Bloody hell do we have jam packed podcast for you this week guys.

We have a love story to kick things off that happened at Mulligans pub on Poolbeg Street that ended at The Cobblestone where a woman from Peru had lost a poem gifted to her by a Welsh traveller. Just when you thought Ireland couldn't get any more fecking romantic!

We share the essay published by The New York Times that moved actor Andrew Garfield to tears, how Moai from Moana can be a useful inspiration for depression and share a poem about the magic of rivers.

A podcast first too as we are delighted to share our first poetry from someone from the disability community with the poem Guinea Pig by Daniel Kay (DK) before we have Dublin singer-songwriter Miranda Faul wrap up the show.

If you'd like to support the podcast, head over to our Patreon on the link at the bottom of the show notes. By joining, you also get an exclusive monthly podcast where we pick a collection to read every month. Get on it!

Peace and love

Ryan and Leon

Poems from the podcast

Rhys and Steve - Cobblestone Pub, Dublin

https://www.instagram.com/cobblestonepubdublin

Chris Huntington - Learning To Measure Time In Love And Loss

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/fashion/learning-to-measure-time-in-love-and-loss.html

Kristen Jewel - Moai

https://www.kristenjewel-writing.com/about

Rebecca Salazar - River Skin

https://www.writerstrust.com/authors/rebecca-salazar/

Daniel Kay - Guinea Pig

https://www.accessabilityarts.co.uk/

Music by Miranda Faul

https://www.instagram.com/miranda_faul/

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Inspired by our conversation with Mike Garry about musicians writing poetry, we wanted to dedicate this episode to our favourite artists who also enjoy a poem or too.

Leon owns a copy of  'The Lords And The New Creatures' by The Door's frontman Jim Morrison, his only poetry collection so we had to talk about him, his mad blood-drinking, pagan mentalness as well as share a poem from him.

We take a look at a poem by Leonard Cohen taken from his collection 'The Flame' published in 2018 with thanks to his son, Adam Cohen. Spoiler: Leonard Cohen is funnier than you think.

We talk about Patti Smith and her gift of painting pictures of global conflicts, delve into Bob Dylan's moodiness and strip back Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell to prove that most of her songs would have stood the test of time in poetry form without the music, even if we're glad there's music.

Our agony aunt's job this week was to help someone struggling with the state of her country. Not one for Conor McGregor fans from the agony aunt this week.

We wrap up the show with a beauty of a track from Caoimhe Weakliam with her song 'Hiding'

Enjoy!

Poems from the show

Leonard Cohen - Thanks For The Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVsYz5rB8Bw

Bob Dylan - Untitled poem 

https://www.hotpress.com/opinion/world-exclusive-the-early-poems-that-set-bob-dylan-on-the-road-to-a-nobel-prize-in-literature-22901386

Patti Smith - The Writer's Song

https://thedewdrop.org/2019/08/28/it-is-better-to-write-then-die-patti-smith/

Jim Morrisson - Poem from The Lord and The New Creatures

https://jimmorrison.com/

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

https://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=83

Agony Aunt - Love Letter To My Country

Caoimhe Weakliam - Hiding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXciU7C9RF8

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

We have the honour and privelege to bring you to a very special conversation.

Mike Garry is a Manchester poet who's stories and perspectives on life will give you the inspiration you didn't know you needed to live your days to the fullest.

We chat to Mike about his upcoming tour around Ireland, the power of reading for the disadvantaged and his ability to speak everyone's language in a way they haven't heard before.

Alongside our chat, we discuss Wu-Tang Clan's RZA on the Stephen Colbert show and we have an unreleased track from electronic dance duo Le Boom.

Dates for Mike's tour are below so catch him and the Cassia String Quartet this May!

Pearse St Library, Dublin
Wednesday 14th May 2025

Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
Thursday 15th May 2025

Levis Corner House, Ballydehob
Friday 16th May 2025

Seamus Heaney, Homplace, Bellaghy
Saturday 17th May 2025

Workmans Club, Dublin
Monday 19th May 2025

Get your tickets by clicking this link 

https://www.mikegarry.co.uk/gigs/

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

A special episode from Poetry's Dead HQ this week as we celebrate the life and work of Dublin's poetic voice, Pat Ingoldsby

We sit and listen to our beautiful community of poetry heads who share their favourite poems of Pat with us so we can share them with you.

We hope this podcast does him justice and people can always come back to this show if they are looking for some warmth, a giggle and a cry all in the same hour

Pat, we were always big fans and thank you for being the lighter voice we need in a world less cheery with you gone

Thanks to Michelle Bossonnett, Danni Cullen, Sean Watmore, Ben MacCaoilte and Steven O'Toole for helping us put this together.

Thanks to everyone who listens, and Pat, take it handy

Ryan and Leon

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

We're feeling the spring in our step lads as the days are getting a little longer, and the poems just keep bleedin' coming!

After Brendan Behan's book Confessions Of An Irish Rebel kept Ryan company on a solo trip to Belfast this week, we share a few stories and a tear-jerker poem from a man that we'd all love to share a pint with.

We asked the Dublin Central Library guys if they have any books from Paula Meehan, and they handed us Pillow Talk and we found a beauty all about the changing perspectives we have when we look at our elders.

We have a poem from Beibhinn Thorsch who just released her debut collection 'Libran Liturgy', then we delve into the gay clubs of Dublin where a woman pines and yearns to be able to love her gay best friend, but horses for courses don't allow. A story that goes back to the start of time.

Our Agony Aunt is back and is helping a member of the corporate workforce who would love a few days working from home.

Enjoy, send it to an EX and keep it popping

Poems from the show

Brendan Behan - The Laughing Boy

https://poetscorner.blog/2019/03/20/the-laughing-boy/

Paula Meehan - My Father Perceived As A Vision Of Saint Francis

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-father-perceived-as-a-vision-of-st-francis/

Beibhinn Thorsch - Love With Conjunctions

Instagram - @beibhinnthorsch

Tess McKevitt - I Want A Lavender Marriage

https://www.tessmckevitt.com/

Agony Aunt - Home Office Plea

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

As we vacate Ryan's apartment, we christen our first podcast at Dublin Central Library with Dublin spoken word artist Emmet O'Brien.

We go all around the houses with this podcast, getting into the weeds of childhood, the battles of being a creative from a working class area how it feels to perform in front of a pond full of fairies.

We share work from Brummy Bradley Taylor, a belter from Saul Williams and both Ryan and Leon chip in with their own bits and pieces. 

Emmet will be playing at The Workman's Club, Dublin on May 5th so don't miss it. 

He'll be joined by Jan Brierton, Mikey Cullen, Eilean Ni Chuillinean and other special guests.

Tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-27-club-tour-dublin-tickets-1219669677839

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

We always knew deep down that Pamela Anderson was a poet, sure why did you think we had her on our walls?

OK worth a try, and we're as surprised as you are that we are kicking the show off this week with not one but TWO poems from Pamela, which if we didn't know, could easily be the work of Albert Camus. I know, but listen to the podcast and see for yourself.

We have a beautiful story of Michelle White who, 40 years after her mother's death, has started to share her late mom's work to continue the legacy on. Sharron White's poem 'If Houses Could Talk' is one of many we could have shared.

Al Capone wouldn't be on top of many lists of inspiring men, but Alice Rhodes tells us why she has him guiding her through life and gives us a poem about him to boot. Interesting.

We also have a romance poem taken from a school poetry competition that almost retires us both from writing, before we wrap up with the magical John Cummins and a musical performance to blow you away.

Like, review, tell your mates down the pub and thanks for listening.

Poems from the show:

Pamela Anderson - Poems from her memoir 'Love, Pamela'

https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/lovepamela

Alice Rhodes - Merciless Man

Instagram - @alicesliterarylife

Sharron White - If Houses Could Talk

Instagram - @mymomspoetry

Student from Ellenfield, Whitehall - Love Will Never Last 

John Cummins - Project At Lingo Festival

https://www.othervoices.ie/artists/john-cummins

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Jesus wept its been way too long lads, but we're back at you with poems, craic, probably lies about Irish history and loads of other bits and pieces to help you start the week off poetically.

The community lost one its most powerful voices in January with the loss of Belfast poet Michael Longley. Known for his work helping paint pictures of peace in Northern Ireland, we shine a light on his poetry on our first episode back.

We have a lovely spring poem from Sinead Byrne Canning to shake off the cobwebs, a piece by Steve Denehan about Vending machines, but as you'll see, its definitely about more than vending machines even if the poem itself is called 'Vending Machines' and, as expected, a folklore story from Leon that we urge you not to fact check

The agony aunt is all about what to do when who you have a crush on only fancies you when he's battered (tough call) and the show is wrapped up by Anne Waldman and a song from her brand new LP 'Your Devotee In Rags'. The track is called Hag, and its a belter.

Our read-along is also back this month with The Winding Stair so if you need a push to get back into reading, sign up to the Patreon on the link below

Poems from the show

Time - Sinead Byrne Canning (Instagram - @sineadbyrnecanning)

The Ice Cream Man - Michael Longley https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2025/0201/1494193-michael-longley-funeral/

Vending Machine - Steve Denehan https://www.stevedenehanpoetry.com/

Bird - John Murphy https://www.poetryireland.ie/publications/poetry-ireland-review/online-archive/view/bird

Hag - Anne Waldman and Andrew Whiteman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieCIwaDJ8nc

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Spring is returning after a brutal winter and so are the poems!

Whilst the storms and dry January pushed most the population to hide indoors and wait for a bit of sunshine to come after 5pm, we were training hard on bringing back the show with a little glow-up.

We have the full show coming back on Monday 10th February, but enjoy our little teaser episode with a few poems from the lads to ease us back in.

We have Ryan's tribute poem to the Netflix hit show Queer Eye and Leon's love letter to the humble and magical Chicken Fillet Roll will either get you pumped for the new series, or at the very least, get you to the deli counter

Like, share, tell your mates, ask your Ma' to listen and join us this year for weekly bangers from poets from the past and present

Poems from the show

Ryan Duggins - Why Queer Eye Makes Me Cry

Leon Dunne - Chicken Fillet Roll

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Our last episode of the year is busier than the traffic getting to Dublin Airport at Christmas

After Daragh Fleming welcomes us in with a vibe-setting poem about longing and love, we step in to a whopper episode that leaves no Christmas cracker unopened, at a time of year where poetry can help us navigate the tricky waters of the festive season.

We hear from Ramona, the front of office at Ryan's work, on her new found exploration into poetry in an inspiring story of how getting creative can change your life. 

Aoife Dunne then gives us her beautiful tribute to her late mother in a poem that we hope will help anyone who is preparing for the festive period knowing there are tough days ahead.

James Mooney, AKA The Wandering Paddy, gives his caramel gravel-voice a break and sends us a poem to recite about how grief isn't always about the breakdowns, but can be nudges too.

Donna Ashworth, fresh from her performance at Jan Brierton's 'Wild Words' gig shares a poem of hope with her piece 'Joy Finds You'. What a woman, and what a poem.

Leon was asked by Dublin City Council to create a poem to celebrate the opening of a new art space that sits in the former location of Stardust Nightclub. A tragic evening in 1981 left families without their loved ones as a fire broke out and killed 48 people inside. Leon's poem is a tribute to the victims of that night.

Ger Devine opens the curtain on what its like for a couple who have been around the block on Christmas Eve before our Agony Aunt wraps up the show with a poem to help someone going through the despair of turning 30.

Thank you to everyone for listening this year and being so sound. We'll be back in Spring 2025 with a new series and even more amazing poetry.

Our new book is available now so grab a copy:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DNY54SFC

Loves ya,
Ryan and Leon

Poems from the show

Daragh Fleming - Snowflakes At Christmas
https://thoughtstoobig.ie/daraghfleming/

Aoife Dunne - Untitled tribute to her mother
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/aoife-dunne-comedian

James Mooney - I Missed You, Quietly 
https://www.tiktok.com/@thewanderingpaddy

Donna Ashworth - Joy Chose You
https://donnaashworth.com/

Leon Dunne - More Than A Name
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2024/12/08/stardust-reimagined-its-time-for-other-people-to-fulfil-their-dreams-here-what-our-loved-ones-never-got-to-do/

Ger Devine - Pinholes
https://www.gerarddevinepoetry.com/

Agony Aunt - Flirty Thirty

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey