Conference: A Day to Remember

We are delighted to report that the 5th Annual IPTN Conference has been a great success. The feedback from the participants has been uplifting with many considering the day thought-provoking and interesting. Attendance at the event was high this year but, unfortunately, we were unable to accommodate everyone. However, next year we will ensure that no one will be disappointed.

Our final session resulted in a group poem with participants offering a line as they felt moved to do so:

Mind exercise
not always appreciated
I open the box remembering happiness
I have a mountain to climb
pirouetting amidst a haze of angel dust.

If life is like a box of chocolates
this conference is like a box of Black Magic.

Slow down, notice it's all happening now
opening the door to who I am
I have placed my foot

I will put in the box hope
a hairpin to unlock should I get trapped inside
the never-ending sighs of pure essence
the second chapter much sweeter and more melodic
than the first
hope I don't forget this happy christening
the path of yes
goes all the way
the technicolour of hope and wonder.

IPTN Conference 2016: Creative Arts and Inner Self

CREATIVE ARTS AND THE INNER SELF

Day workshop of self-discovery finding your inner self through poetry & film

Key Speaker: Dr. Noreen Giffney
Sunday 9 October 2016
Registration: 9.15

Tinakilly House Hotel Rathnew, Co. Wicklow

€70/€60 iptn members

Email: irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com
to reserve your place.

See Events page for full programme.

Poetry Therapy Journal Vol 1 issue 2 Autumn

New IPTN sign

IPTN Conference - Tinakilly House Hotel, Co. Wicklow

 We are delighted to confirm the venue for our poetry therapy conference as Tinakilly House Hotel, Rathnew. Conveniently situated just off the N11 and set in wonderful grounds, the perfect setting for poetry therapy sessions.

Further details of speakers and facilitators will be announced in September.

Date: Sunday 9th October 2016

Group Poem - 9 July 2016

Here is the group poem, each line written by a participant at the Hollyfort Session on 9th July 2016:

Grief is a coin whose other side is love
grasping, writhing in desperation
time forgetting
I falsely hold it every time I see her face
charging colours in the water with reflections of life above it.

I smell the pungent rush of your fragrance
it moves from me, still blooms in my mind
let it go when it wishes to be released
to hold it in your memory
to risk it slipping through your fingers.

It might be better not to take but to appreciate
private and oh so quiet.

Date for your Diary - IPTN Conference

We have a date for the 2016 IPTN Conference:

Sunday 9 October 2016

Please put it in your diary - it will be another great poetry therapy event!

Venue to be announced shortly.

The Journey - Self-Discovery Through Poetry

Gartan Session Group Poem

This poem was written by the participants at our Gartan Session on 21 May 2016. Each person contributed to the poem:

Surfacing

Running running but not to escape
if you see you must witness
I sit back and rejoice
hands that wish to hold other things
the beauty contest is now a temple
where everybody wins
released not suppressed
out there somewhere
the sea tastes of summer
like the waves, I lap to the shoreline
the last vestiges of preciousness
wading, plodding, pulling water 
to surface.

Meeting Your Inner Self - 21 May '16 - Letterkenny

New Info Leaflet for Poetry Therapy

IPTN have produced an information leaflet on Poetry Therapy and IPTN for distribution. If you would like us to post you some leaflets for distribution, please email us at irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com

New Poetry Therapy Journal

A New Adventure of PT Sessions

Join us on our new adventure of poetry therapy sessions around the country.

Our first port of call is the beautiful Gartan Outdoor Centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal (www.gartan.com)

Saturday 21 May '16

2pm to 5pm

€10 (€5 for IPTN members)

Email us today to secure a place at irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com

Drive to Advance PT in Ireland

IPTN have launched a programme of  initiatives to increase awareness of Poetry Therapy in Ireland. These include a number of short and long term projects including:

1. Publication of a  PT Ezine, edited by Theresa Kelly, in spring and autumn

2. Publication of an information leaflet to be distributed widely in libraries and other appropriate centres.

3. Initiate dialogues with  professional bodies and colleges associated with the creative arts with a view to raising IPTN profile and recognition of Poetry Therapy as a viable and beneficial creative therapy.

4. Contact like-minded associations with a view to possible affiliation

5. Organise 6 Poetry Therapy workshops a year in various parts of the country. Each one facilitated by qualified poetry therapy practitioners.

6. Continue to organise IPTN annual conference but in different venues each year to facilitate easier access to people around the country

IPTN AGM Sat 27 February 2016 - Butlers House, Kilkenny

IPTN are holding their annual general meeting on Saturday 27 February 2016 at 2pm in Butlers House, Kilkenny.
The afternoon includes a poetry therapy session run by one of our Poetry Therapy Practitioners - €10 (€5 for IPTN members).

We look forward to seeing you there!

IPTN AGM in February 2016

This year, the IPTN Annual General Meeting will be held in February  - final date to be decided.
The AGM is open to all and should you wish to include a topic on the agenda, please email us at irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com