Bright Ideas: Home & Hearth

Tramore Library, Waterford 

A welcoming afternoon tea event in our local library on Poetry Day Ireland, inspired by this year’s theme, Home. This gathering will bring together members of the local writers’ group, the local poetry group, and individuals from newer communities in our area, including Ukrainian participants and people with refugee backgrounds.

The event will create a warm, inclusive space where attendees can share original writing or read a favourite poem that reflects their sense of home—whether that is a place, a memory, a person, or a feeling. Through poetry, storytelling, and conversation, we aim to celebrate the diversity of voices in our community and explore how the idea of home can connect us across cultures and experiences.

In addition to spoken word, the afternoon will include gentle musical contributions—acoustic or traditional where possible—to enhance the atmosphere and offer another creative expression of home. Tea and light refreshments will be served to encourage a relaxed, social environment where participants and audience members can connect.

This event is a collaboration between the library, local writers and poets, and community support groups working with new communities. It is designed to be accessible, participatory, and engaging for a broad public audience, including those who may not attend poetry events.

By combining poetry, music, and shared hospitality, “Home & Hearth” aims to engage new audiences with poetry in an imaginative, cross-cultural way, fostering understanding, creativity, and a shared sense of belonging