The Irish Writers Centre’s Takin' the Mic returns to International Literature Festival Dublin for a bilingual evening of poetry and prose in English and Irish. Hosted by writer Marcus Mac Conghail, the evening will feature a guest performance from Nicole Flattery and from the National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn, along with our usual open mic slots for poets, writers, musicians and comedians. 

Interested in performing on the night? Register here. (4 slots available for Irish language readers and 4 slots available for English or bilingual readers.) 

Suggested donation: €5

About Marcus Mac Conghail 

Coiscéim a d’fhoilsigh a chnuasach Ceol Baile a ghnóthaigh Gradam Filíochta Michael Hartnett. Tá dánta le Marcus foilsithe in Feasta, Southword Journal, The Stinging Fly, Comhar, agus Poetry Ireland Review. Léigh sé ag Fíochán Filí i Heilbhic, Cúirt sa Ghaillimh, An Fhéile Bheag Filíochta ar an mBuailtín, Ó Bhéal i gCorcaigh, Fleadh Phádraig i mBéal Feirste, Staccato i mBÁC, The International Literature Festival Dublin, agus ag Imram. Craoladh a shaothar ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís in Éirinn agus is gearr go mbeidh sé le clos ar BBC Radio 4 mar chuid de chlár ar an nua-fhilíocht Ghaeilge.

Coiscéim published his collection Ceol Baile which was awarded The Michael Hartnett Poetry Prize. He has had poems published in Feasta, Southword Journal, The Stinging Fly, Comhar, and Poetry Ireland Review. He has read at Fíochán Filí in Waterford, Cúirt in Galway, An Fhéile Bheag Filíochta in Kerry, Ó Bhéal in Cork, Fleadh Phádraig in Belfast, Staccato in Dublin, The International Literature Festival Dublin, and Imram - also in Dublin. His work has been broadcast on both radio and television in Ireland and he will shortly be featured on a BBC Radio 4 documentary on new Irish language poetry.

About Nicole Flattery

Nicole Flattery’s stories have been published in The Irish Times, The Dublin Review, The White Review, Winter Papers, The Letters Page and The Stinging Fly. She is a recipient of a Next Generation Artists’ Award from the Arts Council and The White Review Short Story Prize. She lives in Galway. Show Them A Good Time is her first book.

House Rules

- Five mins per performer
- Slots are on a first come, first served basis

- Performers should sign up in advance via Eventbrite.
- Please note that the performers' list books up quickly, after that there is a waiting list.
- Donation tickets do not count as performance tickets

Irish Writers Centre – Young Writer Delegates:

In association with the Irish Writers Centre, we’re delighted to welcome six Young Writer Delegates at the festival this year. Sam Cox, Ruth Ennis, Cassia Gaden Gilmartin, James Hudson, Fiona Murphy McCormack and Aoife Riach will be mentored by Colm Keegan, and will showcase their work at the Taking the Mic event. They’ll be checking out festival events and giving us their insights and feedback via our social media platforms. We look forward to hearing their views on the future direction of the festival and to welcoming them into the wider festival team.