Off the Record: Limerick poets to introduce themselves to international poetry scene

Alongside the banks of the River Shannon, Limerick-based poet D’or Seifer tells the Limerick Leader about the Treaty City's “poetry ecosystem.”

When she moved to Limerick three years ago, D’or Seifer started attending poetry events in the city – including the weekly series White House Poets. In 2021, she decided to create an online poetry initiative with co-founder Laura O’Donovan.

Hosted from Limerick and Cork, the volunteer-run and not-for-profit weekly online poetry event aims to give poets “an opportunity to be in a supportive space” and interact with one another, as well as share and celebrate their work.

“A lot of our members are in Ireland, and also overseas, so we have lot of international members. People from the US, Scotland, England, and Australia have attended our events. There are also a lot of people who have disabilities that prevent them from traveling locally or long distance. To be supportive of all poet’s work and to be welcoming, we’re doing the events online. But, we would also like to have some in-person events scattered to celebrate various things,” D’or explained.

Since April 2021, Lime Tree Poets hosted poets such as Michael Durack, John Liddy, Majella Haugh, UL faculty and students such as Noelle Lynskey, Eoin Devereux and William Keohane, alongside well-known international poets such as Paul Muldoon and Alicia Ostriker.

Lime Square Poets encourages poets to read at an open mic event. “It’s also an opportunity to do their first headline, if they're launching a book to support that, but also to introduce them to work that they may not know, or new work from people they already know,” she said.

Not only is the initiative a good platform for upcoming poets, it also allows Limerick poets to introduce themselves to the international poetry scene.

“We’re open to all poets, all genres of poetry, and we're very friendly to new people as we love to hear new voices. We’re on every Thursday from 7:45 until 9:15 on Zoom”, D’or commented.

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Supported by Limerick City and County Council, the events take place on Thursdays. Speaking of the support of the Limerick community, D’or said: “We’re very grateful to have support which enables us to host the Zoom and to have our website where we publish work from poets we've collaborated with.”

According to the Limerick-based poet, the world of poetry is one that is supportive. “We wouldn't be able to be as active as we are as individual poets without the support of the whole poetry ecosystem,” she said.

As they mix local talent with the wider arts scene, Lime Square Poets do their best to “cultivate” upcoming poets.

D’or cannot help but admire the arts scene in Ireland. “It’s incredible. Poets are extremely generous with their time and with their work. We’re volunteer run and volunteer based, and the amount of work and goodwill that people give is amazing.”

As part of their upcoming events, Lime Square Poets will host Damien Donnelly, Deirdre Devally, Rachel Coventry, and Peter A. For further information, visit limesquarepoets.com