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SEPTEMBER 2009
Winner of the Derry Heat of the All Ireland Grand Poetry Slam
Championships
By Jenni Doherty
Derryman, Michael Duddy, aged 83 years, beat off stiff competition
from 13 other poets from all over the Northwest at the Derry Heat
of the All-Ireland Poetry Slam held in Café Del Mondo in
Derry last week. In Second Place: Mary-Lorraine McHugh (from Moville,
Co Donegal), Third: Frank Rafferty (Derry), and Fourth: Anne Crilly
(Derry)
Each contestant performed a three-minute self-composed poem on
a range of subjects to a packed house and were awarded marks out
of ten (five for content, five for performance) by five judges.
They included Raymond Craig and Hazel Philson along with Eileen
Walsh from Drive 105FM Radio plus two chosen members of the audience:
David Agnew (visiting poet from England) and Tony Ramsey (Derry).
MC for the evening was Eddie Kerr, poet extraordinaire and raconteur
himself, with special guest, Séamus Fox, winner of the Belfast
Heat of the Slam, entertaining the audience while the final votes
were being counted.
Judge Eileen Walsh said: “Word had obviously gone out on the
poetry grapevine and Café Del Mondo was packed to the rafters
with poets of all ages and nationalities, all vying to take home
the title of Derry Poetry Slam winner. The intimate candle-lit café
in the heart of the Guildhall Square was the perfect venue for this
most unusual of nights. In general, all of the work performed was
of an extremely high quality. And although judging the event was
very enjoyable, it was really very difficult given the standard
of the poetry and the sheer breadth of the range.”
Fellow-judge Raymond Craig added: “Participants were so engaging
as they ranged with rhythm and rhyme, rant and rap – what a house
full of talent. There needs to be more of this! It takes great courage
to go from the quiet place of writing a poem to presenting that own
perception in public.”
After the judges had determined the top three, the audience also got
to choose their favourite with all four battling it out for prime
position. Again all voted and there was no doubt that Michael Duddy
stole the hearts of all with his touching poem ‘My Summer Day’.
“There were some hugely talented performers on the night. Mary-Lorraine
McHugh performed a highly original piece of work about Heathcliff
out on the tiles in Inishowen. Scottish poet Frank Rafferty raised
the roof with his piece on identity. Anne Crilly gave a deeply moving
performance about falling out of love, which moved some people to
tears. It felt as if she were baring her soul to the world. Eamonn
Craig provided some blistering rap which shocked some of the audience.
Lastly, James King was at his weirdly wonderful best and hugely impressed
the judges. But Michael Duddy was the runaway favourite with the audience,
who voted him the winner by a huge majority. The audience was not
to be swayed by rap or ranting, by cool school performance or by cleverly
constructed comedy. Instead they proved that often the simpler things
in life are the best. And that it's hard to beat a good old-fashioned
romance.” added Eileen.
Although Michael will not be going to the Final in Galway next
month, runner-up Mary-Lorraine will be there in his place as the
Northwest representative. “Michael would have made a big impact
on the wordfest in Galway as he is not what is expected and that
is what is so good about this because words are words they are expressions
and feelings and descriptive and fun and serious and bland and grand
– they light up the grey skies in the blandness of life. And
what expectations should we have about poetry and poets? Well, none
really. We should not expect anything from the poet except words
and an inability to tell us what life is like. Michael's words moved
people to vote for his representation for Derry in Galway and he
would have gone with our blessing and our support ringing in his
ears. He is an inspiration to those who think they have nothing
to offer and nothing to say and more importantly to those that think
no one is listening” said MC Eddie Kerr.
Organiser of the event, Jenni Doherty, commented: “It was
a wonderful night in all respects and could not have happened had
it not been for all the talented poets who bravely took to the mic,
plus the generosity of both Guildhall Press as the sponsors and
Café Del Mondo who hosted the event. The fact that half of
the competitors had never read in public before (never mind that
it was also their own work) was most impressive. Couple that with
such a welcoming and receptive audience and the perfect venue, it
really was a special occasion. I certainly hope events like this
will continue and urge more people to come along to future events,
be it to share their own words or just to enjoy the craic and experience
something completely different. For those that missed the Slam,
it will be broadcast sometime in the future on Channel 9.
"I'm delighted that Michael won. At 83 years of age he really
is an inspiration to all of us, both young and old alike, and is
a fine example that it’s never too late to get actively involved
with things you love. I also have every faith that Mary-Lorraine
will come home to the Northwest as the Slam Champion of Ireland!"
Indeed, everyone from Derry to Inishowen will be cheering for Mary-Lorraine
in the Final in Galway in October, and no one moreso than fellow-poet,
Michael Duddy:
Regional heats are also being held in Belfast, Galway, Dublin,
Cork and Limerick. Two winners from each province will then go through
to the All Ireland Grand Poetry Slam Final in the Crane Bar, Galway
city on 26th October 2009.
If that isn't enough, Café Del Mondo will be celebrating
National Poetry Day on the 1st October with an afternoon of readings
from 2pm - 5pm with a wide range of local poets and actors, including
Derry Slam Winner, Michael Duddy. No charge. This is also an open
event where everyone is welcome to attend and join in. For more
details, please contact tel: 02871-370989 email: eddie@seeds.ie
or irishpenjen@yahoo.co.uk
Later that evening at 7pm, Derry's Central Library will be hosting
an evening of readings and discussion with best-selling author Jennifer
Johnston. No charge. For more details, please contact Maura Craig
tel: 028 71 378622.
And even later that night at 9pm, there will be a Charity gig in
aid of MacMillan Cancer Support with music and poetry in Sandinos
Upstairs Bar. Tickets £4. For more details, please contact
Carol Devlin email: amberforce@yahoo.com
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