Q:1. How did you decide on what poems to send?

I was appointed Poet Laureate of the town, Bellmullet, in North Mayo in 2021. It’s a beautiful wild and rugged part of Ireland. The poem I sent in was one of a few poems I wrote about the area so I felt it was very suitable for this anthology.

Q:2. What poetic form did it take, and why?

It took the form of couplets, no major reason why, that’s just how it went from my head to pen to paper.

Q:3. How did you use the whiteness of the page in your poem?

I didn’t think about how I used the whiteness on the page. It just is.

Q:4. How did you decide on the title of your poem?

I wanted the poem to be a blessing from Mayo, hence the title.

Q:5. Imagery, or narrative. Which was more important to you in writing the poem?

Both were as important as each other. I wanted to use imagery from the Wild Atlantic Way to write a blessing to anyone who is grieving.

Q:6. What do you think of where your poem is placed in the collection?

I’m very happy with where it is in the collection. It’s a privilege to be included alongside some very fine poets.

Q:7. Once they have read your poem what do you hope the reader will leave with?

I hope it will console the reader in some way if they are grieving and for the general reader that they are left with a sense of the healing power of the wilderness and maybe it might entice some to come and explore the wild and wonderful west of Ireland!

Bios and Links

Anne Walsh Donnelly

lives in the west of Ireland. She writes poetry, prose, and plays. She describes her writing process as ‘Bungee jumping, naked, off the Cliffs of Moher.’ Her poetry is wild and wonderful, honest and brave.

She was shortlisted for the Hennessy/Irish Times New Irish Writing Award in 2019 and selected for the Poetry Ireland Introduction Series in the same year.

She was awarded a Words Ireland Mentorship in 2020 and a bursary from the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.

Her first full length poetry collection, ‘Odd as F*ck,’ is published by Fly On The Wall Poetry Press in May, 2021

She is the author of the poetry chapbook, “The Woman With An Owl Tattoo” (Fly On The Wall Poetry Press, 2019), which is a reflection on her growth since the ending of her marriage, an exploration of her sexuality and coming out in mid-life. The collection was awarded second prize in the International Poetry Book Awards in 2020.

She is also the author of the short story collection, “Demise of the Undertaker’s Wife” (Blue Nib, 2019).

Anne travels purposely in life towards an as-yet-unknown destination.

See her website for more information – http://www.annewdonnelly.com