Limerick ‘city girl’ set to launch her second collection of poetry
A NEW collection of poetry from Limerick poet, Sheila Fitzpatrick O’Donnell will be launched this Friday.
As its title suggests, the collection - ‘Where I’m From: A snippet of my memoirs in poetry’ - delves into the author’s own experiences, from a church-ruled childhood and a rebel adolescence to protest and social injustice. It also touches on homage.
Speaking of the book that is dedicated to her late mother ‘Polly the Poet’, and her late “aunties”, Sheila noted: “I’m a city girl, born and bred in the heart of the city. It’s about where I’m from, it’s my life story from age 7 to 18. It’s basically things that I have experienced and there are poems about my grandparents in the book.”
The “city girl” finds Limerick inspiring. “It's steeped in history. Growing up in Limerick, we had the open river to swim in, we had rafts out in the river, and we had great games,” she recalls.
But according to the Shanagolden resident, what makes the city is its people. “The people of Limerick are very decent, kind and caring. Everybody looked out for each other in my time, growing up. It was a good place to be brought up.”
In her second collection, a poem titled ‘This Could Have Been You’ is dedicated to her daughter, Carrie.
“It's about the Magdalene Laundries,” the writer points out.
Her first collection, A Bouquet of Trilogies, was published in 2010.
Sheila's second collection of poetry will be launched by Mairtin O Brian this Friday, May 26 at 7.30pm at The People's Museum of Limerick, Pery Square.
“There will be a wine reception. I will be reading myself, and my daughter Carrie and I will be sharing a spoken word piece,” the poet concluded.