The Poetry's Dead Podcast
Ryan and Leon are delighted to bring you your NEW favourite poetry podcast, exploring the work of poets old and new, with a little bit of craic mixed in.
We'll share our love of poetry every week, taking you on a journey through work from poets you'll have heard of, as well as poets you may not have heard of and even people you had no idea wrote poetry.!
We'll also help with our Agony Poet part of the show where we'll accept any challenge of solving a problem with a poem. Nothing is too trivial or too serious.
Ryan Duggins is a published English poet based in Dublin, with work found in journals Dreich, Flare and his first collection 'You're Never Too Old To Know Better' was published in April '23. He's also performed at Electric Picnic and is a regular on the open mic scene in Dublin
Leon Dunne is a spoken word artist and cornerstone of the poetry scene in Ireland. He is the 2022 All Ireland Poetry Slam Champion and co-founder of Rising Tide, an events company hosting the best spoken word performers the country has to offer out of Pearse Street library
Both of them are more fun than these descriptions would have you believe
Give us a follow, leave us a review, send this to your Ma' and join us :)
Original music by Matthew Keating
Introduced and co-produced by Lisa Downey
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
Donna Ashworth, James Mooney and The Victims Of The Stardust Nightclub Fire
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
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
