A limited publication of poetry by Skibbereen local Josie Mackle is currently on display at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. The collection, compiled by Arts for Health musician Justin Grounds, forms part of the Bealtaine Festival exhibition 2024.
Josie is a resident at Skibbereen Community Hospital. Josie and Justin first met when Justin started facilitating music sessions in the hospital in 2022.
‘Every Wednesday we would have a larger group session with singing, playing instruments and sharing creative ideas. Josie told me that more so than music, poetry was her great love. So I invited her to recite a poem to the group, and we were all spellbound as she delivered her own poem ‘The Rhyme of the River Ilen’. With all its rich imagery and narrative, we felt we were swept up in that local river as it made its way from source to sea.’
‘The Rhyme of the River Ilen’, inspired Justin to create a short film with the group. The Arts for Health participants at Skibbereen Community Hospital worked collaboratively with Justin to collect and edit film footage. They then created and recorded music to accompany Josie’s recording of the poem.
Josie continued to share her poetry with Justin each week. Even when Josie could no longer join the group sessions, Justin would visit her room, eager to hear what she’d created over the last few days. Josie’s poems are at times wonderfully playful and funny, at others, heartfelt and honest. Some are humorous explorations of imagination, while others express a deep love for home and family.
Collected Poems was published on Josie’s 90th birthday. In Justin’s words, ‘Her voice is a strong testament to the enduring power of creativity in older age.’ The poetry book is on display at Uillinn from 1 – 31 May.