Category Archives: PortfolioRadio

16-24 Dec. Poem a day from ‘STAR’ on Evening Extra BBC Radio Ulster

Every day from Monday 16th December till Tuesday 24th December, Christmas Eve, I’ll read a poem on BBC Radio Ulster’s drivetime programme, ‘Evening Extra’.

A bold idea, mixing headlines, weather reports and poetry!

The poems are from my collection, ‘STAR: poems for the Christmas Season’ (Culture and Democracy Press). STAR is available from No Alibis, Belfast; The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus; Little Acorns, Derry or any bookstore. Online up to last posting dates from The Books Council of Wales gwales.com https://tinyurl.com/37f4rruj. ARTWORK copyright Martin Erspamer.

Monday 16th:

Tuesday 17th:

Wednesday 18th:

Thursday 19th

Friday 20th

STAR copyright Martin Erspamer

Monday 23rd

BBC Radio Wales: Weekend Word

Excerpt: On 1st December

We are living at a time when, through the media, we see power being wielded ruthlessly. We witness the destruction caused by war and by wayward market forces. Often the two are linked. There’s so much conflict happening that the news can hardly keep up with it. It can feel overwhelming.

The 2023 Reuters Institute digital news report states that close to 36% of news consumers say they avoid news, often or sometimes. To some extent this is prompted by concern to protect  mental health.  We need accurate and trustworthy news but its frequency and pervasiveness across platforms can lead to feelings of helplessness – knowing so much; able to do so little.

And some interests will encourage us to stay passive; to undervalue the good we can do; to leave politics to the powerful; to neglect the power of compassion, generosity, solidarity.  I try to describe that cynical outlook in this short poem:

DECEMBER 28th

After Christmas – always – Childermas: Slaughter of Innocents; Threat Neutralised.

The Prince of War, glistening with success, allures us.

This, he says, is what you want. Not a stable, sheep-herding losers, a star.

Devolution of Broadcasting, Wales

In the midst of the general election hurly burly an important consultation is proceeding in Wales: an inquiry into whether Wales should acquire greater powers over broadcasting. The deadline for submitting evidence has been extended from today, 9th December to Monday, 20th December. Whatever its outcome, this inquiry marks a key developmental stage in the process of devolution in Wales.  Continue reading Devolution of Broadcasting, Wales

My work / Fy ngwaith: 2018/19

December 2019 back through to 2018

BBC Radio Wales Annual Film Review, All Things Considered Sunday 8 December 9 am

Place and Displacement: November 2019 Support for the Individual Artist Programme Award (SIAP) from the Arts Council of N. Ireland and National Lottery for a project in poetry, memoir and fiction.

Pitching for Creatives: 28th November CULT Cymru My 1-day pitching workshop.

Members of BECTU, Equity, Musicians’ Union & Writers’ Guild

Continue reading My work / Fy ngwaith: 2018/19