gallery Tipperary 2026.