"They said it wouldn't last" the words of local personality Barney Sheehan and the man responsible for the revival of poetry readings at the famous old world White House Bar on O'Connell Street, Limerick. Single handily he has done what the doubters said could not be done and that is provide a platform and outlet for poets in Limerick to perform their work. Now over two years down the road the event has gone from strength to strength and is now the focal point for poetry in Limerick.
The revival kicked off in dramatic fashion during the spring of 2002 with Limericks most famous living poet Desmond O'Grady. Desmond recalled the former great days and nights at the White House. He told the packed gathering tales of Richard Harris, Seamus O'Cinnede, the Poet Ryan, Kitty Bredin, Bernadette Mulrooney, the artist Raol Peter Jackson, politician and writer Jim Kemmy and the former proprietors of the White House Ita and Eamonn Gleeson.
The 60's and 70's were heady days at the White House. Now this great era is being re-created every Wednesday night through the energy and organisational ability of Barney Sheehan. Each week a featured poet is preceded by an open-mic session in which anyone and everyone are welcome to take part. The quality of the readings has been a particular feature, remarked upon by visitors from as far away as the US, Canada and Europe.
The featured poet each week has also been of a remarkably high standard. As well as Desmond O'Grady other headlining poets have included Knute Skinner, John Liddy, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Tim Cunningham, Cristoir O'Flynn, Conor O Callaghan, Gerard Hanberry, Paddy Bushe, Greg Delante, Mark Whelan and others. As well as the above a long list of regular open-mic poets have added handsomely to the proceedings each week.
In August an anthology of 100 poets who have read at the White House Poetry Revival was published to much acclaim, called Microphone On it is now in its second printing. Other notable events in the life of the White House Poets has being their involvement in the annual Cuisle International Poetry Festival and the sponsoring, along with the local Arts Office, of the visit of internationally acclaimed Australian poet Les Murray.
