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 by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

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 by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

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 by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

We don't usually say this, but for this week, stay until the end.

This week, inspired by the news that Wayne Rooney writes poetry, we have a dig around to see who else that plays sport has penned a piece or two. We bring to you Alan Shearer with his poem Ambition. 

On a meander around Baldoyle, Leon stumbles upon a poem painted on a pillar from Pat Boran about birds. Really nice.

We are thrown into the world of lockdown hot tubs with Andy Porter and ask the question 'If your Ma buys one, does that make you posh?'

Jenny Fagan helps us out of one of those days where you just can't face the world with her mental health poem that won us over a few months ago when we asked out listeners for some help on women's mental struggles.

We give you a sneak peak into our Patreon read-along with a poem from Ada Limón who we are reading this month. Her poem is called 'How To Triumph Like A Girl'

We close with the story of Nikita Hand, told through poetry by Roxanna Nic Liam that celebrates the bravery of Nikita and the women of Ireland that stand with her. Just a belter of a piece and an important one we're delighted to share.

We have our book released this week so if you'd like a copy, drop us a DM at @thepoetrysdeadpodcast or email us at [email protected]

Yup
Ryan and Leon

Poems from the show:

Alan Shearer - Ambition
https://www.youtube.com/@therestisfootball

Pat Boran - Hedge School
https://patboran.com/hedge-school/

Jenny Fagan - The Deep Darkies
Instagram - @passive_poetry

Andy Porter - Neighbour's Got A New Hot Tub
TikTok - andyspangles

Ada Limon - How To Triumph Like A Girl
https://poets.org/poem/how-triumph-girl

Roxanna Nic Liam - Nikita
Instagram - @nicliamo

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

We're prowling the catwalk this week with poems to have you struttin'

After we take sympathy on Keanu Reaves having his poem butchered by a simpleton, we take you into the world of fashion with Molly May O'Leary, the designated poet of the Dublin Independent Fashion Week, as she paints her words around the fabric/s of the capital.

We make a very short hop then to Christine Anne Foley, author of Bodies, fashionista and savage poet. We share one of her bangers this week about the reality of womanhood, you'll love it.

Like everyone else on TikTok, we see a ton of philosophical posts from something called 'Rumi'? What is it? Who is it? We wanted to find out. If you're reading this and thinking 'Wait, they don't know who Rumi is?' then yes, we have convinced you we are smarter than we are.

Inspired by last week's poem by Rachel Mulqueen, Ryan puts pen to paper and welcomes you into 'The Friend Zone'. Tea or Pinot, the choice is yours.

Our Agony Aunt this week forces her to channel her own Jennifer Paige with a problem all about having a 'crush'.

The Poetry's Dead Anthology will be available on Amazon from December 1st, so keep your eyes peeled.

Poems from the show:

Keanu Reeves - Ode To Happiness
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-13838742

Molly Mae O'Leary - Dublin Independent Fashion Week
Instagram - @mollymayinsta

Christine Anne Foley - Your Clothes Are Pink
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199616883-bodies

Rumi - The Guest House
https://allpoetry.com/poem/8534703-The-Guest-House-by-Mewlana-Jalaluddin-Rumi

Ryan Duggins - The Friend Zone
Instagram - @ryanduggins

Agont Aunt - Invisible

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

Mass is in session this week on the podcast with banger poems replacing hymns.

Now we've both watched and essentially been shook by the movie Small Things Like These, we get into why that movie hits so hard and wind poetry around the experience of the film to help us understand how to navigate that tricky world of church and religion in Ireland.

Before that, as Leon had spent 24 hours in Sligo and Ryan had been watching the show 'Rivals' where rough and ready Declan O'Hara enjoys reciting poetry from WB Yeats, we thought we'd share a poem from him, recited by Cillian Murphy.

We get into the history of the Irish church and box that off with a poem written by Leon. Warning: This isn't a light one.

It's not all bad with the church in Ireland so we try and add meat to that bone with the poem 'Solitude' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Hopefully that helps as we navigate the blessings and historical curses around religion in Ireland.

Nate Gladdin from the Whiskey And Ink podcast gave us a belter of a poem that takes us right into a world where a town used to be something and isn't now. Apologies for any County Clare folk but we dig out the town Tulla in this chat, don't hate us.

One of the highlights of the year we've had living and breathing poems was seeing Rachel Mulqueen perform at the storytelling tent Seanchoíche. We share her poem and tribute to her male friends 'A Belated Thank You To My Boy Friends (remix)' a reboot and homage to Hollie McNish's poem of the same (ish) name. Lovely piece.

We received an Agony Aunt all about longing love and missed opportunities so enjoy that one.

If you'd like to join our second read-along, sign up to our patreon and get involved. We have teamed up with The Winding Stair Bookshop for the read-along with the team there picking the collections moving forward and giving us a discount on the books if you buy from them. Means we can join the excitement of not knowing what we're reading, savage.

Let us pray. Amen. Blessed be the fruit and all the other stuff they say in church.

Ryan and Leon

Poems from the show

WB Yeats - When You Are Old (read by Cillian Murphy)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43283/when-you-are-old

Leon Dunne - Raimcha na blathnana
Instagram - @nomanticz

Ella Wheeler Wilcox - Solitude
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/solitude/

Nate Gladdin - French Valley
https://open.spotify.com/show/4nNbc0ImIHdGjYpmQOcS1J

Rachel Mulqueen - A Belated Thank You To My Boys (remix)
Instagram - @rach_mulqueen

Patreon for read-along:
https://www.patreon.com/c/thepoetrysdeadpodcast

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

If you're here for the cheese addict, stay 'til the end ;)

And if you do, your heart and soul will be filled with a myriad of hopeful poems to bring you through the change in weather as you sniffle your way through the start of winter. 

We shine a light on men's mental health on the show this week, starting with the Movember campaign that poet Daragh Fleming is an ambassador for. Every day this month he's been sharing poems to raise awareness on men's mental health, and he shares one of his favourites on the podcast.

Playright David Gilna gives us one of his belters about youthful friendship and bonds with his poem 'The Boys From The Jacko'. Yup Swords IYKYK.

Barry Currivan, a Dublin poetry scene favourite, gives us a poem from his upcoming collection 'If Not If, What' all about staying young at heart.

We share a piece from Belfast poet Paul Muldoon after our trusted source Suzanne Meehan recommended we have a read of his work before Ryan shares his poem about the unfortunate side effect of falling in love through his piece 'He Let Himself Go'.

Our agony aunt this week comes from someone who is suffering from a lack of restraint when it comes to Gouda. Not really a problem, just a supported hobby in our eyes

Poems from the show:

Stephen Downey - Man Of The House
Instagram - @stephendowney

David Gilna - The Boys From The Jacko
https://www.amazon.co.uk/24-Hours-Day-David-Gilna/dp/1915502918

Barry Currivan - We Make Things Old
Instagram - @barry_currivan

Paul Muldoon - The Loaf
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47992/the-loaf

Ryan Duggins - He Let Himself Go
Instagram - @ryanduggins

Agony Aunt - The Dairy Dilemna

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

The title is as wide ranging as show this week guys but stick with us!

Over 1 million people were on the streets of Dublin last weekend to support the runners taking on the city's marathon, and we think only 800,000 of them were there to perv over Colin Farrell! Leon ran it and has a poem for us.

The next day, Ryan went into The Secret Book Store for the first time, picked up a random poetry collection, opened it at a random page when enjoying a pint at Devitts on Camden Street in a journey that proves that poetry will see you before you see poetry. Enjoy this piece from the late Patricia Monaghan.

We get into the weeds of Irishness next with the work of James Clarence Mangan as Leon has been reading Finding Mangan by Bridget Hourican, a devil of a book going into the deeps of his life. On the flip-side, a man who got a lot of inspiration from Mangan was Shane MacGowan. Ryan is reading his pub-crawl book 'A Drink With Shane MacGowan' at the moment so we share poems from both, and spar over the history of Ireland and the ignorance of education in England about what happened.

We have a lovely end to the show through a short and sweet piece about love by Shiv Hickey. Beautiful work.

If you like the show and would like to join our monthly read-along or would just like to show your support, join our Patreon on the link below:

https://www.patreon.com/c/thepoetrysdeadpodcast

Stay sexy
Ryan and Leon

Poems from the show

Leon Dunne - What Are You Running From?
Instagram - @nomanticz

Patricia Monaghan - The Butterfly Tattoo Effect
https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Chaos-Salmonpoetry-Patricia-Monaghan/dp/1903392276

James Clarence Mangan - Dark Rosaleen
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50353/dark-rosaleen

Shane MacGowan - The Dunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5UH3Iik8Jg

Shiv Hickey - Loved Out Loud
Instagram - @whisperedwordsaftermidnight

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

For all the men over 30 who listen to the show, we apologise for the intro music.

It's Halloween though, so we had to scare you a little bit and what better way to start the show than with the scariest music ever recorded, the entrance music that wrestler Kane.

Poetry still to this day is hard to come by in popular culture, but The Simpsons in 1991 did something incredible. The creators took Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven' and trusted it to be the centrepiece of their Treehouse Of Horror episode. We wanted to share that this week, narrated by James Earl Jones.

We bounce between ghouls, skeletons, bonfires, murder and throw in a mention of 'THAT' jump scare video where the car drives around the lane. You know the one.

Leon has his own ghost story too that will keep you awake for sure.

If you're in Ireland you'll get this on a bank holiday, so go wash last night's fake blood off that face, go for a walk and take us with you.

(We do not own the rights of any content shared on the podcast)

Poems from the show:

The Raven - Edgar Allen Poe
Taken from The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror 1991

Porphyria's Lover - Robert Browning
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46313/porphyrias-lover

The Visitor - Ian Serallier
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011lgcd

Suzanne Meehan - The Gurrier's Rite
Instagram - @suzie433

Mary Karr - Field Of Skulls
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43134/field-of-skulls

Theresa McCormack - If I Was A Ghost 
Instagram - @theworldaccordingtot

Leon Dunne - A Ghost Story 
Instagram - @nomanticz

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins

It took 6 months for us to mention the movie 'Dead Poet's Society' so give us a break!

On the show this week, we have love, former loves, and all that life offers you in-between so settle in for 40 minutes of poetry and giggles.

Leon had travelled out to Scotland for a wedding between two poets who had set each other a task of writing each other a poem during the getting-to-know you stage of their relationship. We share those poems on the show. Beautiful stuff.

Ryan, from his posing position in Merrion Square, with a notepad in hand wrote a poem that he shares on the show that will put a smile on your face for sure.

We mentioned Allen Ginsberg on the show last week, and the lads didn't know too much about him. We fix that with a poem and a short backstory of that 'Beat Generation' of American poets

Menna Siwan treats us with a poem that sends thanks to someone who crawled back from the edge with a piece called 'For You'.

Our Agony Aunt this week is all about who keeps the friends after a break-up. Spoiler: You might need a few new friends

We have the read-along now live and kicking so if you'd like to join us, sign up to our Patreon. We have a new book every month so get involved you absolute ride.

Poems from the show:

Dave and Sophie McIntyre - Wedding Poems
Instagram: @sm_gruber and @davidrobertmcintyre 

Ryan Duggins - My Favourite Day
Instagram - @ryanduggins

Allen Ginsberg - When The Light Appears
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html?oref=login

Menna Siwan - For You 
Instagram - @mennasiwan

Agony Aunt - The Split

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating 
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction by Lisa Downey

Produced by Ryan Duggins