Joint Statement from Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins

When faced with the choice, we side with those who don’t have power rather than those who wield it.  That said, it would not be appropriate for us to comment about any of the issues surrounding #WakeUpIrishPoetry. 
 

Except to say this: the issue has been raised as to what redress individual artists and arts workers have when faced with a possible abuse of power situation of any sort. The complaints procedures within most arts organisations are in reality heavily biased in favour of those who have power and against those who don’t. They are often not worth bothering with. The arts sector has hardly any trade union representation and the artistic world is, sadly, an extremely individualistic place. In our experience, people don’t tend to stick together. So what is one to do when faced with power being wielded inappropriately against you in the arts sector?  

            Each situation is different. But we would recommend that artists and arts workers faced with such a situation consider doing the following: contact a left wing TD and supply them with details of your case, which you can do in absolute confidentiality, and ask them to put in a written question to the relevant government minister about your case. Written questions must be answered and cannot be waffled around in the way that oral questions asked in the Dáil often are. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-12-18/?questionType=written
 

The TD can frame the question in general terms and supply additional specific details pertaining to your case to the relevant minister and her or his departmental officials. You need not be named in the question. When selecting which TD to approach, do not bother with any of the establishment parties as they will likely not support you. But most left wing TDs will, even if you do not live in their constituency. Remember, TDs are national, not local, representatives and are meant to represent the whole country. 

            Well over a decade ago, we briefly worked for a (now defunct) arts organisation where there were issues regarding late payment of wages, lack of contracts for employees, and related matters. We left after working there for less than a year. During the decade that followed, this organisation continued to intermittently post hostile commentary about us and our work on its official website and social media. This only stopped when we approached a left wing TD, supplying them with details, and they put a written question to the relevant minister. We were invited to meet with top officials in the relevant government department locally and we supplied them with detailed evidence. The hostile commentary ceased. The arts organisation in question no longer exists, while we continue to work happily in the sector. 
            
           The approach we took may not suit everyone. But we think it could help many. TDs’ email addresses are available on the Oireachtas website.

Between the sheets (of a poetry anthology) with the former Archbishop of Canterbury

Further from my much better half-Susan Millar DuMars re: the article she published on her blog yesterday

Further from my much better half Susan Millar DuMars re: the article she published on her blog yesterday: "I hear there has been a lot of discussion on Twitter about my last blog article. I'm not on Twitter, so if anyone wants to contact me directly you will need to use FB, email (s_dumars@hotmail.com) or comment on the article itself. My knowledge of Pat Cotter's editorial practice re: Poetry Magazine was not supposition; it came from a FB post by Pat Cotter himself. My criticism of him is part of a larger article making a larger point about openness in the arts. I believe that, as a successful arts organizer for 12 years and counting, I am an appropriate person to bring up the topic. A few have tried to dismiss my comments as "sour grapes" by a frustrated poet. Actually, I understood early on that the magazine issue was for poets born in 1970 or after so I am not eligible. It is a shame that whenever one of us tries to initiate thoughtful debate within the literary community, some rush in to claim that the issue is personal."

Susan edited Over The Edge: The First Ten Years: An Anthology of Fiction & Poetry (Salmon 2013)

About the book (from the Salmon Poetry website)

With poetry and fiction from: Adam White, Aideen Henry, Aileen Armstrong, Alan McMonagle, Brendan Murphy, Caoilinn Hughes, Celeste Augé, Dave Lordan, Deirdre Kearney, Donna L. Potts, Eamonn Harrigan, Edward Boyne, Elaine Feeney, Fiona Smith, Gary King, Ger Burke, Geraldine Mitchell, Gerry Galvin, Grace Wells, Jarlath Fahy, Jean Folan, Jenny McCudden, Jim Mullarkey, John Corless, John Walsh, Kate O’Shea, Kevin O’Shea, Lorna Shaughnessy, Martin Dyar, Mary Madec, Miceál Kearney, Michelle O’Sullivan, Nicki Griffin, Noel Duffy, Órfhlaith Foyle, Paul Casey, Pete Mullineaux, Sandra Bunting, Sarah Clancy, Sarah Griff, Seamus Scanlon, Seán Kenny, Sheila Phelan, Stephen Murray, Susan Lindsay, Tom Duddy, and Trevor Conway.
 

“Over the Edge provides a unique support and showcase opportunity for emerging writers. Often, the talent is there before the confidence and Over the Edge nurtures that voice and gives it a space to be heard.  Whether it is on a Cúirt stage or in the back of a library, this moment is truly special, and so many wonderful writers have emerged from these beginnings.”
Dani Gill, Director of Cuírt International Festival of Literature

“Over the past 10 years, Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins have established the Over the Edge readings not only as the main regular literary event in Galway but also as one of the leading venues in Ireland to hear new writers read their work. There were readings in Galway before Over the Edge of course (and plenty of them) but perhaps what made Over the Edge important is that it became a fixture; writers and audience alike have come to depend on something new being served up each month and, unlike many readings, audiences are consistently good. These readings have brought writers from all over Ireland to Galway every month, not just during festival season. It has become bigger than Galway, the West and Ireland though: they also present writers from around the globe, acting as matchmakers for audiences and writers to connect for the first time in some Galway establishment. 

     While its reach is broad, Over the Edge is still a resolutely Galway event – each reading will include a local writer who is making a name for themselves. The boon provided to emerging writers by this opportunity should not be underestimated. In the 10 years of Over the Edge, Kevin and Susan have become sort of literary godparents to a host of Galway writers. That many of the names in this anthology are instantly recognisable to anyone who has even a passing interest in contemporary Irish literature is testament to that. 

     This anthology represents another milestone for Over the Edge and it probably won’t be the last.  Along with everything else, they are to be applauded for their endeavour, perseverance and patience. The habitual hospitality that has greeted us all over the years, whether on cold Atlantic nights or sunny afternoons, battling the odours of obscure cheese in Sheridan’s or in the more serene environment of the City Museum, now awaits the next 10 years’ worth of poets, novelists and performers who venture west and Over the Edge.” 
Alan Jude Moore, Poet and editor of Burning Bush 2

Reading at 'At The Edge' in Cavan on Tuesday

 

I am reading in Cavan on Tuesday evening at Kate Ennal's excellent At The Edge event, alongside Philip Doherty and the amazing Susan Millar DuMars. 

North West Words writing weekend

I am mightily looking forward to heading up to Letterkenny next Friday to take part in the North West Words writing weekend.

This festival programme looks lively and offers a wide range of readings and workshops, featuring both poets and fiction writers. Among the other writers taking part are Gerard Smyth, Mia Gallagher, and the long suffering Susan Millar DuMars. 

Friday evening will see the Letterkenny launch of my book The Ghost in the Lobby, when I will be doing a reading alongside Averil Meehan.

The details of that are as follows - 

When: July 25, 2014 @ 8:00 pm

Where: Café Blend

Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
Ireland

Cost:

Free 

I will also be facilitating a workshop on 'Writing New Poems'. Details of that are:

When: July 26, 2014 , 2-4.30pm

Where: Radisson Blu Hotel
Letterkenny

About the workshop: Kevin Higgins’s workshop ‘Writing New Poems’is for beginner poets, those who’ve had poems published in magazines, and everyone in between. The aim of the workshop is to get each participant working on at least one brand new poem. Kevin will use a pre-existing poem by a published poet as a writing prompt for the session. 

And to put a nice scoop of strawberry ice-cream on an already most excellent slice of apple tart, I also have a poem in the excellent first issue of online publication North West Words, which is published in association with the event.

Be Careful Who You Marry

Your man in Tullamore whose name I've permanently forgotten has drawn an important fact to my attention: I am married to a dangerous political extremist, the “militant pro abortionist Susan Millar DuMars”. The literary and political giant that is your man in Tullamore is unhappy at being dumped as an Anti-Austerity Alliance candidate for Offaly County Council on foot of an article on this here blog. 

I don't know what to do now. I've managed to make it to the untender age of 47 without ever once knowingly associating with political extremists. Now, it turns out I'm married to one. Here I am reading the poem I wrote the week of our wedding in 2005.  I understand that Susan will be blogging on this subject herself in the next few days. She has some serious explaining to do.