“Walking I am unbound, and find that precious unity of life and imagination, that silent outgoing self, which is so easy to lose, but which at high moments seems to start up again from the deepest rhythms of my own body. How often have I had this longing for an infinite walk – of going unimpeded, until the movement of my body as I walk fell into the flight of streets under my feet – until I in my body and the world in its skin of earth were blended into a single act of knowing.”
– Alfred Kazin, The Open Street
The Gaiety School of Acting, the National Theatre School of Ireland is delighted to be collaborating with Poetry Ireland on an immersive poetry walk that will connect participants’ natural surroundings with the words of some of the greatest poets.
With our world now smaller than ever, for Poetry Day Ireland on April 29th, we’re offering a way to find new delights and experiences in the well trodden forests, woods, parks and beaches that have soothed our souls in the last year. One Step at a Time is a collection of playlists featuring poems and spoken word recited by professional actors and curated to enhance your springtime perambulations.
The playlists will be available to access on Spotify on April 29th for a limited time.
The Actors
Ruairi Lenaghan
Ruairí Lenaghan is a County Fermanagh native and graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2016. Ruairí has toured with the Lyric Theatre’s production of Blackout and their 2020 Eco Project around schools across Northern Ireland. Most recent stage credits include the title role in Joe Dowling’s acclaimed production of Hamlet (Smock Alley & Tour). Ruairí has written and performed in two of his own theatre pieces; Night Moves (2018) and He Ain’t Heavy (2019) at Smock Alley’s Scene & Heard Festival.
Eimear Mullen Frew
Eimear is an actress from Dublin. She graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2020.
Suzie Alaa Seweify
Suzie is an Irish Egyptian actor and graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2018. She was last seen on stage in her one woman show Yara. Prior to this, she played Princess Jasmine in The Gaiety Theatre pantomime Aladdin. Most recently, she was one of the artists chosen for The Abbey Theatre’s Engine Room project.
The Poems
City Lines
- Paula Meehan “Death of a field” by Paula Meehan from Painting Rain (2009), reprinted by kind permission of Carcanet Press, Manchester, UK www.carcanet.co.uk
- Padraig Regan “Aubade” (Poetry Ireland Introductions: Selected Poems 2016)
- Eavan Boland “Atlantis – A lost Sonnet” by Eavan Boland from Domestic Violence (2007) reprinted by kind permission of Carcanet Press, Manchester, UK www.carcanet.co.uk
- Igor Klicovac tr. John McAuliffe “Gratitude to Big Cities” by Igor Klicovac, translated by John McAuliffe (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 120, reproduced by kind permission of Smith Doorstop)
- Alvy Carragher “Canal Bank Moon” by Alvy Carragher (Poetry Ireland Introductions: Selected Poems 2016)
- John Gosslee “The Congress” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 119)
- Julie Morrissy “Removal” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 118)
- Michael Naghten Shanks “Love/Hotel/Love (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 118)
- Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal “Housing Crisis on Raglan Road” (Poetry Ireland Review 129)
- James Joyce “Lean out of the window” by James Joyce by James Joyce (1882 – 1941), appears in Chamber Music, no. 5, first published 1907
Country Lanes
- Kate Caoimhe Arthur “Tree” (Hello, I am Alive: Poetry Ireland Introductions 2018)
- Jim McElroy “Hoor” (Incredible Things Do Happen: Poetry Ireland Introductions 2019)
- Nithy Kasa “Palm Wine Tapper” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 131)
- Larry Stapleton “Carrymore” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 128)
- Jane Clarke “Ballybeg” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 118)
- Sean Hewitt “Connemara” (Poetry Ireland Review Issue 129)
- Grace Wells “Ireland Directive 2000-2010” by Grace Wells from When God Has Been Called Away to Greater Things (2010), by kind permission of the author and The Dedalus Press www.dedaluspress.com
- Thomas Moore “The Meeting of the waters” by Thomas Moore (1807)
- Eileann Ni Chuilleanain ‘Old Roads’ by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin from Collected Poems (2020) is reproduced by kind permission of the author and The Gallery Press. www.gallerypress.com
- Patrick Pearse “The Wayfarer” by Patrick Pearse (1916)