About

(from left to right) Editor Colin Dardis with the first three Pen Points Press poets: Geraldine O'Kane, Ross Thompson and Chris McLaughlin.

History

Poetry NI was founded in February 2014 by Colin Dardis after bringing together three separate projects he had been running: Purely Poetry (which had been going since October 2011), FourXFour Poetry Journal (which first launched in August 2012, and was itself a re-imagined form of a previous poetry project, Speech Therapy) and Pen Points Press (which was first envisioned in November 2013).


People

Colin Dardis
Colin is the editor and designer for both FourXFour and Pen Points Press. He is the main host of the Purely Poetry monthly nights at the Crescent Arts Centre. www.colindardispoet.co.uk

Geraldine O'Kane
Geraldine is the editor of Panning For Poems and co-host of Purely Poetry. She also helps in facilitating festival events and workshops for Poetry NI.
http://thepoetokane.weebly.com/


Special Thanks

Special thanks go to Andy Ward, who was our resident photographer, snapping the readers at our Purely Poetry nights and other events; to Keith Acheson at Crescent Arts Centre (and previously Melissa Gordon and Samantha Porciello) for their support and general all-round brilliance in supporting Purely Poetry; Desmond Swords for entrusting us to run the Belfast heat of the All Ireland Poetry Slam; and Chris McLaughlin who ran our mini-series of poetry readings/open mics in Strabane at the Alley Theatre over Spring/Summer '15.

Poetry NI is an independently-run, independently financed organisation, not affiliated with any other group or company. Despite the name, we in no way claim to represent every Northern Irish poet out there or the great range of events happening in the country. We encourage you to explore what's on offer and to dine at all the literary tables. Support your local poet. Demand poetry.