IPTN AGM - Sat 31 January, Kieran's College, Kilkenny

IPTN's annual general meeting will be held on saturday 31 January 2015 at 2.30 in Kieran's College, Kilkenny. With all that has happened over the last year, we have much to discuss. In particular, we would like your input on the future activities of the Network, including workshops, monthly meetings and annual conference. If you can't make the AGM, please email us with your suggestions.

The 2015 IPTN committee and officers will be elected on that day and our new constitution ratified. If you would like to get more involved, please feel free to put your name up for election!

Wishing you all good mental health for 2015

Carol
Secretary IPTN

Happy Festive Season

Wishing you all a very happy festive season.
We are on our Xmas break now but will be in touch with you all again in the New Year.

IPTN Convention A Success

Some of the participants

Michael Murphy & Ger Campbell

At the Book Launch

Carol with book illustrators Don Conroy
and James Moore

IPTN Committee

The 2014 Poetry Therapy Convention held in October was heralded as a triumph by all involved. It was a most memorable convention with thought-provoking workshops, a stimulating talk by Michael Murphy followed by an open discussion, and concluding with the launch of the first Irish book on poetry therapy, 'The Backwards Book' by Niall Hickey,
Thanks to everyone who made the two days such a success. Roll-on next year!

Niall Hickey

Convention Update

We have just heard news that Cara, our facilitator for the Laughter Workshop on Sunday morning, has had an accident and has been advised not to fly. We hope she will be feeling well again, soon.
The good news is that Ger Campbell will run the Laughter Workshop in her stead.

Well-Being Through Poetry - Convention Brochure

First iaPoetry PTP to graduate in Ireland

Smiles all around!

                                           Theresa, Carol (PTP) Ger, Kay and Niall (mentor)

IPTN is pleased to announce that Carol Boland is the first iaPoetry, Poetry Therapy Practitioner (PTP),  to qualify in Ireland. This is a momentous occasion for us all. There are several more PTPs in the pipeline, thanks to Dr. Niall Hickey who is the sole iaPoetry mentor in Ireland.
From small beginnings  . . .  

Key Speaker at 2014 Convention Announced

We are delighted to announce that our Key Speaker on Sat 11 October '14 will be Michael Murphy.

Michael Murphy is a psychoanalyst with a busy practice in Sandyford, Dublin. He is also an award winning senior television producer / director and newscaster with RTE. He has lectured in psychoanalysis at St.Vincent’s University Hospital and University College,Dublin.

In 1990 he wrote Reading the Poems for Desmond Egan – the Poet and his Work, edited by Professor Hugh Kenner. In 1998 he wrote a book-length study, The Road to the World, a Lacanian analysis of Desmond Egan’s collection, A Song for My Father.

Michael’s number one best-selling literary memoir At Five in the Afternoon was published in September 2009. His sequel The House of Pure Being was published in September 2013, and his first poetry collection The Republic of Love was published in May 2013.