Five poets from the Jiangsu Region of China join 11 poets from the United States along with poets from Gort’s Ploughed Field Collective to participate in a three-day poetry gathering centred at Thoor Ballylee, the historic home of W.B. Yeats. The weekend will also extend into programmes at Coole Park and at the Hidden Gem Café in Gort.
All events listed below are open to the public, no booking necessary. Read more about the initiative here.
Saturday, 16 May 2026: Thoor Ballylee, Gort, Co. Galway
10:00AM-5:00PM: PBCV Symposium Programme
10:00AM: Welcome & Opening Session (Performance Space)
Dr. Chen Yihai, New Pastoralist Poets (China)
Rodger Martin, Monadnock Pastoral Poets (USA)
Patrick Hynes, The Ploughed Field Collective (Ireland)
Reading of “My Home” from Meditations in Time of Civil War by WB Yeats, spoken by Meg
Kearney (English) and Sinan (Mandarin)
10:30AM – All-Day: Exhibition | Calligraphy by Zi Chuan (Studio)
Thoor Ballylee is hosting an exhibition selected works by poet and master calligrapher Zi Chuan.
10:30AM-12:00PM: Renga Ceremony (Studio)
Symposium participants and Thoor Ballylee visitors are invited to a special group poetry writing
ceremony with poets from China, Ireland, and USA.
1:00PM – 2:30PM: Concurrent Sessions (Participants are welcome to rotate between sessions.)
- Session A: Chinese Calligraphy Demonstration (Studio): Poets Zi Chuan, Cai Maoliang & Bu
Lanchen will demonstrate the art of traditional Chinese calligraphy. Session hosted by the
Ploughed Field Collective, facilitated by Ben Thompson. - Session B: Poetry Translation Workshop (Studio): Poets Sinan and Chen Yihai and Irish
translator Rosemary Lahiffee will host a poetry-in-translation workshop. Symposium
participants are encouraged to bring 1 to 2 lines of poetry to be translated to Mandarin, Irish
or English. Session hosted by the Ploughed Field Collective, facilitated by Tony Coppinger &
Patrick Hynes. - Session C: Six Essays Roundtable (AV-Room): Poets and scholars will discuss poetry and
poetry traditions from Chinese, Irish and American perspectives. Speakers include: Dr. Chen
Yi (topic: Chinese New Pastorialists); Rodger Martin (topic: American New Pastoral Tradition);
Gerry Coneely (topic: Irish Poetry Tradition); Susan Roney O’Brien (topic: poetry of Patricia
Fargnoli); Claire Golding (topic: poetry of Jane Kenyon); and Maura MacNeil (topic: poetry of
David Budbill). Session hosted by the Monadnock Pastoral Poets.
2:30PM – 4:00PM: Irish and Chinese Tea Exchange (Entrance Dining Area):
Participants will learn about Irish and Chinese teas and serving traditions and have a chance to
try different teas. Poets Rodger Martin, Chen Yihai and Jackson Caffrey will read special poems
related to Chinese tea ceremonies.
4:00PM – 5:00PM: Irish & Chinese Music Exchange (Performance Area)
Bríd Mac Namara (Irish fiddle) and Eileen Fleming (Irish harp) will explain and performance
traditional Irish music. Poet Zi Chuan will perform classic Chinese poetry, traditionally sung. Zi
Chuan will also perform the guqin, an ancient Chinese stringed instrument played by poets and
scholars.
Closing Poem: Juéjù by Du Fu, spoken by Bu Lanchen (Mandarin), Rodney Obien (English) and
Rena McAllen (Irish)
Sunday, 17 May: TOURS & Coole Park, Gort, Co. Galway
1:00PM – 4:00PM: Tour of Coole Park & Readings
The Chinese, Irish and American poets will gather at Coole Park to tour the grounds and do public
poetry readings at the Autograph Tree at the Wall Garden and the Lake.
8:00PM: Play “Two” in Gort Town Hall Theatre. Performed by two actors: Justin McDermott
(Member of Ploughed Field Collective) and Claire O’Donnell
Monday, 18 May: Community Visits & Closing Event, Gort, Co. Galway
10:00AM – 2:00PM: Renga & Chinese Calligraphy Session / Open Poetry Workshop, Hidden
Gem Café, Gort, Co. Galway
Community members are invited to participate in renga group poetry writing session and a
demonstration of Chinese calligraphy. There will also be an opportunity for community members
to write short poems and have them translated to Mandarin.
