News
Dublin Book Festival interviewed Jane ahead of her sell-out event at the National Botanic Gardens in February 2023. She talks about her forthcoming collection with Bloodaxe Books, A Change in the Air. You can read the feature here.
'Recipe for a bog', a poem from Jane's sequence of poems inspired by the Avonmore River, features in the special Eavan Boland edition of Poetry Ireland Review, Issue 38. This poem will also feature in Jane's forthcoming collection with Bloodaxe Books, A Change in the Air.
On RTE Radio 1's CountryWide, 21 January 2023, Jane read her poem 'The Yellow Jumper' from When the Tree Falls. You can listen back here.
Jane read her poem 'Metastasis' from When the Tree Falls in The Poetry Programme, RTE Radio 1, 18 December 2022. The poem features in Vital Signs, Poems of Illness and Healing, (ed. Martin Dyar) one of the anthologies recommended for Christmas in the programme. Listen here. Jane reads her poem at 16.33.
Jane recorded two poems for broadcast on RTE Radio 1 over Christmas 2022; 'Sing' from her first collection The River and 'Christmas Morning' from her forthcoming collection with Bloodaxe Books, A Change in the Air.
Jane received the Ireland Chair of Poetry Travel Award 2022 which enabled her to undertake a collaborative writing project with sheep farmer and author James Rebanks on his fell farm in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Jane's third collection, A Change in the Air, will be published by Bloodaxe Books in May 2023. In the meantime her poetry features in a number of new anthologies:
Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series - River Poems ed. Henry Hughes, released October 2022.
Vital Signs: Poems About Illness And Healing ed. Martin Dyar, Poetry Ireland, released October 2022.
100 Queer Poems ed. Mary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan, Penguin: Vintage Imprint, released June 2022.
Beyond Their Limits of Longing: Contemporary Writers and Veterans on the Lingering Stories of WW1 ed. Jennifer Orth-Veillon, Milspeak, released October 2022.
The Wake Forest Irish Poetry Series, Volume V, ed. Lucy Collins. (Details to follow.)
Chasing Shadows Poetry Anthology, ed. Noel Monahan, Creative Ireland 2022.
Jane's reading of 'In Glasnevin' from When the Tree Falls features in the Poetry as Commemoration website, here. Poetry as Commemoration, an initiative of UCD library, engages with poets & poetry to deepen our understanding of the past.
Other News
RTE Radio 1 Arena: On Friday 18 November 2022, Jane joined Martin Dyar and Kerrie O'Brien with Seán Rocks to discuss the new Poetry Ireland poetry anthology of illness and healing, Vital Signs. Jane read her poem 'Metastasis'.
RTE Radio 1 Nature Nights: Jane's poetry featured in the week-long series of nature programmes, 31 October - 4 November 2022. Jane read 'Among the Cows' from The River, 'Cypress' from When the Tree Falls and 'Shepherd' & 'The Dipper' from her forthcoming collection A Change in the Air'. You can listen back to one of the programmes here.
RTE Radio 1 Countrywide: Ahead of her reading at the Burrenbeo Winterage Festival 2022, Jane was interviewed on a special edition of RTE Radio 1's Countrywide broadcast live from the Burren. Jane read her new poem 'Laying the hedge' and spoke to presenter Damien O'Reilly about how the landscapes of Co. Roscommon and Co. Wicklow have influenced her work. You can listen back here.
Jane read a new poem 'Fences' on the first Countrywide programme of 2022, 8th January. You can listen back here.
The Irish Times: As part of the Decade of Centenaries Commemorations 2021 County Wicklow Arts & Heritage Offices commissioned Jane to write a poem about Averil Deverell, one of the first two women barristers in Ireland & the UK. She was called to the bar in November 2021. The poem was published in the Irish Times on New Years Day, 2022 and can be read here.
The Bar of Ireland interviewed Jane about writing 'In the Four Courts', a poem about Averil Deverell, the first woman barrister called to the Irish Bar in 1921. The discussion also included the value of poetry in our lives and the creative process. Listen to the podcast here.
Of Claws and Hooves and Meadows: 12 poems for One Welfare. Jane's poem 'Birthing the Lamb' from When the Tree Falls features in this poetry pamphlet marking a new discipline, One Welfare, which has evolved from the recognition of the interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment, underpinned by animal welfare science, and social and environmental science.
The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4: Jane read 'Dry Stone Wall' from her debut collection The River on the 28th December 2021 programme at the suggestion of guest editor James Rebanks. Listen back here at 1:46:33.
Where the Birds Sing Our Names, Seren Books 2021: Two poems from When the Tree Falls, 'Lullaby' & 'Birthing the Lamb' feature in this anthology for Ty Hafan, Children's Hospice in South Wales, edited by Tony Curtis.
Discovering the Poetry of Jane Clarke: The Mayo News featured an article about Jane's work, focusing on her second collection When the Tree Falls. You can read it here, 23 November 2021.
Local Wonders: Poems of our Immediate Surrounds - Jane's poem "First Earlies' features in this anthology, described by editor Pat Boran as "an invitation to name and sing the praises of what is of value to use now...". Local Wonders is available from local bookshops and also online at Dedalus Press.
That I Could - Jane read her poem from When the Tree Falls on RTE Radio 1's Countrywide, 6 November 2021. You can listen here.
Queering the Green: Post 2000 Queer Irish Poetry: Jane is one of the poets featured in this groundbreaking anthology of contemporary Irish queer poets, edited by Paul Maddern. The anthology is now available for order from The Lifeboat Press.
Shelfmarks - Jane reads two newly commissioned poems and reflects on her writing process in episode 3 of this new podcast looking at Irish nature writing. The Royal Irish Academy podcaster-in-residence Zoë Comyns also explores the work of naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger.
'That I could' from When the Tree Falls is Pick of the Week in the Yorkshire Times, 12 - 19 October 2021. You can read the poem and literary editor Steve Walker's response here.
Best American Poetry Blog: 'Blue Cards' from When the Tree Falls is Pick of the Week 10 - 17 October 2021, editor Terence Winch. See poem and accompanying painting by Frank McElvey here.
Night Boat, North Wall Quay features here in the Mary Evans Picture Library Poems and Pictures Blog. This poem was commissioned by the James Joyce Centre, Dublin for the Bloomsday Festival 2020.
Ireland's Changing Nature: Jane discussed the role of poetry in drawing attention to the environmental crisis in the third episode (26th September 2021) of this Lyric FM radio series in which ecologist Anja Murray explored nature, culture and connection. You can listen back here.
Divining Dante, published by Recent Work Press and edited by Nessa O'Mahony & Paul Munden, celebrates Dante's 700th anniversary with new poems from 70 poets across the world. Jane is one of the ten Irish poets featured with a new poem in the anthology and two others on the accompanying website. Here Jane reads her poem inspired by the basking shark fishery on Achill Island, Co. Mayo.
Poetry Town 2021 - Jane curated Street Poetry for Poetry Town Week. 20 poems by 20 Wicklow poets were displayed throughout the town of Bray.
Sunday Miscellany: Jane read her poem The Lookout' on Sunday 12th of September. You can listen to her reading here.
The Wake Forest Irish Poetry Series, Volume V, ed. Lucy Collins - Jane's work will feature in this forthcoming anthology from Wake Forest University Press.
Dream of the River, ed. Natalie Eleanor Patterson - Jane has two new poems in this anthology of LGBTQ poetry from Jacar Press. "The LGBTQ community has a rich and intersectional history that is too often erased, revised, or used by others for their own gain. When we write we reclaim the narrative, as a group and as individuals" - from the editor, Natalie Eleanor Patterson.
Jane performed with poet & singer-songwriter Kayssie K at three events in Wicklow for the Festival in a Van & Poetry Ireland Words Move tour, August 2021. Jane was commissioned to write a new poem for the tour & you can read it here.
On 17 July Jane gave a reading with Martin Figura, t thilleman, Marc Vincenz, Cassandra Atherton & Jonathan Penton at LitBalm, a live stream poetry series from the US. The reading is available on the LitBalm YouTube Channel here. Jane's reading is from 28 mins to 43 mins.
Jane gave a reading and discussed eco-poetics with A-Level English students in St. Aidan's High School, Harrogate on 14th July 2021.
Departures Volume I: Co. Wicklow - Manchán Magan interviewed Jane and travel & nature writer Michael Fewer about the influence of landscape on their writing in the first of three films created by the Dublin Book Festival. Jane reads two poems inspired by the mining heritage of Co. Wicklow. Anna Mieke performs two songs inspired by her connection to her surroundings. The film was streamed on 6 July 2021 & is available here on the Dublin Book Festival YouTube channel until 9 August 2021.
Jane read a new poem '22 June' on RTE Radio 1's Sunday Miscellany, 27 June. You can listen to the reading here.
Poesie, the US based Poetry App features a different poet every week. Jane was the featured poet on the week of 21-27 June 2021. She joined the Poesie book club community for an online discussion of her work on the 27 June. The interview & reading is available on the Poesie YouTube Channel & you can watch it here.
On 30 June Jane hosted the online launch of two new poetry collections from Arlen House; Geraldine Mitchell's Mute/Unmute & Annie Deppe's Night Collage. The recording is now available to watch on the Arlen House YouTube channel.
Jane read her poem about Nora Barnacle for RTE Radio 1's Sunday Miscellany Bloomsday special on 13 June. The poem 'Night Boat, North Wall Quay' was commissioned by the James Joyce Centre for Bloomsday 2020. You can listen to the reading here.
On Saturday 12 June Jane read 'Camping at Bearna' from When the Tree Falls (Bloodaxe Books) on CountryWide, RTE Radio 1. You can listen to the reading here.
Jane joins poet & novelist Gerry Boland to edit Autumn Leaves 2021, a broadsheet of new writing from Co. Roscommon. See Roscommon County Council website for submission details.
In May 2021 Jane was awarded an Arts Council of Ireland Literature Bursary for the development and completion of her third poetry collection.
The Field Work Book Club invited Jane to read & discuss her work at their online meeting in May 2021. You can listen to the interview & poems here.
Jane reads 'Birthing the Lamb' (When the Tree Falls, Bloodaxe 2019) in the spring episode of The Shaking Bog podcast - "a reflection & reading that beautifully sets the scene for spring" - Catherine Nunes.
Jane read her commissioned poem, 'Passage' in a new film Bealach an Fhéir Gortaigh, Hunger's Way by Vincent Woods & Edwina Guckian. It was broadcast in the Strokestown Poetry Festival on 1 & 2 May 2021.
As part of the online Strokestown Poetry Festival 2021 Jane ran a six-week poetry writing course from 24 March - 28 April. Jane presented an online reading by the ten participating poets "New Voices" on 1 May 2021.
For Poetry Day Ireland, 29 April 2021, Jane paid tribute to and read Eva Gore-Booth's poem 'The Travellers'. Bob Gallagher filmed the reading in the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin. You can watch it here.
The Gaiety School of Acting performed Jane's poem 'Ballybeg' in one of two poetry playlists especially created for Poetry Day Ireland 2021.
The National Library of Ireland featured 'Birthing the Lamb" from When the Tree Falls, Bloodaxe 2019 on 18 April 2021.
On 27 March 2021 The Dublin Shakespeare Society presented a selection of poetry & drama by Irish women, including 'Honey' from Jane's first collection, The River.
Jane was guest speaker at Kathryn Aalto's online course, An Introduction to Nature Writing - Sunday 21st February.
"Her creative project was the restoration of the unofficial past, giving memory and story legitimacy that is denied in the controlled and controlling "official past" called history" - from Jane's essay in honour of Eavan Boland, in response to an invitation by the US poet & novelist Adrian Koesters. The essay is available here.
To celebrate St. Brigid's Day the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston hosted a performance by The Here Comes Everyone Players, including Jane's poem, 'Spawn' - 1st February 2021 at 7pm EST.
One of Jane's new poems features in Days of Clear Light (Salmon Poetry 2021), a Festschrift to celebrate Jessie Lendennie and 40 years of Salmon Poetry, edited by Nessa O'Mahony & Alan Hayes.
Jane also has a new poem in Empty House (Doire Press 2021), a climate change anthology edited by Alice Kinsella & Nessa O'Mahony.
2020
Jane reads 'When the Tree Falls', the title poem of her second collection (Bloodaxe Books 2019) in this new film, Glenmalure - A Valley of Memories. She also reads 'Christmas Morning', a poem inspired by the mining heritage of Glenmalure. Sponsored by Wicklow County Council, Our Wicklow Heritage & Local Authority Waters Programme, the film celebrates the rich environmental and cultural heritage of the Avoca River catchment in Co. Wicklow.
On RTE One Nationwide, 23 October Jane spoke about the mining heritage of Co. Wicklow and read a poem 'Foxrock Mine' from her sequence, The Miners' Way. This poem was inspired by the miner Robbie Carter, who was also filmed on location by the mine. You can watch the programme here.
The Blue Nib literary journal invited Jane to write about writing. Here's the link to her piece about poetry of place, published on 13 November 2020.
To mark the publication of the new Bloodaxe Books anthology Staying Human the Birmingham Literature Festival recorded and broadcast a poem a day from the anthology through October. Here is Naomi Paul reading Jane's poem 'The Trouble'.
'Vows' & 'Who owns the field?' from The River and 'The Trouble' & 'Hers' from When the Tree Falls are included in the new anthology, Staying Human (Bloodaxe Books, 2020).
Jane reads her poem 'Little Tern Colony, Kilcoole' as part of RTE's major online exhibition exploring the impact of Covid-19. Illuminations, an online gallery of 30 works, features visual art, photography, film, music, poetry, essays and spoken word.
Copper Soles' from Jane's second collection When the Tree Falls (Bloodaxe Books 2019) is one of the highly commended poems in the Forward Book of Poetry 2021, a "selection of the best poetry published in the UK and Ireland in 2020."
Kathleen Watkins includes Jane's new poem, 'Given' among her selection of favourite poems in a new anthology, One for Everyone (Gill Books, 2020).
Jane read poetry and talked about poetry of place with poets Keith Payne and Judy O'Kane at the 2020 Red Line Book Festival. You can watch the reading and discussion here.
Kathryn Aalto includes Jane's work in Writing Wild, Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World, (Timber Press 2020). "Finely crafted images of natural life - drystone walls, Rhode Island Red chickens, the smell of burnt barley - are a backdrop in The River to convey the beauty and brutality of farming, the memories or parents, and the life of land and animals."
Tom D'Evelyn, editor & writing tutor, writes a thoughtful, moving piece here about 'Gone', a poem from When the Tree Falls (Bloodaxe Books 2019). In the context of our fear of death and living with its inevitability, D'Evelyn writes "Gone is a brilliantly composed lyric, fully engaged with the lyric narrative... You can trust Clarke's 'Gone' to be a faithful companion on the way."
In August 2020 Wicklow Arts Office made an on-location recording of Jane reading her Miners' Way poems. The seven-poem sequence was inspired by the lives of miners in Co. Wicklow. You can listen to it here or you can download the podcast & accompanying map to your mobile device and listen to it as you walk the section of The Miners' Way walking trail along Glendalough Upper Lake to the Miners' Village.
The James Joyce Centre in Dublin commissioned Jane to write a poem for Bloomsday 2020. You can watch her read her poem honouring Nora Barnacle here.
Solas Nua (promoting Irish contemporary arts in the US) discussed When the Tree Falls at the first zoom meeting of their new Poetry Group, Monday 15 June, 6.30 - 8 pm. The group will meet once a month to read & consider the work of a contemporary Irish poet.
You can watch Jane here, speaking about and reading from When the Tree Falls for the Inside Writing digital poetry festival. She also gave a writing prompt. The festival was organised by Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts in lieu of the annual Newcastle Poetry Festival.
Jane was interviewed on RTE Radio 1's farming and rural life programme Countrywide on 6 June. She spoke to Ella McSweeney about how growing up on a farm in Co. Roscommon influenced her writing. She read 'Daily Bread' from her first collection The River and 'First Earlies' from her second collection, When the Tree Falls. You can listen to the 7 minute interview here.
Jane presented 'The Miners' Way' , a poetry programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 3rd May, 16.30 & repeated Saturday 9th May, 23.30. She read a new sequence of poems inspired by the natural & cultural heritage of Wicklow as well as 'Birthing the Lamb' from her second collection with Bloodaxe Books When the Tree Falls. The programme also featured in Antonia Quirke's Pick of the Week for BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 3rd May.
Jane's second collection with Bloodaxe Books When the Tree Falls was shortlisted for the Pigott Poetry Prize, Listowel Writers' Week 2020. The adjudicator Ian McMillan commented, "The central sequence in the book is about the death of her father, and it's handled with such care, such compassion, such love, such avoidance of cliché, such a desire to refresh the language and make it sing; and that thing where the more personal you get, the more universal you get - that's what Jane does...Great poems of loss, of love and of noticing...
When the Tree Falls was also shortlisted for the other two Irish poetry prizes, the Irish Times Poetry Now Award 2020 and the Farmgate Café National Poetry Award 2020, as well as being longlisted for the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize 2020, given for a distinguished work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry evoking the spirit of a place. Jane's debut collection with Bloodaxe Books The River was the first poetry collection to be shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize back in 2016.
Seán Rocks interviewed Jane about her recent collection When the Tree Falls on Arena RTE Radio 1 Tuesday 19 May. You can listen to the interview here. She read poems from the collection and a new poem 'The Key'.
Jane has two poems featured on the WRITE where we are NOW initiative from Carol Ann Duffy & the Manchester Writing School. The poems are organised by date; 'April Wake' is on 19 April & 'First Earlies' is on 21 April. Both poems are part of a new sequence 'Poems from the Uplands', Jane's project for the Arts Council of Ireland Covid-19 Bursary Award. Jane introduced and read 'First Earlies' for the RTE Poetry Programme, "Poetry in a Pandemic" on Monday 1 June.
'The Ringer' from Jane's first collection, The River, is featured in the new Bloodaxe Books Poetry App which can be downloaded free from the usual outlets. Read, listen and watch Jane and many other poets on this app developed by Newcastle University in conjunction with Bloodaxe.
'Pit Ponies of Glendasan' a poem from Jane's new sequence of poems about the mining heritage in Co Wicklow is featured in this Words Lightly Spoken podcast.
the river held our stories, it was where / we'd go to talk or cry or be quiet / in the company of the current. These lines from 'The Suck', a poem in Jane's first collection The River feature in the Ballinasloe sphere, a piece of public art to mark Galway European Capital of Culture 2020. Photographs of the spheres can be seen here on the Galway 2020 website.
