From idealised verse on the valour and honour of war to the grim, visceral reality of the trenches, so aptly framed in Wilfred Owen’s 'Dulce et decorum est', this event gives voice to the poetry of the First World War. Six students, all finalists in the 2013 Poetry Aloud competition, including the winner Niall Ó hAnnagáin, will read and recite a selection of powerful war verse, some of it written after the war in response to that horrific conflict. Included in the selection will be Siegfried Sassoon, Patrick MacGill, Francis Ledwidge and two poems chosen by the public. Historian Dr Paul Rouse will introduce this event with
a talk on the poetry of the First World War.
Poetry Aloud is an annual poetry speaking competition for postprimary students throughout the island of Ireland. It is jointly organized by Poetry Ireland and the National Library of Ireland.
