Stories, poems and the sharp sound of spoon on glass

November 4, 2025

Stories, poems and the sharp sound of spoon on glass

It’s just one of those things that works.

The first Monday of every month, a Poetry and Short Prose Open Mic Night takes place in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. It is a low-fuss, no-frills affair – you rock up, enter your name on the sheet and wait to be called.

Last night, we had twenty-three readers there. Last month, the number must have been close to thirty. Edel Burke moderates it, with a helping hand from Fiona Neary, and the whole affair just rolls along beautifully as people get up to read a poem or an extract from a short story or novel.

The numbers are so big that strict timekeeping is required but people get the message quickly and generally tailor their offering so that they can avoid the sharp but necessary sound of spoon tapping on glass.

Every month, there are alway a few anxious newcomers, consumed by self-doubt – in other words, they’re just like the rest of us.

There is a guest reader every month – the wonderful Alice Kinsella treated us to a sample of her wide-ranging poetry last night. Alice is heavily involved in running writing workshops in the Linenhall. I haven’t participated – yet – but people who have tell me they are excellent.

Next month – December 1 – the guest reader is poet, singer and musician (and much more besides), Mike Absalom. If you haven’t heard of him, get thee to Google. Or here might be as good a place to start as any.

More on the Poetry and Short Prose Open Mic Night here. Might see you there in December.