Ten Years of The Children’s Book Festival

October 14^th 2005 - 0515 hrs, A Lonely Poet boards a train taking him from Cork to Dublin…

OK, this is a slight exaggeration. I wasn’t lonely.  I was alone, due to my wife being unable to join me on my journey.  I was however too excited as I was travelling up to Dublin to give my first ever session for the Children’s Book Festival, the annual, countrywide celebration of Books and Reading, for DunLaoghaire-Rathdown Libraries.

It is now over ten years since this happened and I have done The Children’s Book Festival every year since then and it is the reason I really look forward to October.  The Joy I derive from boarding a Train on a brilliantly Autumnal day with the intention of sharing things I’ve created with a wonderfully receptive audience, who I hope enjoy it as much as me, is such that I find it difficult to put into words.   But nevertheless, the Joy is immense and it is down to this wonderful festival.

It started with me just reading my Poems to the Children, but it has grown to include Songs with me and my guitar and now I’m illustrating for the Children and getting them to illustrate too. Every Session is different, and the Audience participation sections are a total joy & splendidly received.

Thanks to this Festival I have been all over the Country of Ireland, as well as DunLaoghaire-Rathdown,  I’ve been to:

Westmeath, Cork City, Cork County, Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin, Mayo, Kilkenny, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal, Kildare and many more great places.

I’d like to Thank all the Library Services, and Librarians, that have facilitated me and allowed me to share my Art,  and I’d also like to send a Thank you to the organisation that created and puts on this wonderful festival, Children’s Books Ireland.  Also I'd Like to Thank Eileen O'Sullivan, who was Cork City Children's Librarian in 2005.  She gave me my first performance as part of Cork 2005, which made way for my sessions with the Children's book Festival.

This year, on the day of the tenth anniversary of my first performance, 14^th October, I was Reading, Drawing & Singing at Westmeath Libraries.  My Wife, who has also been a participant for this festival, came with me this time, and we decided to make a bit of a break of it.  We stayed at Hodson Bay, Hotel on Lough Ree, and had a most relaxing time, Bird Watching and Chilling out at this most scenic of places…  In the middle of this was two wonderful performances of Songs, Verse and Illustrations for the Children of Westmeath…

Looking forward to next year’s festival…

More information on the Children's Book Festival, please use the following link: http://www.childrensbooksireland.com

Here’s a Few Photos from various Children’s Book Festivals through the past ten years…

Children's Book Festival 2011

Nonsense poetry in libraries, whose crazy idea was that? Add in silly songs, classes of children and audience participation and it sounds like an unworkable idea that is destined to fail and be shunned forever…

Except it does work… for the 7th year in a row, I’m doing just that at the annual celebration of all things literary, The Children’s Book Festival 2011.

This year I visited three separate areas of the country. Two of the areas are well known and have been well visited by me over the years, these areas being Cork City and DunLaoghaire/Rathdown, and then there was the totally new, refreshing and wonderful experience that is Co Westmeath Libraries.

The Libraries visited in order were:

Shankill Library (DLR)
Cabinteely Library (DLR)
Castlepollard Library (Westmeath)
Bishopstown Library (Cork)
Tory Top Library (Cork)
Douglas Library (Cork)

A Wonderful time was had by me and I hope the Children, Teachers and Librarians are able to say the same. My wife was able to attend for the DunLaoghaire Libraries so I was able to obtain visual proof that the event happened, and although we travelled to Cork together, she had her own storytelling to do, so the other libraries only have photos taken by my phone and do not feature anyone within them.

But, again, I had a great time and I am upset that, although there are still events until next week, my CBF is over again for another year…

My Website contains further details if anyone should want to view it, www.paulhtubb.com.

Please see below for photographic evidence…
Thank you.


Me Singing in Shankill Library (Photo by Daria Walsh)


Reading poetry in Cabinteely (Photo by Daria Walsh)


My Lonely Guitar in Castlepollard Library


Display welcoming me to Tory Top Library

Festive Frivolity and Fun

Can you feel all the peace, joy and goodwill in the air as we approach the festive season?

If your response is No, then clicking on the link below, will not change your mind in the slightest.

Proudly Boring Simon Cowell to Tears

My CBF 2009, Part Ten (Final Part)

That’s it… It’s now over for me… After 34 readings, 28 Libraries, 2 Schools, 1 resource centre and a lot of Children, (I had originally intended to count the number of Children so that would have been a more impressive sentence.) It is all over for me… No more CBF 2009 for Paul Tubb.

The scene for my final 5 readings was county Donegal and I arrived in Letterkenny on Wednesday 21st at around 1900 hrs and made my way up to Letterkenny Quality Court Hotel, which would be my base for the next two days.

I got to the Hotel, had a panini and a wave of tiredness came over me so I went up to my room, talked to my wife and watched TV before going to bed.

I woke up early the following morning and sat in bed listening to, ‘The Kinks Choral Collection’ whilst drinking coffee. I then went down to breakfast, which was wonderful again, then rushed off to catch the 0830 bus to Raphoe.

Raphoe was the location of my first reading, and another success was had, although the Children seemed to be rather hesitant in their singing about giving their Coat Hangers names… But they certainly warmed up for the rest of the performance and wrote some wonderful Limericks. Afterwards I was told by a young boy that the poets I had provided in my hand out were very good, so this pleased me.

From Raphoe, I then got a taxi to Lifford library, a library that is joined to a restaurant which provides lovely coffee, I was to discover. The class this time were older and larger (in number rather than surface) than the previous one, but this did not seem to dispel them having a good time and enjoying my songs, poems and writing their own Limerick. Another enjoyable time was had. Although again, there seemed to be an aversion about wanting to sing that they give their Coat Hangers names, I started to wonder whether it was a Donegal thing.

Luckily the next group dispelled this myth by charging into the singing with a loud voice. They were another wonderful group, this time at Ballybofey Library. Wonderful Limericks were again written and many questions were asked. I was told that they found my poems and songs funny, which is something I love to hear. I was also asked if I have ever written any Christmas poetry, to which I replied that I have written an entire collection of Christmas verse which I hope to publish soon. I was then asked if I could read one, and I read my poem Misunderstood Christmas Lyrics which can be seen below.



After Ballybofey, I had to make my way back to Letterkenny and it was a tired poet who fell asleep on his return, only to be woken up by his wife phoning him.

The next day I was picked up by Wainfest organiser and Letterkenny Librarian, Ursula who took me to St. Johnston & Carrigans Resource Centre, for my first reading of the day. Two classes were expected and one was late. This gave the first class time to ask me for rhymes to various words, including Orange and most of their names. The second class entered, many of them in Halloween fancy dress, and we then begun. One of the teachers was a Tottenham fan, who after the reading asked about the availability of my book, so that pleased me. Again wonderful limericks were written, and I was asked to perform The Coat-Hanger Song again, so a great session was again had.

Ursula then drove me back to Letterkenny where I got to spend a couple of hours whilst she went back to the Library. She picked me up again and then we went to Ramelton Library for my final reading of the day, week, month and festival this year.

Ramelton Library is converted from an old Church and is a really nice library, in a lovely picturesque town. There is even an old pulpit, which I fancied reading from, although I didn’t.

Another successful reading was had, with wonderful Limericks, questions and giggling. A young boy asked if he could play my guitar, which I let him and he was very good. The teachers showed their appreciation by writing me a verse as well so again I was extremely happy.

I was then driven to Letterkenny Bus Station, to begin my journey back home and away from the festival.

Again I would like to extend my thanks to all Teachers, Librarians, Parent/Helpers and (Most Especially) To all the Children who I read to during the week.

And again I am upset that this festival is over. I do love October, and it is due to this festival. Here is hoping for more of the same next year.

If anyone is interested, I am doing a show for Adults in Bewleys Cafe on 5th November. Details can be found here. http://www.bewleyscafetheatre.com/upcoming.php

My CBF 2009, Part Nine

I have spoken of my and my wife’s, love for Cork before, it was the place I moved to when I came to live in Ireland and there are so many things within Cork that we love to visit…

And fortunately, the Children’s Book festival allows me and my wife, to revisit Cork on a yearly basis. For all the years I’ve been doing the CBF, I’ve been in Cork county Libraries, all except this year, but Cork City Libraries are the one’s I shall be reading at this year, so the Poet shall go to Cork and his wife shall be accompanying him, which means a visual record of the event will be made and you do not just have to take the ramblings of myself as proof the events I am talking about happened.

So we got to Cork early Sunday afternoon and went for a walk through a few old haunts. Coffee was had in my favourite Coffee shop, Cork Coffee Roasters, (See picture) where we purchased some ground coffee as well.

My wife spent the evening with a friend of hers, whilst I did some work on Sunday evening… and then came Monday, which was the day of my first Cork readings this year.

And that is why anyone reads this blog isn’t it, you want to know about how the Children are enjoying my poetry and song, not about the poet and his wife and where they drink their coffee… But if I can be allowed one last digression…

on April 20th 2005, a poet and his wife began a journey from their house to Mayfield Library as part of the World book week celebrations. The poet was nervous as this was his first ever reading and he really hoped it would go well, after Mayfield it was on to Grand Parade for his second ever reading… This poet was me, so Cork is more than just my old residence and somewhere I love to visit, it is the place that I began what I am doing now.

But the story of my first reading is for another blog, we are back to Monday 19th October 2009 and we start with a lovely Breakfast with Coffee. We are then taken to Grand Parade Library which is the venue of my first reading.

Grand Parade is decorated with Balloons and posters and looks really nice. I set up my stuff, and wait for the Children to enter.

This may not be my first performance at Cork City Libraries, but it is my first with a guitar, and as the Children are seated, I begin with the Coat-Hanger Song and it is well received, so bang goes that myth about me not being able to play guitar well in Cork City Libraries. The session as a whole goes really well, and Limericks are well written by all… My poem, ‘Unwanted Spider’ seems to generate a lot of questions, including a young girl asking me why it wasn’t just flushed down the toilet or the plughole? I explained that there would have been no poem if I had done that, but I did suggest that this may be the scenario of another poem…

After Grand Parade I was taken to Bishopstown Library, a Library I have never been to before, and it was the venue of another great performance. Limericks and questions were good and after the performance a teacher asked us if she could purchase one of my books, and we hadn’t brought any with us… Oh Well. A video of me reading, ‘Tested on Animals’, from this session can be viewed below, it even has a bonus joke thrown in.



This was my last reading of the day, so me and my wife did many Cork based things in the afternoon, which I’m sure you all want to read about, but you won’t. Not here anyway.

The following morning, after an identical breakfast, we were then driven to Mayfield Library where it all began. Mayfield Library seems a lot bigger than it did before, but I was assured that no growing took place in the four and a half years since we were here.

An all boy group entered and seemed a bit shy, they didn’t seem to want to join in with the Coat-Hanger song, but they soon warmed up and seemed to enjoy my poems and songs. A Rock’N’Roll song was requested from me and it just so happens I had a perfect one to give them, my song about a Rock’N’Rolling Worm.

We were then taken to, Tory Top Library, another one we had never been to. We met up again with Eileen, the Librarian who was Children’s Librartian back in 2005 and who, therefore, gave me my poetic break, so that was good. She is mentioned in the acknowledgements of my book.

An all girl class came in an again an enjoyable session was had. This was a particularly giggly group and that is always good to hear when you intend to provide jocularity with what you write.

Our final destination of the day, and of Cork for this year, was Douglas Library. Now I have been there before, but it had changed so much, that it was like a new Library.

Our final class was again all boys, and an enjoyable time was again had. The Q & A session descended into a joke telling session and that is never a bad thing.

So then we went to Kent station and out of Cork for this year. Although we had such an enjoyable time, that we have decided we would like to come back before Christmas.

Home to Howth, and then on to my final destination for the CBF 2009, Donegal.

Photos from Cork can be seen below.

My CBF 2009, Part Eight

I was in Mayo as planned on Thursday night, in my B&B by nine and phoning my wife who is still unable to accompany me on my journey. The train journey wasn’t too bad, although I was too tired to read, so I listened to The Kinks album, ‘Lola vs The Powerman and the Moneygoround.

Woke up and breakfasted, with coffee, early the following morning and then waited for Mary Murphy from Mayo county Libraries to pick me up and chauffer me around the Libraries of Mayo that I would be reading to today.

Whilst being taken from Castlebar to Kiltimagh, which was where my first reading was to take place, I noticed how lovely the Mayo Scenery was, and I’m sure my wife, with her passion and talent for artistic and nature photography, would have loved to have seen it too… but as we couldn’t stop to take photos, maybe it was a good thing she wasn’t accompanying us…

We got to Kiltimagh Library early, and sat having coffee and biscuits with Bridie, the Librarian there. A group of Children entered on time and it was the beginning of another wonderful session, although one of the boys in the group was an Arsenal fan and placed his fingers in his ears when I sang ‘Mis-Spelt Football Team Blues’. There was also a demonstration of how out of touch I am, when I was asked my favourite band, I answered, ‘The Kinks’ I was then besieged by numerous questions asking me my opinions of various pop stars, and there were a lot I’d never heard of… Again great Limericks and questions were had.

We then drove to Swinford Library for my second reading. Two schools were there for this reading and interestingly the teacher of one of the schools had taught the teacher of the other one. One Child asked me my age, this lead to guessing from the children eventually someone guessed correctly, only after some scandalous attempts… 50, do I look 50? Another great session with wonderful Limericks.

After Swinford we drove to our final destination, Charlestown. The reading was situated above the Library and again went wonderfully, with great Limericks and questions. After this reading we went to the Market Café for a lovely Sandwich with Chips.

I was then driven back to Castlebar Station to get the train back to Dublin, I had a two hour wait, so I took out my guitar and played it whilst sitting on an almost empty platform…

Again I would like to extend my thanks to all Teachers, Librarians, Parent/Helpers and (Most Especially) To all the Children who I read to during the week.

My CBF 2009, Part Seven

I had a wonderful question during my second reading in Kildare, but I’m jumping ahead of myself for no reason whatsoever…

I’m sure you’d like to hear about my first reading as well and maybe even my journey down.

Well, I started in my own house, for the last time during a day of reading for this festival, making my own breakfast. Me and my wife took the same train again, as I went from Howth to Connolly to Leixlip Confey.

Leixilip Library was where my first reading was to take place. I got there early and set up in a nice big Lecture room that is beside the Library. Around 50 children entered, with a teacher who approached me to tell me that they have been reading my poems and that he thinks they are very funny… So it was a happy poet who again begun with ‘The Coat Hanger Song’. The reading was another success and the Limericks and Questions were very good.

Then Gillian, from Kildare Libraries, came to pick me up and take me to Celbridge Library for my second reading of the day and where I received the excellent question mentioned in the first line of this entry. To explain this question, I need to give you a bit of background. Whilst reading my poem, ‘Tested on Animals’ a dog was barking outside, there is a relevance to this which you will know if you are familiar with the poem. I shall hopefully be posting a video of myself reading this verse whilst in Cork or it can be found on page 14 of my book. So during the Q and A session at the end, one girl asked if I had set up the dog barking as part of the poem… I loved this question for many reasons, but mainly for the fact that it’s presumed that I have a budget that extends to Dog training. The entire reading went exceptionally well again and many other wonderful questions were asked as well as Limericks written.

After Celbridge, Gillian drove me to Maynooth for my final reading of the day, and for Kildare this year. Before the reading we had lunch in a lovely hotel whose name escapes me, so whilst I would like to recommend it, I can’t as I don’t know what to recommend. If it helps, I had Lamb shank and it was delicious.

Then came the reading in Maynooth library, which again was a success. An all female group entered and enjoyment seemed to be had by all. Limericks were well written and many questions were asked, One girl had numerous wonderful questions for me and she was congratulated by her teachers for the quality of the questions. The class seemed to like talking about the Loch Ness Monster as well, and included in the class were two girls who had been down in a submarine. I have to admit that I instigated the Nessie based conversation due to one of my poems being about the Loch Ness monster.

After this reading, I rushed to Maynooth Train Station to get back to Connolly, although my final aim was not to get to Howth, I needed to get from Connolly to Heuston so that I could catch the last train to Mayo where I was hoping to read the next day and where I was staying over night…

Watch this space…

My CBF 2009, Part Six

Monday 12th October:
I am now in my Resident County of Fingal starting at Blanchardstown Library. I say Resident County because I live in Howth, but getting from Howth to Blanchardstown seems anything but Resident.

But that is OK, because I always arm myself with books and CD’s for journeys of all size, so I was to be kept company for the two hours (Give or Take) it took to get me to Blanchardstown. I have finished the collection of Wodehouse stories mentioned in Part one and I am now reading James Thurber… I’m sure each of you is interested in that…

So I got to Blanchardstown reasonably early, and I set-up my stuff. The first session was to take place in the Library whereas the second was to take place in a Lecture room just off from the Library. There was a yoga class taking place in the Lecture room so this provided the necessity of the two rooms, if you are wondering.

The first classes entered and there was just under 60 Children with two teachers. I Went straight into the Coat-hanger song and this begun the an exceptionally enjoyable session. Limericks were good, although I heard one group say they had worked out a play, so when I asked them if they’d like to perform it they got shy and just read it instead.

Between sessions, I went next door to the Draiocht Theatre for a recommended coffee.

On my return I set up in the Lecture theatre and the next group entered. Now I know I said that the group in Sallynoggin last week were the most inquisitive group I’ve ever read to, but this group were as inquisitive, if not more.

The question session at the end lasted for ages and many different and diverse questions were asked. The first question was my favourite. Another Keen eyed child asked, ‘There is a picture of you on the back of that book, and you are wearing the same T-Shirt you now have on, do you wear the same clothes every day?’

This was an exceptionally enjoyable group, who asked me for more songs and more jokes. I wasn’t that tired as I went back to the Bus Stop to begin my journey home.

The following day I was in Swords for only one reading, which is a rare day for the CBF. Again the journey was very long considering I was in my resident County, but it was kept enjoyable as was the whole day.

My Dublin section is now over, I have a day off on Wednesday, then I will be travelling to Kildare and then straight to Mayo.

19 Performances and 4 Counties down, 16 Performances and 4 Counties to go.

My CBF 2009, Part Five

3 Days worth of blogging to be done, I’ve been returning from the CBF too tired to Blog, so all sympathy will be appreciated.

So on Wednesday 7th October 2009, I was in Castletymon Library, Tallaght, South Dublin, and I had a hard time finding it.

The night before, I had tried to find the best way to get to Castletymon Library and I worked out it was to get the Luas from Connolly to Kingswood and walk… This was not the best way, I was to find out later, especially when one is to take a wrong turn and is travelling in the wrong direction as the writer of this Blog did… I phoned the Library to inform them of my dilemma, and they provided me with assistance and a lift, from Helen the Librarian… I eventually arrived at the destination 5 minutes late to find a group of Children waiting to hear poems and songs… I apologised for being late and started…

The show went exceptionally well and I discovered I must be in love with Leona Lewis… and this is the mental process that went into this discovery: Whilst reading a poem from my book, one sharp eyed child noticed that I had my picture on the back, concluding that I was wearing the same shirt (I was, it was my Charlie Brown T-Shirt) on the photo as I had on that moment… Keen minds of the Children present suggested that this must be the reason I was late as I was getting my photo taken to put on the back of the book… Then later in the reading, I took out the Pound-a-poem Book, which contains a poem of mine. I was just in the process of explaining what the book was, and read the poem of mine from it, when one of the Children noticed that the picture on the back of the Book was not me and enquired as to why. I told them it was Leona Lewis’s photo and was about to explain why it was her and not me, when a group of Children jumped to the assumption that I must be in Love with her, even though I tried to explain that I purchased the book, I did not design or print it, but it fell on deaf ears. This session went exceptionally well and the group had wonderful imaginations, this was borne out by their Limericks as well as their assumptions on why photographs are on the back of books.

The second, and final group, of the day, was late and small in number, there were only 7 of them, but a wonderful time was had again. The music was appreciated in fact so much so, that an area was cleared for dancing which was done with wild abandonment as dancing should be.

I then went home and had a power nap as I was so tired…

Thursday 8th October 2009, was National Poetry day in the UK, and I was in Ballyroan Library in plenty of time, and sat having coffee with the Librarians. Two successful readings were again had. The first was a group of 57 Children who seemed to enjoy my songs and poems and who wrote wonderful Limericks. My Song, New Shoes Blues, received an accusation that I had stolen from Zoey 101, my response was a truthful, ‘I’ve never watched an episode Zoey 101 in my life’.

The second group, and final performance in South Dublin for the CBF 2009, was made up of two schools, and again a wonderful time was had by all. My autograph was requested by all children present, but I had to refuse a young boy who wanted his arm autographed, and he kept insisting despite constant refusals. This year was my first trip to South Dublin Libraries, and a most enjoyable time was had by me there…

Again it was a tired but happy poet who returned to Howth.

On Friday 9th October 2009, I was back in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Libraries. My first two performances brought me back to Sallynoggin, which was the venue of my first performance during the Children’s Book Festival way back in 2005.

The first group, I thought, was supposed to come in for 0900 hrs, until I got to the Library to find out that it was in fact 0915 hrs they were coming and they didn’t actually turn up until 0940… Unfortunately this meant that they only got a twenty minute session, as the other class was due at 1000 hrs. Although it was a short session, it was a most enjoyable one. The class was an all girl group, who seemed to enjoy my poems and songs, the teachers told me that they did.

The second group was from the same school as the first group and therefore all female. They were able to get the full hour and these Girls were the most inquisitive class that I have ever read to. Questions were asked all throughout the performance, ranging from ‘What inspired you to be a writer?’ to ‘Why don’t you like buying shoes?’

After this session, I was driven to my final library of the week and of Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Libraries for CBF 2009, Cabinteely Library.

I got there early, and was given Coffee and biscuits, which is always good. I was looked after very well by the Librarians, Patricia and Brenda, who told me that they’d been reading my poems and they thought they were very funny… So I was pleased.

An all male group came in and seemed a bit shy in the beginning, hesitant to sing that they give their coat-hangers names, but they soon warmed up and a wonderful session to round off the week was had. One of the boys remarked that I used a lot of complicated words that he might not know, so I apologised, but he responded saying, ‘No that’s good for me.’ So that pleased me too.

So I got back to Dun Laoghaire dart station and had a fruity based wonder drink from the Zumo, juice bar, situated there. I was going to take advantage of being in Dun Laoghaire and take a trip to Hughes and Hughes, but a combination of the rain, feeling tired and having to much stuff to carry with me, meant that I decided to grab the first Dart back to Howth. Which I did.

Before I sign off this Blog, I would like to say a bit about, Flanimals. That’s correct, I said Flanimals. You see, I’m a huge fan of the series created and written by Ricky Gervais and illustrated by Rob Steen and one day, I decided, (Probably due to being bored) to take the stickers that came free with, ‘Flanimals of the Deep’, and place them all over my Guitar. This may have been an error as a few Children I read to want to talk Flanimals with me rather than my poems. I get comments like, ‘I love Flanimals, which is your favourite?’ or, ‘What are they on your Guitar?’ Which then means I have to explain what Flanimals are. And although I’m happy to talk Flanimals, there is a time and a place. But it’s my own fault, I really should have found another home for them.

So next week, I’m in Fingal and then I leave Dublin to go to Kildare and Mayo. My Anticipation levels are high…

Again I would like to extend my thanks to all Teachers, Librarians, Parent/Helpers and (Most Especially) To all the Children who I read to during the week.

My CBF 2009, Part Four

Ah! What would life be like without the contrary weather that seems to exist on these two islands?

An extremely wet poet today, as I walked from my house to the Dart station, Pearse Dart Station to the Luas at St Stephens Green, and then from Dundrum - Luas Stop to Dundrum Library. All in the Lovely Dublin Rain that wasn’t even hinted at during the lovely autumnal day that was yesterday. I had my wife’s company again up to Connolly, but she could not come and take photos again.

Oh well, the wet poet made his way up to the library and set up and sat drinking coffee waiting for the class to arrive. On my arrival I saw a poster saying, ‘Latest Copy of the Beano available here.’ And that can never be a bad thing.

48 wet little people came in and situated themselves in front of me and then I began. Laughs were heard as I read my poems and sang my songs, and an enjoyable time was had by all, I think. I no longer do feedback forms at the end of sessions so I can only go by the giggles and thank you’s I receive at the end.

After Dundrum, I was driven up to St Lawrence School in Stillorgan, where I was shown into Mr Clarke’s Classroom whilst many young boys sat eating their Lunch. After I set up, the boys finished their lunches and the boys in the class opposite came to join us.

I sang songs, read my poems to another enthusiastic group. Limericks were great again and many questions were asked, including many asking where my poetry can be purchased.

So an enjoyable day was had. I’m in South Dublin tomorrow, returning to DLR on Friday.

My CBF 2009, Part Three

So today begun my Dublin Shaped Hole in my CBF Schedule… I’ll be in the capital from today until next Tuesday, taking in Dun Laoghaire and Rathdown, South Dublin and my resident county of Fingal…

This has many advantages, I am at home every night, I see my wife every night, and I can upload my Blog every day…

But I have to make my own Breakfast and start each day with an instant coffee.

I know how pathetic that sounds, I know what you’re thinking, ‘Oh poor little poet, has to make his own breakfast.’ So we shall move on.

I started out today, on the same Train as my wife, so that was good… My wife had to go to work, so she got off at Connolly, which meant I had no photographer, so I’ve got no visual document of today’s readings, but it did happen, you can take my word for it.

We travelled during rush hour, which is interesting when you have a guitar. I realise why John Hegley, (Another Musical Poet) travels with a mandolin… I planned to alight at Dalkey, which is what I did, for my first Dublin reading.

I arrived at Dalkey Library at around 0940 hrs and was then told to situate myself by the Reading Tree they have there. This was where my performance would take place. At around 1000 hrs, around 52 children entered and one of their teachers approached me to let me know that she had witnessed my performance previously in Blackrock, and had been impressed and was really looking forward to this performance. This really pleased me, so it was a happy poet who started with the Coat-Hanger Song.

This section went wonderfully well again, Limericks were great from the Children and I think my poetry was enjoyed. After the reading, Oonagh from DLR Libraries came to pick me up to take me to Shankhill Library.

I got very paranoid at Shankhill library, because my session was to start at 1300 hrs and at 1320 hrs, there was no sign of an audience for me to read to, I was worried that they had studied my poetry in school and decided it wasn’t worth making the small journey to see me… Eventually, after the Librarian had gone to see what the trouble was, they arrived and there had just been a mix-up… I decided, for the first time, due to the late arrival that we would forego the Limerick section, and the session was another success. I was told I was funny and cool and all wanted, and received, my autograph.

Looking forward to Dundrum and Stillorgan tomorrow.

My CBF 2009, Part two

Today, I read to the unfortunate children whose schools are not being used as polling stations for the Lisbon Treaty referendum, therefore they had to go to school whilst other young people had the day off…

I can sympathise, my school was never used as a polling station, and I remember at least once being driven to another school later in the evening whilst my Parents exercised their democratic rights.

The kids I read to today, didn’t seem to mind they had to be in school…

The day started, again, with breakfast including Coffee, and then Edel, from Clare County Libraries, came to pick us up at the B & B to take us to Skariff Library, a lovely new Library which I would not be reading at…

When we got there we were told that I was actually going to the school itself to read and we were all driven up to a School by the name of, ‘Raheen Wood’ a Steiner School in a lovely wooded area.

The School was made up of many wooden huts and buildings, one of which we were taken too by one of the Students, and a few minutes later around 50 children shuffled in with their own chairs. This school were really prepared and had studied many of my poems, sometimes reading along with me. It was a most enjoyable reading, finishing off with a tour of the school and most impressive it was.

After the tour, we travelled to Killaloe, with the aim of me reading at the library there. Before this we went to a lovely Coffee shop and Deli called, ‘The Coffee Pot’, Highly recommended for eating and drinking if you find yourself at Killaloe, Co Clare.

After this I did my last reading of the week, and last for County Clare during this festival. A group of around 40 females were read and sung too, and again it went exceptionally well, I was told by a young girl that, ‘Don’t ever stop, because you make Children happy and if you were to stop Children will be sad, do you want to make Children Cry?’

I don’t think I’ve ever received such a wonderful comment, or such a large responsibility, I hope I’m up to it.

We then got back to Ennis, where we were staying for the evening, where my wife and I went into Ennis Town for the evening. Enjoying Traditional Irish Food at a Pub called, ‘The Merchant’, and then some Traditional Irish Music in a Pub called Brogans.

In all an enjoyable time was had in Clare, thank you to Patricia, Irene, Edel, My wife Daria, all Librarians, all teachers and especially all the Children I read too.

Here are some photos of today.

Library Ireland Week Part 2

During the Q&A section of my performance on Monday I was asked this question, ‘What was the score of the Carling Cup Competition yesterday?’ Of course the question-asker did know the answer to the question, but as I predicted in Sundays blog, me being a Tottenham Hotspur fan would mean that I was to come into a bit of Friendly joking…

The day started, as is my norm, with a coffee and breakfast had at my house in Howth…
The Coffee was again instant due to another broken Cafetierre, but as it didn’t seem to affect me last time I read at Malahide (See Here) I wasn’t as concerned this time.

Catching the 0820 dart from my home town of Howth, I was in Malahide before 9 am and decided to try out a nice place called ‘The Coffee Scene’ for my pre-reading coffee…

I had a bit of time after this so I walked around Malahide before going to the Library. I was upstairs in the Library on this occasion and I found out it was to 70 Children I would be performing too.

And the performance went exceptionally well, except for the story I wrote about in my last Blog about a young experience with the library, that didn't seem to make anyone laugh… but that’s OK, because the poems were well received and the songs were exceptionally well received, I had enquiries about purchasing my poems and I was happy to inform anyone that I have a book coming out (reminder here.) My new song ‘Library Card Blues’ (Listen to here) went down really well, even though I, being a numpty, left my bottleneck at home. I was so pleased with the amount of giggles it got, and I was a bit surprised that at the end, I was asked to play the coat-hanger song again but not this one.

Anyway, after the reading I adjourned to Malahide’s Starbucks where I was impressed by exceptionally friendly staff...

If I have one complaint, it is that, witty comments from Manchester United fans aside, there was only one performance… normally I do two or three, but after this performance I really wanted to do another one and would have stayed in the room and performed to nobody, but that misses the point and looks rather sad.

But anyway, I have my first reading of 2009 down and it is hopefully the first of many…

Library Ireland Week

Tomorrow, I am doing my first Poetry/Song Performance of 2009 as part of the Library Ireland Week, and I am looking forward to it immensely. The Performance will be too Children in Malahide Library.

I love visiting the Library and I think it is a wonderful to have a week set aside to acknowledge the wonderful service Libraries provide, but… My first memory with a Library is an unpleasant one… I shall proceed to explain why…

At a young age I was given a position of responsibility that I was obviously not ready for. We lived in a town in Hertfordshire called, Bishops Stortford and to two different tasks had to be attended to, one involved going to the Bishops Stortford Library to return books and this is the task I was given… My Mother asked me to return books to the Library and to meet her outside after she had performed the other task.

Now I was unaware of the etiquette of returning Library books by giving them to a Librarian, obviously I had been to the Library before this, but obviously had never returned books. So I carried these books into the Library and put them on the shelf… Obviously wanting to do the job properly I had to look around the Library to find similar books so they could go in their rightful place, but I remember the ordeal of locating these ‘rightful places’ being quite tormenting and eventually I placed these books anywhere I could.

As I left the Library, my Mother was cross at the length of time it had taken me to return books and we travelled home in silence…

A while later reminders and fines started coming to our house for the books that I was supposed to have returned… My parents were shocked, ‘these books had been returned.’ They reasoned and I could confirm this…

As time went by I learnt how to return books properly and I never owned up to how I had returned the books that first time I ever did it…

But hopefully, my journey to Malahide Library tomorrow will not be as disagreeable as this memory, but this reading is coming after a weekend of unhappy, for me, sporting results…

I will be unable to hide the fact that I am English, and some of the Children may mention the fact that Ireland beat England in the Rugby, but I’m more concerned with the Manchester United Fans amongst them mentioning and taking pleasure in, the fact that their team beat my team, Tottenham Hotspur, in the Final of the Carling Cup today… some of my songs and poems performed mention Tottenham and I let them all know that I am a Tottenham fan, but I’m sure I’ll be able to deal with any gloating coming my way…

To commemorate Library Ireland Week, I wrote a new song called ‘Library Card Blues’, and it can be listened too at my musical myspace page… www.myspace.com/failedrockstar/ I shall be writing another blog about this tomorrow…

I'm going to be on the Radio

Oh and another thing...

I am currently over the moon as I will be on the Radio tomorrow.

I have been asked to appear live on 'Laughter Tracks' on Dublin City FM 103.2. The show runs on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:30pm. I will be singing songs and reading poems from my upcoming collection.
You can find out more about Dublin City FM and listen live to it by going to the website www.dublincityfm.ie.

For those living in Ireland you can tune in to 103.2 FM