Ó Bhéal: a place full of passion, build from poetry words, brick by brick full of imagination, wisdom and inclusion. Challenging, yet embracive; static (it always happens), yet dynamic, experimental and in motion. Simple, yet complex. Full of hard work, determination. Full of love.
I encountered this place during Culture Night. I felt embarrassed I did not know of this event before. As a fortunate student of American Literature and Film in UCC I truly, really should have known. Indeed, a saying ‘better late than never’ came really handy here and allowed me to shake off the judgmental approach.
Ó Bhéal is my birth place. Yes, here. I do not think Paul or Stan (these great people run this event) know this. It was already after my research on ethical values which bursted and manifested in poems. I wrote them in between interpreting jobs and when driving around Ireland to big (Irish version) as well as remote places. I always stopped and explored. Another kind of exploration happened, this time, late in the evening, when I ventured to this hidden gem. You need to climb some steps to get to this really small but big hearted place. I was spellbound by the atmosphere in the Ó Bhéal. There is a lovely routine starting with poetry films, followed with a 5 word challenge for people, then guest poets and open mic at the end. James, indeed, encouraged me to read out my poem. I was shaking with fear. How is it possible to hold such opposite feelings at one moment in time is a mystery to me. I wanted to do it just as much as I did not. I pierced through dread, doubts and limiting beliefs. This first time meant everything. It meant more stage presence in the future and it set me on track to be bolder and bolder and bolder.
Indeed, later on, I was allowed to perform the first set Safety.Sanctuary.Set of Web including a presentation and a questionnaire in this wonderful nook (17.07.17). It was really special and I felt that my project started growing with the energy of this place.
Find out more about events, poetry and poetry film competitions:
I wrote a poem about
Ó Bhéal
for this anthology because I am so fond of it. I was fortunate to be one of many other amazing migrant writers to be included and share reflections on what it meant to live in Cork.
Ó Bhéal's Thought Kingdom
Even though this place
is small in a physical way
you may feel as if
you are on an endless field,
or among really tall trees,
the words here are rolling hills
of the creatively unlimited
swelling of Ó Bhéal's nook.
By giving motion to the words
which fly, as if hot air balloons
expanding dimensions of the room,
the only boundary is imagination.
The air of options
to be breathed
to expand the lungs
with an alchemy of words,
motivation and support
facilitate a pathway
to another world.
Many faces in this one spot
wrinkle with the waves
of experimental angles
to reveal a multi-layered
surface of possibilities,
stitching a new reality
with words, film and challenge
in a beehive of poetry -
a keyhole to a poetic life
is unveiled by the Master
whose gentleness and openness
encourages all voices to be voiced
and the most buried ones surface
as life is injected
by a boost from the Master,
whose consistency and hard work
gives platform, support and a microphone
with a friendly smile, Paul Casey,
a father to us all, has put a garden in place
and the diversity there, like a rainbow
is wrapped up in the fecund beauty.
There is always space for new seeds,
some have grown, pierced through the ground
several have entwined their roots with others
reaching to a dozen or so along the depths
while poetic aromas drift irrespective of the season.
I brought my spices and myself as a petite seed
to where the sun, water and fertile soil is abundant!