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

The Backwards Book - Eisteach Review

Eisteach, IACP magazine,Vol 15, Issue 4, has reviewed The Backwards Book by Niall Hickey (Boland Press). Here is a selection of comments from the reviewer, David Keane:
'The reader is immersed in Poetry Therapy from the get-go, albeit in a gentle manner'
'This book explores a wide variety of symbols, metaphors and text that can be used in Poetry Therapy . .  samples of experimental and experiential work are also provided . . . it serves as a primer, whetting the appetite. For anyone interested in Poetry Therapy and therapeutic arts it will make a good read.'
'The book itself, not merely its content, serves as a lesson in Poetry Therapy.'

Poems from Rhythm of Life Workshops

Thank you to all those who attended our 4th annual Poetry Therapy Conference 2015. The feedback from participants has been very positive and we would like to share some of the poems composed on the day. For confidentiality purposes, authors are not listed:




The Secret Garden


I wandered along the way,
collected seeds and bulbs.
gathered pebbles,
bright and dark
small and big.
While walking on a path,
a door opened on a secret garden.
I stepped in and unravelled a thread.
Slowly and consciously.

Unravelling

Stopping.


Planting seeds
Putting a stick in the ground
and tightening the thread around it.


I kept moving in different directions
going straight
Forming a circle

Stopping

Planting seeds
Putting stick in the ground
and tightening the thread around it.


Then, I displayed the stones around it
creating a carpet.
I sat down
contemplating
breathing
As I looked at each seed growing
at each buds opening and blooming.
I heard my own heart beating
"Thank you" and "Kindness"
I opened the door,
I invited others
to pick my growing flowers
to collect seeds from it
to plant their own garden.



Rhythm

Recognising the rhythm of life.

Happening in ourselves.

Yelling it to the world.

Taping it on our heart.

Hoping to keep it while

Moving amongst other beats.

Rhythm of Life

My drum sits silent

for long stretches, gathers

a layer of dust, and waits

until my energy stirs, rises,

lifts, becomes the tingling fingers

that must touch skin, must tap,

must make their mark on

the silence, must pull the sound

from the air, must call the blood

to keep pumping, keep pumping,

must make the feet start

to move and move.

My drum calls me, tells me my

name, over and over, it calls

out my name, and says Here I am,

again and again. Here I am, it says.

Yes, here I am.

Say to them

Say to them,

the people who call you to battle,

the crisis-shouters, the ones who won’t

believe there is a future

brighter than today:

say to them that your heart is what

you will give; your breath, and your salt tears

if they want them, but not your hand,

and not your hardness.

Say to them that

there is no battle, because we all want to sleep

the night through with the breathings of our babies,

safe under our roofs, and we all want to put our bones

down, in our own time,

in peace.

Say to them that your breath is not theirs,

your blood is not theirs,

your heart is not theirs.

Rhythm of Life

Rhythm of Life : Sunday 11/10/15

Rhythm of Life
We are delighted to announce that IPTN's 4th Annual conference will, once again, take place in Hotel Kilkenny in the city of Kilkenny. This year, the one day workshop of self-discovery is on finding your rhythm of life through poetry.
Facilitators, all qualified Poetry Therapy Practitioners, are:
Morning sessions: Carol Boland and Theresa Kelly
Afternoon session: Ger Campbell

Cost of event: €70 pp/€60 IPTN members/students - t/c is included

To register, and for further details, email: irishpoetrytherapynetwork@gmail.com or phone Ger on 0868182261