​27th January is the day for everyone to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of people killed by Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides. Poetry NI marks the occasion with the release of our online anthology 'Poems for Holocaust Memorial Day', featuring work from poets across Ireland.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all our poets for not only sending us their pieces, but for having the compassion to highlight the issues of the Holocaust and subsequent episodes of genocide which has effected generations of families, communities and race through one of the most powerful means available, poetry.

The poets included are: Trevor Conway​, Karen J. McDonnell​, Paul Jeffcutt​, Shane Vaughan​, Stephanie Conn​, Colin Dardis​, Brendan McCormack​, Alice Kinsella, Michael Farry​, Therese Kieran, Michael Conaghan​, Ciarán O’Rourke, James Meredith​, Geraldine O'Kane​, Glen Wilson​, Peter​ O'Neill, Moya Roddy, Emma McKervey, Raisea Dé Murchú and Yvonne Boyle​.

Shirley Lennon, Northern Ireland Regional Support Worker for Holocaust Memorial Day Trust​, writes in her foreword to the anthology:

"Publications of creative and powerful poetry like this collection ensure that the vastness that is the Holocaust remains visible. The selection of excellent poems demonstrates the extensive research, knowledge and creativity of the writers. The range, from those evoking the camps, to those written in response to more recent visits to Holocaust sites and Museums shows how lives today continue to be impacted by what happened."

The anthology can be downloaded as a pdf file for free here.

Please share the link on social media, blogs, websites, etc, and forward it to whoever you may feel might be interested.

Panning for Poems Issue Four is alive and ready for devouring!

In this issue we have Matthew Rice, Patrick Deeley, Glen Wilson, Jason O'Rourke, David Atkinson, Pete Mullineaux, Michael Healy, Joe Cushnan, Jenny Methven, Stephanie Conn, Therese Kieran, Steve Brightman and Michael McCullagh.

Apologies the publication is late, but due to family illness and bereavements, we were unable to publish in December. We value the quality of all of our projects, and we did not want to compromise the integrity of the journal or anyone's work within by rushing to meet deadlines. Thank you for your patience.

You will find the printed version for your edification in and around Belfast, in coffee shops etc from next week. If you have been published or want to enjoy the feel of it in your hand, then do print a copy or two and share the micro love!

Panning for Poems is currently open again for submissions.

Wonderful words at Purely Poetry last night, what a great way to start the New Year, with a packed room of people revelling in the love of poetry.

Many thanks to all our readers. We officially introduced a new system thst we've been trying out, to make sure as many people as possible can read. Once all the regular seven-minute slots were filled, we now have an Overflow Cup, where if there's any extra time at the end, we'll hear one poem each just from the names in the cup. Yes, our cup doth overfloweth with poetical goodness!

Our readers were:
Laura Cameron, Kate Smeltzer, Cathaoir Patrick, Siobhan McCafferty, Ona Harris, Patrick Taggart, Jackie Rock, Zakk Appleyard, Willetta Fleming, Mel Bradley, Clodagh Harvey, Vincent Creelan, Ellie Rose McKee, Craig McKay, Peter Adair, Peter Francis Fahy Tim Roope, David Smylie, Thomas Elliott, Andrew Ward, Mark Cooper, Patrick McNicholl, Geraldine O'Kane, Azeem Latiff, Jenny Cleland, David Braziel, Khadija Shaw, Steve Smith,Nathan Thanki and Avita Thanki.

Also many thanks to Jenny Cleland for the awesome live sketches of some of our readers and poetry community. We are back for more of the same on the first Friday in February, we hope you can join us then! DEMAND POETRY.