Details have just dropped of the Spoken Word Festival at this year’s NYF, Dublin. There are a few treats in store, with Poets v Rappers and Soundings Holy Trinity (with Dylan Haskins,  Lisa Hannigan, and comedian Maeve Higgins) to name but a few. Check out the full details below and on the NYF website here.

Lingo Brunch – “Poets of the City”

·         Date: 30 December | 12:00pm–1:30pm | Free

·         Location: The Meeting House, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Lingo Brunch  – “Poets of the City”
Ease your way into the New Year with some kind words and delicious food at the family-friendly Lingo Poetry Brunch, dedicated to the city of Dublin. Purchase a plate of savoury brunch delights at a special festival price from our hosts at the Meeting House, and let yourself be swept away by the sweet sounds of poems in honour of our fair city.

Poets v Rappers – The “Champs”

·         Date: 30 December | 6.15pm | €5

·         Location: The Workman’s Club, Dublin 2

Hear spoken word poets battle it out with some of the most dynamic rappers in Ireland. Who will emerge victorious? A showcase of Lingo’s best poets alongside top local hip-hop, backed by a live band. A high-energy night that will leave you reeling with words.

NYF Poetry Slam

·         Date: 30 December | 9.00pm | €5

·         Location: Workman’s Club, Dublin 2
Top poets from Ireland and beyond compete with their best performances! The NYF poetry slam joins us for the second year. Certain to be high-energy, raucous, and inspiring, the slam is guaranteed to entertain!

A Guard at the Cross – A Children/Family Poetry Event with Paul Timoney

·         Date: 31 December | 12.00pm | €5

·         Location: Smock Alley Theatre – Boys School

Paul Timoney is one of the most unique voices in the world of spoken word; an award-winning Irish poet and performer, who has worked as a teacher and facilitator of creative activities for many years. In this exclusive event for Lingo, Paul has smushed together a show of words written by children and young people from all over Ireland and beyond. This will be a family and extended family friendly experience that promises to be funny and clever and sad and happy and interesting and unusual and weird and funny. Yes, funny was mentioned twice there, not as a mistake, but to emphasize the funniness factor.

Lingo Bingo – “Best of Lingo”

·         Date: 31 December | 2:00pm–3:30pm | Free

·         Location: Workman’s Club, Dublin 2

A returning favourite, Lingo Poetry Bingo is an open mic with a twist! Hosted by Carl Plover, aka Wasps Vs Humans, this interactive, eclectic event showcases featured poets, as well as an opportunity for anyone with a poem to join in. Audience members drop themes in a hat. They’re drawn out at random. Poets seize the moment and jump in with a poem that fits the bill!

Ashoka Ireland at NYF Dublin
‘Yes Inclusion: Building An Ireland Where Everyone is Welcome’

·         Date: 30 December | 1.00pm | Free

·         Location: Smock Alley Theatre

Moderated panel-style speaking event featuring 4 renowned Irish social entrepreneurs (Ashoka   Fellows) who have developed pioneering approaches to building a more inclusive Ireland moderated by Caroline Casey, Founder of Inclusive Business Leadership, creating a world where no one gets left behind. Caroline represents the 1 billion people in the world living with disability. Panellists include; Mairead Healy, Founder of Future Voices Ireland, inspiring the next generation of empowered leaders. Mairead represents disadvantaged and marginalised youth, mentoring students in the lowest performing schools in Dublin. She will joined by a Future Voices student representative. Mary Nally, Founder of Third Age Ireland & Fáilte Isteach, recognising Ireland’s greatest resource. Across 60 branches, Mary works with hundreds of elderly Irish people, teaching English to immigrants in their communities. She will be joined by a Failte Isteach teacher and/or student. Krystian Fikert, Founder of MyMind, making mental health affordable and accessible. Krystian is working with 80 therapists to serve 5,500 people across Ireland with professional mental health services in 10 languages. He will be joined by a MyMind ambassador.

Soundings Holy Trinity

·         Date: 30 December | 7.00pm | €15

·         Location: House of Lords, Bank of Ireland, College Green
Hosted by Dylan Haskins & Lisa Hannigan, Soundings Holy Trinity returns to NYF Dublin with special guests including comedian Maeve Higgins for an hour and a half of story and song to inspire, alarm and humour in the unique setting of the 18th century former House of Lords at Bank of Ireland, College Green.

After a year of sell-out shows and festival appearances in the UK and Ireland including a sold out St. Patrick’s Cathedral last October and a packed tent at Electric Picnic, this is a chance to experience Soundings in an intimate venue with very limited capacity. In 2016 Soundings will make its USA debut with three shows throughout the year in New York City. Expect an entertaining night of story and song with special guests, mulled wine and a blazing fire in an iconic Dublin building.

Soundings is a show for the curious, the serious and the hilarious with guests telling three stories to inspire, alarm and humour, eased along with musical interludes. Previous guests have ranged from war photographers to drag queens to Catholic priests, with well known names like David O’Doherty, Amy Huberman, Panti, Sharon Horgan, Aine Lawlor, Fionn Regan, Andy Irvine, Jape, Hudson Taylor, Gabrielle Aplin, Paul Noonan and brothers Bryce & Aaron Dessner from US band The National.