Overview

A step away from the din of Midtown—and a haven from devices and other distractions—PoetryFest sets its own pace for an exchange of emotions and ideas through the words of bards from both sides of the Atlantic. In this engaging “literary revelry” (New Yorker) curated by Nick Laird, we configure our flexible theatre into its most intimate setting for readings and conversations that celebrate the poet’s capacity to sculpt words into breathtaking visions of our world.

LINEUP:
Tara Bergin, Sara Berkeley, Timothy Donnelly, Elisa Gonzalez, Terrance Hayes, Thomas McCarthy, Mary Noonan, Sharon Olds, Padraig Regan, and Tom Sleigh.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1

Favorite Irish Poems
Featuring special guests Laurie Anderson, Consul General Helena Nolan,  Michael Patrick MacDonald, Kia Corthron, and more to be announced.
8PM | $25 and up, including after-party

Our opening night tradition of bringing together special guests and festival poets to share the Irish verses they love most.

RESERVE >

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 

Free readings all day from the festival poets.

2pm // Elisa Gonzalez and Padraig Regan
RESERVE >

3:30pm // Tara Bergin and Timothy Donnelly
RESERVE >

5pm // Sara Berkeley and Terrance Hayes
RESERVE >

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

1pm // Mary Noonan and Tom Sleigh
RESERVE >

2:30pm // Desert Island Poems: Thomas McCarthy and Sharon Olds, in conversation with Nick Laird. Each poet chooses 5 poems they would bring to a desert island with them.
RESERVE >

4pm // Thomas McCarthy and Sharon Olds
RESERVE >

Lead event partner: The Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation. Presented with generous support from Culture Ireland, Northern Ireland Bureau, and Tourism Ireland.