Salmon Poetry Celebrates 45 Years

To celebrate Salmon Poetry’s 45th year of publishing poetry, join us for an afternoon featuring award-winning poets Rachael Hegarty, Colm Keegan and Nessa O’Mahony, sharing work from their most recent Salmon collections. From its early groundbreaking titles, to its ongoing commitment to international dialogue and fresh perspectives, Salmon Poetry has continually expanded the boundaries of Irish writing. An afternoon of insight, thought and reflection from three unique voices in Irish poetry.

While this event is free, by making one of your tickets a ‘Supporter’s Ticket‘ you will be making a valuable contribution towards keeping future events accessible and towards the sustainable growth of Dublin Book Festival.

Please note we may be capturing candid imagery at this event for use on our social media and website.

Rachel Hegarty Dr. Rachael Hegarty is a Dubliner and multiple prize winning poet. She was educated by the Holy Faithers in Finglas, the U. Mass. Bostonians, the Trinity M.Phillers in Dublin and the Ph.D. Magicians at Queens University, Belfast. Her debut collection, Flight Paths Over Finglas was hewn from her hometown. A child survivor of the Talbot Street bomb, her second collection May Day 1974, has received critical acclaim for the 33 docu-sonnets and 33 ballads for the people who died on the single worst day the Troubles. Her third collection, Dancing with Memory is a dance hall of memory for her mother who lived with dementia. Her fourth collection, Wild Flowers on the Darndale Roundabout was inspired by the Fridays for Future activists. In November 2026 she will release Saints Alive with Salmon Poetry. She teaches at the Trinity Access Programme and presents Poetry People on RTÉ Radio 1.

Colm Keegan Colm Keegan is an award winning writer and poet from Dublin, Ireland. He has three collections of poetry including Don’t Go There,  Randomer, and the newly released: Camcorder. His debut full-length play “For Saoirse” was staged in Axis Theatre and shortlisted for the Fishamble New Writing award in 2018. His short play “Something Worth Saying,” commissioned for the Abbey Theatre’s Dear Ireland project in 2020 was called ‘exquisite and devastating’ by reviewer Emer O’ Kelly. In 2014 was awarded a residency in the LexIcon, Ireland’s largest public library. He has developed numerous creative writing projects for schools and colleges across the country. He is a creative writing teacher and co-founder of the Inklinks Project, a writing initiative for young writers, and was the writer in residence for Carlow College St Patricks in 2019. He also developed and co-ordinates South Dublin Epic for SDCC arts office.

Nessa O’Mahony was born in Dublin. She has published five previous books of poetry: Bar Talk (1999), Trapping a Ghost (2005), In Sight of Home (2009), Her Father’s Daughter (2014) and The Hollow Woman on the Island (2019). Dodder Daughter is her sixth collection. She has edited journals and anthologies, including issues of The Stony Thursday Book, The North (with Jane Clarke), Empty House (with Alice Kinsella) and Poetry Ireland Review. She writes fiction and non-fiction. She is an associate lecturer with The Open University and holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Wales, Bangor.

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