Briain Kelly, 16 Dec
Saolta Arts was honoured to host the launch of ‘Circus of Circles’, Aoife
Cunningham’s debut poetry collection at University Hospital Galway.
The event, held on Wednesday 11 December, was a warm celebration of art,
healing and community.
Susan Millar DuMars, officially launched Circus of Circles, with music
provided by Francis Edwards.
Aoife is an emerging Irish poet and artist. At the age of sixteen, Aoife
began writing poetry after a difficult period with her mental health.
She began turning her days into poetry, prose and rhyme. This quickly
became a passion and writing became her lifeline.
Aoife wrote many of the poems in her collection while in hospital.
Friends, family, attended the launch and staff who had cared for Aoife
during her hospital stay.
Aoife chose to have the launch in hospital to thank the staff who cared
for her and to pay tribute to Kevin Higgins, her mentor and former Writer
in Residence at the hospital.
Kevin, who also taught Aoife at the Galway Arts Centre, has made a lasting
impact on Aoife and the hospital community.
Margaret Flannery, Saolta Arts Director, said, “We were delighted to
launch Circus of Circles at University Hospital Galway, celebrating the
resilience and creativity of Aoife. Aoife is a remarkable poet whose
journey has been both inspiring and deeply moving.”
Susan Millar DuMars shared her thoughts on Aoife’s work: “Aoife’s poems
have been a lifeline for her through tough times. Now they are published,
I believe they will be a lifeline for others who are also struggling.”
“To publish a first collection at twenty-two is remarkable. And it says a
lot about Aoife’s character that she wanted to launch the book here in the
hospital, so she could thank the staff who looked after her,” she added.
Following Susan’s speech, Aoife read several poems from her collection,
captivating the audience with her heartfelt and poignant words.